Preston
Namaste
It has been a steady year for Preston , as we have strived to maintain key yearly activities , which include Shradh Bhajan , Navratri , Diwali Party and the ever popular New Year ’ s gathering .
Over the last few years we have seen a decline in the attendance at our events . With this in mind the committee has continued to focus on ways to improve our events with the aim to encourage the wider membership to take part . Such changes have included replacing the Diwali Show format with a more informal Diwali party , to include a quiz and games that the audience can participate in . We have also improved the co-ordination of the Navratri and Shradh Bhajan programmes to ensure that everybody has the opportunity to get involved . Following the changes , the feedback has been positive which we can expand upon .
The branch has continued to support the annual Overseas Tours organised by Natubhai Tailor and Khushalbhai Kumar in conjunction with Baba Holidays . The destination in 2015 was China and Hong Kong . The itinerary was a 13 day tour , visiting world renowned sights such as the Great Wall of China , Beijing ’ s Forbidden City , Peace Temple , Terracotta Warriors , Jade Buddha garden in Shanghai and much more . The committee was delighted by the positive feedback and would like thank all who took part . A donation of £ 151 from this trip was made to St Catherine ’ s Hospice . In 2016 , Natubhai and Khushalbhai followed up with a ten day Tour of Eastern Europe . It started in Warsaw ( Poland ), and covering Krakow , Salt Mine , Tatra National Park , Zacopane before travelling to Prague ( Czech Republic ), then onto Berlin before returning back to UK . Once again , it was as pleasant and delightful Tour as the previous ones .
Unfortunately , and regrettably , I have to report that we were unsuccessful in electing a full executive committee at our AGM in 2016 . For the branch , this is an unprecedented situation , which can prove to be detrimental to the future and progress of the branch . Despite this , it was agreed at the AGM that the branch administration will be performed as a Working Committee with the aim to fill the vacant posts during the year .
On a positive note , the Working Committee acknowledges the support it receives from our active members . It is this continued support by our members who will be the key to maintaining the branch activities .
On behalf of SPA ( UK ) - Preston Branch , we would like to wish all Prajapati members a Happy Diwali and a Prosperous New Year .
Jai Shree Krishna SPA ( UK ) - Preston Branch Working Committee
Top to bottom : Krakow Salt Mine in Poland on Eastern Europe Tour , Navratri 2016
78 vol . 41 | Prajapati Sandesh 2016