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Mombasa International Cultural Festival

After recently witnessing a stunning performance by H.H Swamibapa Pipe Band during the Ekta (Unity) convention in his own county, the governor of Mombasa, Ali Hassan Joho, sent a heartfelt invitation to the band to perform during Mombasa International Cultural Festival which was conducted in Mombasa on the 21st December 2013.

With the divine blessings of H.D.H Acharya Swamishree, a total of exactly 50 members left Nairobi on Friday evening. The band members were warmly received and accommodated by brothers and sisters of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi parivaar residing in Mombasa. They prepared delicious meals and enthusiastically afforded all the support the band members required during their performance in the scorching temperatures of Mombasa.

The festival kicked off in the form of a procession from Tononoka grounds at 3.00pm and concluded at Mama Ngina Drive (Light House), a distance of about 6kms, at 6.00pm. H.H Swamibapa Pipe Band entertained the crowd with Kenyan patriotic tunes. All the onlookers cheered and danced in rhythm of the musical medleys played by the band. Just this short display forced the organiser to change the sequence of the participating groups and requested H.H Swamibapa Pipe Band to lead the procession from start to finish.

The band gave a guard of honour to the governor of Mombasa, Hon. Ali Hassan Joho and led the rally through the streets of Mombasa. Throughout the procession, the governor and other dignitaries marched and danced to the tune of the music played by H.H Swamibapa Pipe Band. Thousands of onlookers flocked the streets of Mombasa to witness something unique in their city – Scottish music in the form of H.H Swamibapa Pipe Band. The enthusiasm, the applause, the cheering, appreciation and encouragement from the governor, dignitaries and the onlookers was inexpressible. This extra support and blessings of H.D.H Acharya Swamishree lifted the spirits of the band members who continuously entertained the crowd throughout the procession which concluded at Mama Ngina Drive-Light House. The governor himself remarked that the band made the procession lively and vibrant. He thanked Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan and S.S.S.S. Mandal Nairobi for accepting his invitation to participate in the event.