Team News Riveting
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Brentfield Road, popularly known as the Neasden Temple, depicts a masterpiece of exquisite Indian design and workmanship in the heart of London.
Known as the Neasden Temple, it had marked its 25th anniversary or silver jubilee on August 20. For the visitors, marvel at the intricate marble and wooden carvings thrill the experience of a traditional Hindu prayer ceremony.
The National Geographic has called it a London landmark and Londoners are proud of this heritage.
The temple has been visited by Carter, Prince Charles and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On the occasion of Neasden Temple’s silver jubilee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the temple has been at the forefront of many community service initiatives and it has inspired people to work for humanity.
The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London is the first Hindu temple in the western hemisphere that has now become a centre of community events, worship and festivals over the years.
“When I was Gujarat CM, I had the honour of visiting the Temple,” he added.
Inaugurated on August 20, 1995, the temple in Neasden in the borough of Brent has been visited by several world leaders, including former US President Jimmy Carter. Prince Charles joined British MPs, charity organisations and others to mark the 25th anniversary of the temple.
Prince Charles released a video message, recalling visiting the temple with his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, during festivals. He said: “The first of its kind outside India, Neasden Temple serves the local community as a place of worship, learning, celebration, peace and community service”.
According to the temple’s history, its ground-breaking ceremony was held in July 1991, as almost 3,000 tonnes of Bulgarian limestone were shipped 3,900 miles to India along with 1,200 tonnes of Italian Carrara marble, which made its own journey of 4,800 miles. With a further 900 tonnes of Indian Ambaji marble, the over 5,000 tonnes of stone was hand-carved by more than 1,500 skilled artisans at 14 different sites around India into 26,300 pieces.
The silver jubilee celebrations started on August 12 and will continue until Sunday (August 23) with musical tribute and grand finale programme.
To commemorate the momentous occasion, a series of inspiring and devotional events have been planned including special programmes for women, children as well as a tribute to life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, who inaugurated the mandir in 1995.
On Sunday a Vishwa Shanti Mahapuja, an ancient holy ritual for family harmony and world peace, will be conducted from the shrines at the mandir by the resident swamis and will be webcast live at neasdentemple.org.
The ceremony involves making devotional offerings to the chanting of powerful Vedic mantras, with the sentiments of reverence, adoration and gratitude to God.
The Mayor of London, on Thursday 20 August 2020, tweeted a congratulatory message for a temple in the heart of the British capital. He wrote: Today we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Neasden Mandir in London. The Mandir not only serves our Hindu community but brings people together from countless different backgrounds – a powerful symbol of our city’s strength in diversity.
