King and Queen celebrate historic temple

King Charles and Queen Camilla visited a historic Hindu temple to mark its 30th anniversary.

Their Majesties visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (or Neasden Temple) to mark its 30th anniversary on 29 October.

The King and Queen met with representatives from the Hindu community and worshippers at the temple after being welcomed by Jitu Patel, Chair of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha UK.

Inside, King Charles and Queen Camilla spent a moment in the central shrine for reflection and then watched flower petals be offered to the image of the principal deity in Neasden Temple, Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

The visit also included watching Abhishek by the head priest, Pujya Yogvivekdas Swami. Abhishek is the ceremonial pouring of water over the head of the deity’s idol.

Afterwards, they got a look at the model of the BAPS Mandir in Paris that is currently under construction before meeting representatives and initiatives supported by Neasden, like The Felix Project and Women of the World.

Regarding the project, Buckingham Palace said, “Inspired today by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the Mandir’s charitable work includes the annual BAPS Charity Challenge, which raises funds for both in-house educational and community programmes and respected partners. From surplus food redistribution to youth service initiatives, the focus of the charitable work is impact with dignity.”

The temple is the first traditional Hindu stone temple in Europe. It was opened in August 1995.

The King and Queen previously visited the temple in 2009.

You can learn more about Neasden Temple here.