There is a particular symbolism to the steps of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden.
For almost three decades, politicians from across Britain's political spectrum have walked through its ornate gates, removed their shoes, met Hindu community leaders, admired its intricate architecture and, on several occasions, taken part in religious ceremonies.
Among them are seven people who would go on to become, or had already served as, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Some arrived as party leaders. Others came while occupying the country's highest political office. One came first as Mayor of London and later returned as Prime Minister. And for several, the visit became part of a much longer relationship with the British Hindu community.
Here is a look at their journeys.
John Major: The beginning of the political tradition
John Major belongs to the earliest chapter of the story.
The Conservative Prime Minister was among the prominent political figures associated with the newly established Neasden Mandir in the 1990s. The temple, which opened in 1995, quickly attracted attention far beyond Britain's Hindu community, becoming one of the country's most recognisable places of Hindu worship.
Major praised the achievement of building the vast temple complex without government funding, describing its completion as a major accomplishment and expressing hope that it would become a source of pride for Hindus across Britain and Western Europe.
His connection with the Mandir helped establish something that would become increasingly familiar in the years that followed: Britain's political leaders recognising the temple not simply as a place of worship, but as an important part of the country's civic and cultural landscape.
The significance of that early recognition would become clearer as the procession of political visitors continued.
Tony Blair: From Opposition to Downing Street
Tony Blair's relationship with Neasden Mandir is particularly striking because it spans two stages of his political career.
He first visited the temple on 21 June 1996, when he was Leader of the Opposition. Standing inside the recently established Mandir, Blair praised it as an "exciting and noble addition" to London's landscape and spoke of the enormous dedication and sacrifice involved in creating it.
Just under a year later, Blair would enter Downing Street as Prime Minister. Almost a decade after his first visit, he returned to Neasden, this time as Prime Minister, on 25 April 2006, accompanied by his wife, Cherie Blair.
The return carried a sense of history.
He was welcomed traditionally, offered flowers and took part in abhishek at the shrine of Shri Nilkanth Varni. He then addressed a packed gathering and reflected on his earlier visit and his meeting with Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Blair spoke about two things that had impressed him: the extraordinary scale of the vision behind the Mandir and the sense of spirituality, friendship and harmony it generated.
The man who had once visited as a prospective prime minister had returned having become the prime minister.
David Cameron: Diwali at Neasden
David Cameron's first visit came before he reached Downing Street.
On 29 October 2008, the Conservative leader travelled by Tube to Neasden to celebrate the Hindu New Year. He performed abhishek, visited the sanctum and joined the celebrations inside the Mandir.
Cameron described the temple as more than an architectural achievement. He called it a symbol of the enormous contribution Britain's Hindu community had made to the country.
Five years later, he returned as Prime Minister.
On 4 November 2013, Cameron and his wife Samantha joined thousands of devotees for the Hindu New Year. He admired the Annakut, the spectacular ceremonial offering of food, and spoke about the contribution of British Indians to Britain.
And there was another visit to come.
In May 2015, shortly before that year's general election, Cameron returned to Neasden for the third time. He recalled the warmth with which he and Samantha had always been received and thanked BAPS for helping organise Diwali receptions at Downing Street.
The Mandir had, by then, become a familiar stop for Cameron, not a one-off political visit, but a relationship built over several years.
Theresa May: Before and after Downing Street
Theresa May's connection with Neasden also began before she became Prime Minister.
In March 2013, while serving as Home Secretary, she attended BAPS's International Women's Day celebrations as guest of honour and keynote speaker.
Four years later, she returned this time as Prime Minister.
On 3 June 2017, May visited the Mandir with her husband, Philip May. She received a traditional welcome, performed abhishek of Shri Nilkanth Varni and entered the inner sanctum before meeting BAPS volunteers and members of the wider Hindu community.
Her two appearances tell a familiar story: a political relationship that began at a community level continued after she reached the highest office in the country.
Boris Johnson: From Akshardham to Neasden
Boris Johnson's BAPS story stretches further geographically.
Before he was Prime Minister, Johnson visited BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi on 25 November 2012, while serving as Mayor of London.
Travelling with a 25-member delegation, Johnson toured the complex, viewed its architecture and exhibitions, met volunteers and performed abhishek. He described himself as deeply impressed by Akshardham's message of unity in diversity, peace and volunteerism.
But that was not his only BAPS visit. As Prime Minister, Johnson returned to the BAPS fold, this time at Neasden.
On 7 December 2019, he visited the Mandir for the birthday celebrations of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. It was, BAPS records, his fourth visit to the London Mandir. He performed abhishek, offered flowers at the central shrine and met volunteers involved in BAPS's community activities.
Johnson returned again in November 2021, joining the community for Diwali and the Hindu New Year. BAPS described it as his fifth visit to the Mandir.
And there was another chapter.
In April 2022, while Prime Minister, Johnson visited BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar during his trip to India. He was welcomed at the Mayur Dwar and given an overview of the spiritual and cultural complex.
Few British prime ministers have had quite such an extensive BAPS itinerary.
Rishi Sunak: a Prime Minister at home in the Mandir
For Rishi Sunak, visits to BAPS temples carried an additional personal dimension.
Britain's first Hindu Prime Minister visited BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi on 10 September 2023, during the G20 summit, accompanied by his wife Akshata Murty.
Despite a busy summit schedule and poor weather, the couple made time for darshan and puja. They walked barefoot along the 150-metre path to the Mandir, offered prayers, participated in pushpanjali and arti, and spent time in silent prayer.
Sunak later described the temple's beauty and its message of peace, harmony and becoming a better human being.
Less than a year later, on 29 June 2024, he and Murty visited Neasden Mandir.
There, Sunak received a traditional welcome before being led into the inner sanctum, where he paid his respects at the sacred images.
For Sunak, the visits were not simply encounters with an important British institution. They also offered a highly visible expression of his Hindu faith.
Keir Starmer: Diwali before Downing Street
Keir Starmer's visit came before he became Prime Minister.
On 13 November 2023, the then Leader of the Opposition visited Neasden Mandir to celebrate Diwali.
He was welcomed traditionally, visited the upper sanctum, performed abhishek and joined devotees and volunteers for the celebrations. He also took part in the arti before addressing the congregation.
His speech placed particular emphasis on the role of BAPS volunteers and the wider British Indian community.
Starmer described Neasden Temple as a "beacon of compassion and harmony" and an integral part of Britain's religious and cultural landscape. He also paid tribute to British Indians, saying Britain would be diminished without their contribution.
At the time, Starmer was still Opposition Leader.
The following year, he walked through the doors of Downing Street as Prime Minister.
Sadiq Khan: From MP to Mayor
Sadiq Khan's relationship with Neasden Mandir also stretches across different stages of his political career.
His first recorded visit came in November 2013, when he was MP for Tooting, Shadow Justice Secretary, Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Minister for London. He returned in 2015 as a candidate for Mayor of London.
By 2018, Khan was returning as Mayor. On 8 November that year, he joined thousands at the Mandir to celebrate the Hindu New Year, participating in the rituals and the annakut arti. Speaking to the congregation, he praised the contribution of London's Hindu community and said that meeting the temple's volunteers inspired him.
It was a relationship that continued beyond ceremonial occasions.
On 21 May 2023, Khan returned to Neasden to meet His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj. During their personal meeting, the Mayor thanked him for the contribution made by the Mandir and its community and asked for his blessings for London. He later addressed the evening assembly, highlighting the community's contribution to business, public service and charity.
Khan also played a role in strengthening the civic connection between the Mandir and London. He was instrumental in renaming part of Meadow Garth, where the Mandir stands, as Pramukh Swami Road, paying tribute to the creator of the landmark and his services to the UK.
