The Indian diaspora around the world is eagerly looking forward to the opening of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in the eastern Parisian suburb of Bussy-Saint-Georges.
With BAPS temples now established across several countries, the opening of France’s first traditionally designed, purpose-built stone Hindu temple marks another milestone.
The occasion will be celebrated with a 13-day Festival of Culture from September 2 to 14, 2026. It will mark the opening of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Bussy-Saint-Georges, France’s first traditionally designed, purpose-built stone Hindu temple.
The festival is expected to attract thousands of visitors from France and abroad, supported by 3,000 volunteers and participants from 42 countries. Located on the Esplanade des Religions et des Cultures, the Mandir reflects France’s values of liberty, equality and fraternity while promoting interfaith harmony.
The temple also represents a unique India-France collaboration. Stones from India, including Ambaji marble and Gwalior sandstone, were traditionally carved into more than 1,000 components by Indian artisans before being shipped to France.
There, Indian craftsmen worked alongside French stonemasons, architects and engineers, including specialists involved in the restoration of Notre-Dame. Volunteers also contributed through seva, helping with construction, logistics and community activities. The Mandir thus stands as a shared creation combining Indian craftsmanship with French expertise.
A bridge between India and France
The BAPS journey in France began decades before the Mandir’s construction. In 1970, BAPS guru His Holiness Yogiji Maharaj prayed for France during a visit to Paris, followed by the first organised BAPS satsang near the Eiffel Tower in 1982. His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj later nurtured the community through repeated visits. In 2017, land was made available in Bussy-Saint-Georges for a Hindu Mandir on the Esplanade des Religions et des Cultures.
The site was sanctified through Bhumi Pujan in 2021, followed by the foundation stone ceremony in 2022. Construction began in June 2024, with carved stones arriving from India in January 2026. On September 6, 2026, Mahant Swami Maharaj will perform the traditional murti pratishtha, consecrating the Mandir as a place of worship.
The community’s journey has also been shaped by service. During the Covid-19 pandemic, BAPS volunteers supported elderly people, those in need and frontline workers in Paris. They also assisted at the Paris Olympics at the invitation of the French Interior Ministry.
Sanjay Kara, Trustee of BAPS UK & Europe and Lead, Paris Mandir Project, said, “Opening BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir as France’s first traditionally designed, purpose-built stone Hindu temple is a historic moment for Hindu families in France and for everyone who has helped make this Mandir possible. It has been created through years of devotion, service and a remarkable collaboration between India and France, Indian artisans working alongside French architects, engineers, stonemasons and construction specialists. We hope it will be a permanent home of faith and culture, and a place of welcome, learning and service for generations to come.”
The festival will feature a Vedic Mahayagna from September 2-14, along with a women’s Palkhi Yatra, cultural events and community programmes. On September 3, 11 boats will sail along the River Seine in a Jal Yatra symbolising fraternity, followed by a cultural procession with 14 floats and hundreds of volunteers on September 5. Mahant Swami Maharaj will consecrate the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir on September 6, with the celebrations concluding with a Hindu Cultural Celebration on September 14.
Ahead of the opening, swamis and devotees performed sacred Kalash and Dhaja Dand Pujans on the temple’s shikhars and central dome, with Vedic prayers for peace, harmony and well-being in Bussy-Saint-Georges and beyond. BAPS marked the occasion with the devotional message, “Paris Mandir Mahotsavni Jay!”, reflecting the enthusiasm of devotees worldwide. The festival is expected to attract thousands of visitors from France and abroad.
From London to Abu Dhabi, BAPS’ global reach
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha has established a vast global network of more than 1,300 mandirs and numerous centres, spanning North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.
Its major landmarks include BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Jersey and traditional stone mandirs in Houston, Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles and other cities. In the UK, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden was Europe’s first traditional Hindu temple. The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, inaugurated in 2024, has also become a prominent symbol of interfaith harmony.
The organisation has a longstanding presence in Africa and the Asia-Pacific, with centres and mandirs in Nairobi, Sydney, Bangkok and Singapore. The upcoming Mandir in Bussy-Saint-Georges near Paris will add another significant landmark to this growing global network, strengthening BAPS’ presence in France.
Asian Voice will bring out a special feature in its 19 September issue, celebrating the historic opening of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Paris and paying tribute to the visit of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, who will be in the UK following the Paris celebrations from 16 September to 13 October 2026.
