His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj passed away in Sarangpur, India, on 13 August 2016. He had visited London 19 times between 1970 and 2007, creating and opening in 1995 the famous ‘Neasden Temple’, Europe’s first traditional Hindu mandir.
It was therefore fitting that Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s ashes also be scattered in the River Thames, in commemoration of his longstanding and sacred ties with the British capital.
The Vedic ceremony prior to scattering the sacred ashes of Pramukh Swami Maharaj was performed by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and senior sadhus on Sunday 18 June 2017 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London.
After 4.30pm, the sacred kalashes were moved to the River Thames, where Mahant Swami Maharaj presided over the final ritual aboard the Royal Princess boat at Lambeth Pier which then began its journey towards Westminster Bridge, the first scheduled stopping point.
Here, His Holiness performed the ceremonial dispersing of the asthipushpa (sacred ashes) of Pramukh Swami Maharaj before continuing along the Thames and passing various iconic landmarks of London, including the Palace of Westminster (the Houses of Parliament), the London Eye, and the Battle of Britain Monument.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s ashes were also being dispersed in many holy rivers of India, including the Gondali, Narmada and Ganga, and recently in the Nile near Jinja, Uganda.
