On 20 August 1995, Pramukh Swami Maharaj opened the Neasden Temple in northwest London, having ridden through the streets on an elephant followed by hundreds of dancing adherents. Today the Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden is a magnificent landmark, that attracts many tourists and devotees annually.
The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) community is about to start building its next temple project in Chigwell, East London. This particular tradition has more than 30,000 devotees in Britain using 40 temples and centres- many of them converted warehouses and chapels. Another new centre is expected to open in Birmingham next year.
In the past few years new temples have opened in Ashton-under-Lyn in Manchester, Preston and a converted jeans factory in Leicester. Yogesh Patel, the media relations co-ordinator of BAPS uk told The Times “We have recently acquired some land in East London on the site of a disused school in Chigwell, where a centre will be built and we are planning a similar centre in South London."
