The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, visited BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden on Diwali to celebrate it with the diaspora. More popularly known as the ‘Neasden Temple’ also welcomed tens of thousands of people along with MPs, Peers and other dignitaries, to celebrate the traditions, colours and rich culture of Diwali on Wednesday 7 November 2018.
The celebrations at the Mandir – the largest in the country – included a special ceremony in the evening in the presence of Sadguru Pujya Tyagvallabh Swami, a senior swami visiting from India. During the ‘Chopda Pujan’ ritual, business owners closed their existing ledgers and opened new ones in preparation for the year ahead. The ceremony also symbolises how one should take stock of one’s spiritual relationship with God.
A grand fireworks display outside the Mandir brought together thousands of worshippers, visitors and members of the local community thereafter for a colourful exhibition of music and light that illuminated the skies of North London high above the Mandir domes. It also featured live on BBC One’s The One Show.
The day following Diwali marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. The first ceremony began at 5.00am, followed by prayers for world peace and well-being. The ceremonial Rajbhog Arti (Hindu ritual) followed at midday, first in the upper sanctum of the Mandir and then in the Haveli assembly hall where the annakut – literally, ‘mountain of food’ – was artistically arranged as an offering of the first meal of the New Year in thanksgiving to God and to seek his blessings for the year ahead.
In his address, Mr Khan spoke of the ‘contribution that the Hindu community has made to the diversity of London’. The Mayor added, “When I walk around this temple and I meet the volunteers, it inspires me. You show that is it possible to be a proud Hindu, and it is also possible to be a proud Londoner and to be proudly British.”
Reflecting on the contribution of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the creator of the Mandir, The Mayor said: “I am aware of the importance made not only to the life here in Neasden, not just to life in Brent, not just in London but around the world by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj.” In recognition of this, the Mayor announced that a name of a road around the Mandir would be named in honour of Pramukh Swami Maharaj: “Let the message be sent out loud and clear – this remarkable Hindu temple, working in partnership with the council, working in partnership with local residents of all different faiths and backgrounds – today, the Mayor of London, of Islamic faith is here in this temple, sharing with you this good news.”
Fittingly, this year’s decorative lamps and artwork inside the Mandir reflected the theme of ‘unity’. Yogen Shah, a volunteer at the Mandir, further explained, “His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj regularly speaks about the importance of unity within families, the local community and across the world. This year, our celebrations will bring out the key messages of unity and encourage everyone to imbibe this virtue in their daily lives.”
