As part of the centennial birth anniversary celebrations of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and to mark the 88th birth anniversary of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, a special smruti pad-yatra (pilgrimage by foot) was organised by BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London – popularly known as ‘Neasden Temple’ – on Sunday 3 October 2021.
More than 600 people of all ages, including resident swamis of the mandir, walked a distance of 13.5 miles to visit historic and sanctified places that encompass a period of more than 50 years of significance.
The pilgrimage began in warm autumnal sunshine from Alexandra Palace – where, in 1974, a grand reception, comprising almost 4,000 devotees and a Royal Air Force musical band, honoured Pramukh Swami Maharaj for his first visit to the UK as the Guru. The historic month-long ‘Cultural Festival of India’, inspired and attended by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, was also held here in 1985.
The pad-yatra continued to 77 Elmore Street, Islington, where Yogiji Maharaj inaugurated the first BAPS mandir in the UK, and one of the UK’s first Hindu mandirs, on 14 June 1970.
The walkers also visited Dollis Hill – the place of Yogiji Maharaj’s residence during his visit to London in 1970 – before arriving at the old Neasden hari mandir, the site opposite the current Neasden Temple, inaugurated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1982, and then concluding the journey at the first shikharbaddha mandir outside of India, opened by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1995.
The journey of around 4 hours and 30 minutes of walking time rekindled cherished memories for senior devotees and provided an opportunity for youths and children to become part of BAPS’s rich history in London.
Keyur Bhatt, one of the lead volunteers who helped organise the pad-yatra, shared his experiences after the conclusion: “Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj have given so much to London and the UK. Their tireless efforts have laid the foundations for Hindu values and culture to be embedded and celebrated here in the UK. This walk has given us all an opportunity to commemorate their hard work. We were also inspired by the blessings of Mahant Swami Maharaj who reflected on his own memories and encouraged us all to immerse ourselves in this unique and rich history.”
