On 9 May 2004, the town of Luton was blessed with a permanent spiritual home when His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj inaugurated BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir – the last BAPS mandir in UK & Europe that he personally consecrated with the murti pratishtha ceremony.
More than two decades later, on 23 June 2024, a grand festival marking the 20th anniversary of the Mandir was celebrated. The event was graced by the presence of Gnaneshwardas Swami, a senior swami of BAPS visiting from India.
The celebrations began with a Vedic mahapuja, during which families offered prayers and gratitude for the Mandir. Following this, Gnaneshwardas Swami performed the sthapan vidhi of the murtis of Shri Sita-Rama Bhagwan and Shri Parvati-Shankar Bhagwan (which had been originally consecrated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj for Manchester several years ago), marking another notable chapter in the history of Luton Mandir. A grand annakut was also devoutly offered in celebration of the pratishtha and patotsav occasion.
An insightful cultural programme, titled ‘Echoes of Devotion,’ followed the pratishtha ceremony. It highlighted the personal efforts of the Satpurush in nurturing Satsang values in Luton ever since His Holiness Yogiji Maharaj’s visit in 1970.
Local devotees shared moving accounts of their personal interactions with Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and how his loving care and compassion supported them through significant life challenges. Paratpardas Swami and Vibhishan Bhagat, formerly of Luton, then shared how Mahant Swami Maharaj has shaped their lives and inspired them to renounce worldly pleasures for a life dedicated to devotion and service.
Addressing the assembly of over 600 devotees, Gnaneshwardas Swami spoke about the importance of a mandir and how the mandir has nurtured Satsang values in Luton for many families. He then read out a letter from Mahant Swami Maharaj addressed to the BAPS Satsang fellowship in Luton, in which Swamishri commended the enthusiasm of the devotees and blessed that Satsang will continue to flourish in the area.
The High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, Bhavesh Shah, was also in attendance at the event to present the ‘Certification of Appreciation’ to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Luton, in recognition of its valuable services to the community.
The climax of the programme was a vibrant cultural dance delivered by children of BAPS, with a special reference to mandirs.
Hetvi Somani, a young volunteer who helped plan and deliver the event, explained, “I wasn’t around when the Mandir opened, but I can truly say what a positive impact it has had on my life, including my studies, over these few years that I’ve started attending, and today’s celebrations were a perfect example – it’s all about love for God, serving others selflessly, and fostering cultural values and community responsibility.”