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London Mandir 25th Anniversary Finale Celebrations, UK & Europe

23 Aug 2020

The London Mandir 25th anniversary finale programme opened with a stunning montage of shots introducing the Mandir to viewers

The montage, narrated by London Mandir’s head sadhu, Yogvivekdas Swami, introduced what each part of the mandir means to devotees

The introduction closed with the words, “This is London Mandir. This is our home.” revealing the title of the programme in the skies above the mandir

The narrated elements of the programme took place in a gallery titled, ‘London Mandir: Our Home’

The entrance hall of the gallery exhibited a plaque welcoming the viewers into the programme

The first chamber of the gallery took the viewers back to 18th-century Gujarat, India, where Bhagwan Swaminarayan looked towards the west as spiritual aspirants awaited his arrival

Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s fourth spiritual successor, Yogiji Maharaj, travelled to the UK in 1970 and inaugurated a mandir in the London borough of Islington

The first chapter was titled ‘The Vision’

Yogiji Maharaj, during his visit to the UK in 1970, prophesied that a grand mandir would be built in London

Pujya Bhaktipriyadas (Kothari) Swami explains the difficulty of the grand vision that Yogiji Maharaj had proclaimed in Islington

A few months after returning from London to India, Yogiji Maharaj left his mortal body and returned to Akshardham, leaving his successor, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, to fulfil his vision

Anandswarupdas Swami narrates the first instance where Pramukh Swami Maharaj revealed his inner wish to build a mandir in London

Pramukh Swami Maharaj revealed his vision exactly two years after Yogiji Maharaj proclaimed his very same vision in Islington

As the satsang fellowship grew, Islington mandir become too small to host weekly assemblies. Therefore, a new hari mandir was inaugurated in Meadow Garth, Neasden, in 1982

Atmaswarupdas Swami reveals another instance where Pramukh Swami Maharaj stated the vision to build a shikharbaddha mandir in London as his very own

Akshaymunidas Swami takes the story forward to 1983, where the London Satsang fellowship was now ready to look for a suitable site to build a shikharbaddha mandir

The first option was to build a one-pinnacle mandir on the already-owned Meadow Garth site in the car park of the then-current Neasden hari mandir

After it became apparent that the first option would not serve our purpose, an arduous search began covering more than 50 sites across the whole of London

In 1984, the search for land led to a 4.5-acre site in Harrow, north-west London. Popularly known as the ‘Ducker Site’, the council had given approval…

…however, there was opposition from the residents of the borough, which led to a court case

The verdict went against the building of a mandir, crushing the hopes and dreams of the devotees

In 1990, the Neasden High School was acquired where a large hari mandir was planned to be built

Amrishbhai Patel narrates an encounter he had with Swamishri after the ground-breaking ceremony, where Swamishri expressed his disappointment that Yogiji Maharaj’s vision of building a shikharbaddha mandir was not being fulfilled

Narayancharandas Swami narrates the exact moment when he saw Swamishri see the ‘For Sale’ board on the Arlington site, opposite the then-current hari mandir

Swamishri in a meeting with the Board of Trustees explains his vision of creating a unified campus with the current Meadow Garth site

Chittranjanbhai Patel reveals that it was in fact prophesied by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1982 that the Arlington site will be the ground on which his vision would come to life

Pramukh Swami Maharaj, upon purchasing the Arlington site, writes where his guru’s vision is destined to be fulfilled

A team needed to be formed that could design the mandir and help turn this seemingly impossible dream into a reality

Nigel Lane narrates how he was recruited by the mandir project team

The newly recruited team was taken to India on a research trip to study the architecture which seemed so foreign and impractical in Britain

Nigel Lane thereafter speaks of his touching encounter with Swamishri in Sarangpur, where the type of architecture for the cultural complex was decided

Swamishri guides the mandir project team in one of their initial meetings

Austin Trueman narrates the logistics behind the laying of the foundations which was largest in situ concrete pour in Britain at the time

The foundation pour was completed in a mere 36 hours

It was the wish of Pramukh Swami Maharaj that this mandir be built to last a thousand years, so the decision of which stone and wood to use was crucial, given the harsh climate of Britain

The fourth chapter of the programme was titled ‘The Stone City’

Pujya Swayamprakashdas (Doctor) Swami emphasises that Gadhada Mandir was the only mandir in the Swaminarayan Sampraday at the time that was built of marble; London was to be the second

Harshadbhai Chavda narrates how, despite the grandeur of Yogiji Maharaj’s birth centennial celebrations in 1992,…

… Pramukh Swami Maharaj was thinking about where in India the stones would get carved, as they were already in transit from the source countries

Vinodbhai Patel, the site manager of the Kandla workshop, narrates Swamishri’s thinking behind setting up the workshop in Kandla

With the finest Hindu craftsmanship found only in India, a 15,000 square metre-plot was acquired in Kandla, in the Gulf of Kutch on the western front of Gujarat. Soon, an entire township was set up to carve the stones of London Mandir

Swamishri also visited Kandla for three days, to motivate and guide the management and artisans with his words and blessings

Everything seemed to be falling into place, but one critical matter remained – finance. Devotees in London, despite the deep financial recession, began a number of fundraising projects to help bring the vision to life

CM Patel, Chairman of UK Satsang Mandal, is reassured by Swamishri as they discuss the fundraising of the mandir amidst the dire financial situation in the UK and around the world

Swamishri provides vital guidance at a pivotal point for the trustees of the Satsang Mandal in the UK

For London Mandir, Pramukh Swami Maharaj was not just an inspirer; he was the creator – being involved in designing every single element of the mandir

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s intelligence, experience, foresight and spiritual wisdom helped to carve out every corner. Every inch of London Mandir breathes his touch

It was Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s wish to increase the number of shikhars from five to nine

A mandir is the home of God, personified through the murtis; they are its very soul. For London Mandir, the story of its murtis is truly soul-stirring

Bhaktinandandas Swami narrates his personal encounter with Swamishri when refining the guru parampara murtis for London Mandir from the very same location it took place

Mahant Swami Maharaj expresses his deep admiration and adoration for the Ghanshyam Maharaj murti of London Mandir

Mahant Swami Maharaj also guided Bhaktinandandas Swami ensuring the authenticity of the design of the murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan installed in London Mandir

20 August 1995 – the devotees had engraved this date in their minds, because this was the day set by Pramukh Swami Maharaj to inaugurate Europe’s first traditional stone temple

They say, “It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home.” For three years, creating this mandir became the devotees' life purpose. It was truly a labour of love

Day and night, these devotees endeavoured to bring Swamishri’s vision to life, stone by stone, piece by piece

Swamishri compared the construction of London Mandir to the construction of Gadhada Mandir, and compared his relationship with CM Patel to Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s relationship with Dada Khachar

With the loss of CM Patel in January 1994, and funds running low, the situation was seemingly impossible

It was then that Pramukh Swami Maharaj decided to come to the UK, which proved to be a pivotal moment in the construction of the mandir

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s dentists explain that despite his frail health, advancing age and gruelling schedule, Swamishri regularly visited the construction site – guiding, inspiring and invigorating the volunteers with renewed energy and hope

The tenth chapter of the programme was titled ‘Our New Home’

Narayancharandas Swami reminisces Swamishri's arrival in London just days before the mandir's opening with so much of it still incomplete

Brahmaviharidas Swami narrates Swamishri’s emotional reaction to entering the inner sanctum for the first time in 1995

Kanubhai Patel describes the specific role he and his colleagues played in the construction of the mandir, assigned by Swamishri himself

Ishwarcharandas Swami explains the six-day 'Mandir Mahotsav: Festival of Inspirations' that took place as part of the mandir's opening festivities

Viveksagardas Swami, Atmaswarupdas Swami and Brahmaviharidas Swami reminisce on the uniqueness and magnificence of the London Mandir nagar yatra through the streets of Central London

The most significant moment was when Swamishri surprised the devotees with his presence and took a seat amidst the world-famous signboards of Piccadilly Circus, Central London

Ghanshyambhai Shastri hails the London Mandir Vishwa Shanti Mahayagna as the ‘Aksharbrahma Yagna’, one of the finest he has ever officiated

More than 2,400 devotees from around the world participated in the Vishwa Shanti Mahayagna, which took place at the Gibbons Recreation Ground, opposite the mandir

The moment of placing the murtis within their respective shrines arrived

Bhaktinandandas Swami reveals that the sacred ashes of Bhagwan Swaminarayan were placed underneath his murti in the central shrine of the mandir

Pramukh Swami Maharaj inaugurates BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, on 20 August 1995, fulfilling the vision proclaimed by Yogiji Maharaj in 1970 – the vision that he made his very own

To mark this historic inaugural anniversary, swamis performed a grand maha-arti on the steps of London Mandir

Mahant Swami Maharaj explains how ecstatically Yogiji Maharaj would have reacted to the fulfilment of his prophecy

The eleventh chapter of the programme was titled ‘Not Humanly Possible’

Brahmaviharidas Swami narrates two instances where Pramukh Swami Maharaj has considered London Mandir as one of the sampraday’s crowning creations

In every way, Pramukh Swami Maharaj was the visionary, the creator and the inspirer of London Mandir

London Mandir was finally open, but no one could have realistically foreseen what was to follow – its national impact and rise in international acclaim, including coverage in worldwide media

HRH The Prince of Wales sent a personal message of gratitude and congratulations to HH Mahant Swami Maharaj and the devotees of London Mandir on this momentous occasion

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reminisces on his visits to the mandir and offers his best wishes to HH Mahant Swami Maharaj and the devotees of London Mandir

Hon. Narendra Modi recalls his visit to the mandir and pays tribute to the various community service initiatives the mandir has spearheaded over the past 25 years

British Home Secretary Priti Patel sent a personal message of gratitude and congratulations, thanking the mandir for "the extensive way in which it brings people together of all faiths and also of no faiths, with all backgrounds"

In a personal message, Indian High Commissioner Gaitri Issar Kumar shares why she is "proud" of this "marvel in this modern age" and "a monument to the success of your community"

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan thanked the Mandir for its 'huge contributions to our city' and for being a 'shining example' of what makes London a great capital

Cllr Muhammed Butt pays tribute to the mandir’s active response to the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting the various initiatives that it has organised to help communities across the UK and Europe

The thirteenth chapter of the programme was titled ‘A Gift to Generations’

Rare, unseen footage of Pramukh Swami Maharaj being interviewed by a reporter on the purpose of building a mandir in London

Swamis highlight the far-reaching impact of London Mandir across the UK and Europe

Chetanbhai and Bhumiben Patel share a personal experience where the mandir helped their understanding and gave them vital support in an incredibly challenging period of their lives

Alpaben, Kishanbhai and Devbhai Patel share personal experiences where the positive influence of the mandir and the caring words of their guru helped them through an incredibly challenging period of their lives

The unwavering spirit of selfless service which built the mandir has also enabled the mandir to flourish for the past 25 years. This selfless spirit of seva continues to thrive today

The fourteenth chapter of the programme was titled ‘United We Serve’

Every year, London Mandir hosts one of the largest Diwali celebrations in Europe. Swamis explain the various ‘sevas’ volunteers carry out behind the scenes to make the festival possible

Yagnatilakdas Swami highlights the key ‘sevas’ of the Decoration and Audio-Visual-Lighting-Photography departments over the past 25 years

In one of his blessings, Pramukh Swami Maharaj highlights the harsh conditions in which volunteers have to do their car parking seva

Munirajdas Swami highlights the departments which have helped maintain the mandir over the past 25 years, following Swamishri’s vision of a thousand-year lifetime

Today, Mahant Swami Maharaj has tirelessly written many letters of guidance, advice and appreciation to resident swamis and devotees

Volunteers of London Mandir share why they carry out their seva and what the mandir means to them

Yogvivekdas Swami expresses his sincere gratitude to all the volunteers and supporters who have helped the activities of the mandir over the past 25 years

In the closing sequence, a child, on behalf of the global fellowship, writes a letter to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, thanking him for the gift of London Mandir

The viewers, during the narration of the letter, see the vast number of memories Swamishri bestowed upon devotees in every part of London Mandir

Upon completing the letter, the child begins to fold the sheet of paper…

… into an origami swan, representing his pledge to become a paramhansa of Mahant Swami Maharaj

As the child completes his final fold, hundreds of swans are revealed surrounding him under the central dome of the mandir

The child thereafter goes to Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj and offers a pledge to take care of the gift with which Pramukh Swami Maharaj lovingly graced us

The child thereafter offers his pledge to Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj to take care of London Mandir for future generations

Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj of London Mandir

Finally, the child goes to Pramukh Swami Maharaj to place the swan which contains his letter of gratitude

The swan makes its way to Mahant Swami Maharaj in Nenpur, India

Mahant Swami Maharaj unfolds the swan and reads the child’s letter thanking Pramukh Swami Maharaj for gifting us London Mandir

Mahant Swami Maharaj delivers the concluding address of the London Mandir 25th Anniversary Celebrations, stating that the true way to benefit from the mandir and these celebrations is to become mandirs from within (chaitanya mandirs)

Mahant Swami Maharaj responds to the child’s letter…

… which he thereafter folds into his very own origami swan

The swan finds its way to the sinhasan of Mahant Swami Maharaj in the hall of London Mandir

Devotees around the UK and Europe sent in their own individual swans to represent their place in the celebrations

More than 10,000 swans were placed across the hall, all facing Mahant Swami Maharaj’s swan

During this grand sequence, Mahant Swami Maharaj narrates a powerful monologue, reassuring the whole satsang fellowship that…

“We will meet again and reunite – together as a family; together as one.”

Mahant Swami Maharaj brings the programme to an end by saying: “This is London Mandir. This is our home.”