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Bhumi Pujan of BAPS Hindu Mandir, Paris, France

19 Oct 2021

Bhumi pujan is a sacred Hindu ceremony performed before the commencement of a mandir to seek the land’s permission and blessings

Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj blessed the occasion in Paris, France, from Sarangpur, India

Mahant Swami Maharaj inaugurated the event in Paris by performing the arti in Sarangpur that morning

As Mahant Swami Maharaj performed his puja in Sarangpur, devotees were reminded of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s visits to Paris

Pramukh Swami Maharaj had blessed that the whole of Europe will benefit from satsang

Mahant Swami Maharaj himself had blessed Paris in 2017, when the land for today's ceremony was officially granted by the local authorities

On the site in Paris, volunteers had worked tirelessly for days to prepare it for the bhumi pujan ceremony

More than 70 volunteers from across Europe had gathered to help prepare for the event

Everyone served with unity and humility to ensure no stone was left unturned for the event

Devotees of all ages volunteered their time, talent and efforts

The volunteers were tested the night before the ceremony, when torrential rain flooded parts of the marquee – but everyone’s tireless efforts and teamwork ensured everything was dry and ready the next morning

Guests were warmly greeted upon arrival by volunteers in a traditional manner

Each attendee received a puja pack to participate in the ceremony

The puja pack contained flower petals, rice and soil from the site

The bhumi pujan ceremony was preluded with a special mahapuja, presided over by Pujya Yogvivekdas Swami

Upon arrival, Sadguru Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami hailed ‘Paris Mandir Mahotsavni Jay!’ for the first time with the audience

Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami poured water from the holy rivers of India as well as the Seine onto the land prior to the bhumi pujan ceremony

Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami ceremonially blessed the land himself as swamis chanted Vedic mantras of auspiciousness

Yogvivekdas Swami, head swami for BAPS in UK and Europe, also participated in the ceremony

The historic moment was enthusiastically greeted by the attendees

More than 500 devotees from around Europe as well as Parisians of various faiths and backgrounds had gathered to witness this historic occasion, with thousands more watching online

Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami concluded the mahapuja being performed for the bhumi pujan ceremony

Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami prayed for the prompt and successful completion of the mandir project as well as for the well-being and happiness of all the people of Paris and France

A youth explained in French the religious and cultural significance of mandirs as a place of worship, learning and public service

Mayor of Bussy-Saint-Georges, Yann Dubosc, hailed the mandir as a welcome and valuable addition to the multicultural landscape of Paris

A local devotee welcomed and felicitated Claudine Thomas, Senator of Seine-et-Marne and Member of the Social Affairs Commission

Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami released ‘Satsang Diksha’ in French

Mahant Swami Maharaj had blessed the new publication in Sarangpur, earlier that same morning

Children pose with Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami after reciting verses from Satsang Diksha in Sanskrit and French

Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami also released an informative brochure about the upcoming mandir in Paris

The brochure briefly introduces the key features of the mandir and how to participate in this momentous project

A local Hindu devotee rejoices with Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami at the advent of a traditional Hindu mandir in Paris

At the end of the ceremony, devotees and guests all came to offer their now sanctified soil back into the ground

The returning of the soil symbolised the devotees’ respect, care and commitment to the land for the new mandir

Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami also performed a special ceremony in an excavated part of the mandir site

He blessed the land with flowers, rice and water sanctified by Mahant Swami Maharaj

Local volunteers placed a brick sanctified by Mahant Swami Maharaj into the land, marking the auspicious beginning of the mandir project

Swamis also joined in offering their prayers to the land, seeking forgiveness for any harm that may fall upon Mother Earth in the construction process

Sadguru Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami with Thakorji and swamis