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Inauguration of new BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Birmingham, UK

23 Oct 2021 to 24 Oct 2021

Pramukh Swami Maharaj first graced Birmingham in 1974

Pramukh Swami Maharaj blessed several devotees’ homes during his visit in 1974

Pramukh Swami Maharaj addressing a satsang assembly during his visit in 1974

Pramukh Swami Maharaj graced Birmingham for a second time, in 1977, seen here with Mahant Swami, other swamis and several local devotees

Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Mahant Swami and other swamis with some of the pioneering devotees of Birmingham Satsang Mandal during their visit in 1977

Pramukh Swami Maharaj blessing a child during his visit in 1977

16 Doris Road, Sparkhill, where satsang sabhas were conducted in the 1980s

After visiting in 1980, his third isit, Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s grace Birmingham again, for the fourth time, in 1982, when he blessed several devotees’ homes

Pramukh Swami Maharaj performing his morning puja in Birmingham, in 1982

Pramukh Swami Maharaj presiding over a satsang assembly in 1984, his fifth visit to Birmingham

Mahant Swami and sant mandal visited Birmingham in 1986, while on their research tour of the UK and Europe for Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar, India

Mahant Swami and Ishwarcharan Swami perform the arti at a devotee’s home in Birmingham in 1986

Mahant Swami blessed several devotees’ homes during his visit in 1986

Mahant Swami on his way to visit devotees’ homes in Birmingham, 1986

On his sixth visit to Birmingham, in 1988, a special welcome assembly had been organised at Shri Ram Mandir

Pramukh Swami Maharaj at Shri Ram Mandir during his visit in 1988

Pramukh Swami Maharaj walking in a local park during his visit to Birmingham in 1988

Pramukh Swami Maharaj blessed several devotees’ homes during his visit in 1988

In London, in 1990, Pramukh Swami Maharaj discussed plans with volunteers for a new satsang bhavan in Birmingham

Female devotees conducted several special events and festivals at the Satsang Bhavan on Ivor Road during the 1990s

Youths engaged in devotional programmes at the Satsang Bhavan during the 1990s

Youths serving the community at the Satsang Bhavan on Ivor Road

Children and youths from Birmingham participated in local and national sports tournaments during the 1990s

Participants from Birmingham during a charity event in 1999, raising money and awareness for local and national causes

The Hindu New Year in 2000 was celebrated at Birmingham Pragati Mandal Hall

Volunteers helped refurbish the Satsang Bhavan in 2000

Swaminarayan Jayanti and Rama Navmi celebrations at the Satsang Bhavan in 2000

Youths perform kirtan bhakti during the Swaminarayan Jayanti and Rama Navmi celebrations in 2000

Youths perform a skit during the Swaminarayan Jayanti and Rama Navmi celebrations in 2000

Swaminarayan Jayanti and Rama Navmi celebrations at the Satsang Bhavan in 2000

Devotees enjoying a satsang sabha at the Satsang Bhavan, 2001

Atmaswarupdas Swami presented prizes to participants after a children’s parayan at the Satsang Bhavan in 2001

Youths enjoying a satsang sabha at the Satsang Bhavan, 2001

In 2002, a disused school was acquired on Pitmaston Road to cater for the growing numbers and activities of the local fellowship

Volunteers worked hard to clean and repurpose the school as a hari mandir

Trustees from London worked with the local devotees to repurpose the school as a hari mandir

Devotees participated in a mahapuja to inaugurate the newly repurposed mandir

Children celebrate Swaminarayan Jayanti and Rama Navmi at the newly repurposed hari mandir

In 2004, more than 100 swamis from India visited the mandir on Pitmaston Road

A special mahapuja was performed as part of the murti pratishtha ceremony

Devotees participated in the mahapuja for the murti pratishtha ceremony in 2006

In 2006, swamis from London consecrated new murtis at the mandir on Pitmaston Road

In 2011, Sadguru Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami performed the bhumi pujan ceremony of the new mandir on Pitmaston Road

Devotees participated in the bhumi pujan ceremony for the new mandir on Pitmaston Road

A new sinhasan was installed at the hari mandir in 2013 in the presence of Sadguru Pujya Bhaktipriyadas (‘Kothari’) Swami

The murtis in the new sinhasan

Pramukh Swami Maharaj blessed the bricks for the ground-breaking ceremony of the new mandir in Birmingham, in Sarangpur, India, on 3 April 2016

On behalf of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Sadguru Pujya Kothari Swami performed the ground-breaking ceremony at the Pitmaston Road site in Birmingham, on 5 June 2016

Pujya Kothari Swami places the bricks sanctified by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in the foundations of the new mandir

Mahant Swami Maharaj performed the pratishtha ceremony of the murtis for the new mandir, in Nenpur, India, on 31 December 2020

Mahant Swami Maharaj performed the abhishek and arti of the Nilkanth Varni Maharaj murti for the new mandir, in Nenpur, India, on 4 April 2021

Swamis offered a decorative garland of rosaries to Mahant Swami Maharaj prepared by devotees of Birmingham

Mahant Swami Maharaj inaugurated the Mandir Mahotsav festivities during his morning puja in Sarangpur, India, on 23 October 2021

Akshar Purushottam Maharaj also blessed the festivities on the morning on 23 October 2021

Mahant Swami Maharaj blessed a devotional gift box that contained a special invitation to bless the Mandir Mahotsav festivities