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British PM Rishi Sunak & Akshata Murty Visit Neasden Temple, London, UK

29 Jun 2024

Prime Minister Sunak & Mrs Murty Visit Neasden Temple

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, accompanied by his wife Akshata Murty, visited Neasden Temple on Saturday 29 June 2024

Yogvivekdas Swami greeted the Prime Minister in a traditional Hindu manner by tying a nadachhadi (sacred thread symbolising goodwill) on his wrist

Prime Minister Sunak warmly received the traditional Hindu welcome from the swamis

Prime Minister Sunak posed at the ornate steps of the Mandir with senior swamis and trustees of BAPS UK & Europe

Mrs Murty was also greeted in a traditional Hindu manner by senior volunteers of the Mandir while children chanted Vedic verses

Prime Minister Sunak and Mrs Murty greeted people with folded hands atop the ornate steps of the Mandir

Yogvivekdas Swami led the Prime Minister into the inner sanctum of the Mandir

Prime Minister Sunak engaged in darshan of the sacred images of Parabrahma Purushottam Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan, Aksharbrahma Shri Gunatitanand Swami and Aksharmukta Shri Gopalanand Swami

Yogvivekdas Swami introduced His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, to the Prime Minister

Mrs Murty offered her personal prayers in front of the sacred images

Mrs Murty engaged in darshan of the various sacred images in the inner sanctum

Children offered fresh flower petals to the Prime Minister and his wife...

...which they offered at the central shrine to the sacred images

The Prime Minister and his wife marvelled at the traditional Hindu architecture of the Mandir

Prime Minister Sunak and Mrs Murty offered their respect and prayers to His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj

Prime Minister Sunak and Mrs Murty offered an abhishek to Shri Nilkanth Varni, the teenage form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, as part of a traditional Hindu peace prayer

Prime Minister Sunak met several volunteers of various ages

Prime Minister Sunak also met some of the resident swamis of the Mandir

Prime Minister Sunak met the trustees of BAPS UK & Europe

Mrs Murty met several volunteers of various ages

Sanjay Kara, a BAPS trustee for the UK, introduced the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir currently under construction in Paris, France

Prime Minister Sunak was particularly impressed by the dedication of the young volunteers

The Prime Minister and his wife warmly greeted the audience as they entered the assembly hall

Yogvivekdas Swami greeted the Prime Minister in the assembly on behalf of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj

A senior volunteer greeted Mrs Murty in the assembly

Prime Minister Sunak, Yogvivekdas Swami, and Jitu Patel, Chairman for BAPS in the UK, watched a message of prayers for the people of UK from His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj

Yogvivekdas Swami recalled some of the previous interactions of the Prime Minister with BAPS

Prime Minister Sunak addressed the assembly with words of welcome, gratitude and inspiration

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the “contribution that the Temple and its community makes to Britain”

Prime Minister also appreciated the “leadership and inspiration of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj”

Yogvivekdas Swami presented the Prime Minister with an Amrut Kalash, a traditional Hindu memento symbolising fulfilment, immortality and prosperity

The Prime Minister took out time to meet members of the congregation

Mrs Murty also met several members of the congregation

The Prime Minister met several members of the congregation

Prime Minister Sunak and Mrs Murty posed before the mahamurti of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the creator of Neasden Temple, before departing from the Mandir