Swaminarayan temple opened in UK

Amid chanting of vedic hymns, a Hindu temple, built at a cost of 2 million pounds, has been opened in Wellingborough, Northampton of the UK.

Devotees prayed for peace at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, which was opened on Sunday.

On the streets of Wellingborough, more than 1,500 people took part in a parade in which sacred images of deities were taken through the town, before they were installed in the temple.

Dr Hiten Patel, communications volunteer for BAPS said, "These sacred images of the deities will preside over the new temple.This procession allows them to see the town that will soon be their new home as well as to bless the local community. It's a time for devotional celebration."

Most of the people who took part in the parade were from Wellingborough and Northampton.The lavish temple is on the junction of Mill Road and Cannon Street in Wellingborough.

Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is a socio-spiritual Hindu organisation which was revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781-1830) and established in 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj.