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Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, 2009
On 2 June 2009, The Children’s Forum of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, UK (BAPS), based at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London, was announced as one of 95 volunteering groups from across the country – and only one of two in London – winning the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2009. The Award recognises the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others. |
Time Out’s
Seven Wonders of London
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Seven Wonders of London, 2007
Time Out, the highly respected international city-guide publishers, declared the Mandir as one of the “Seven Wonders of London”. In an “epic series… to pay tribute to… the capital’s seven most iconic buildings and landmarks”, they embarked upon an ambitious search of London’s best. The Mandir featured among the choice seven. |
UK Pride of Place Award
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UK Pride of Place Award, 2007
The Mandir was awarded the ‘UK Pride of Place’ award by Government authorities after a nationwide online poll. After weeks of voting, the Mandir registered the largest number of votes across the country as well as in London, with an overwhelming 81% of votes from the London Borough of Brent. This means the Mandir was voted as the place that generates the greatest pride amongst local residents. Ministers hailed it as “an inspiring building of which the whole country can be proud.” |
Guinness World Records 2002
Annakut Festival, London, 2000
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Guinness
World Records 2002
There
are 45,000 officially recognised records approved by Guinness
World Records limited. Every year some 3,000 are chosen and
published in the book.
The 2002 edition had a print run of 3.7 million copies distributed
in 40 countries and in 20 languages. The first book of records
was printed in 1955 and to date over 90 million copies have
been sold.
In
the 2002 edition, the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha has the distinction
of being mentioned three times.
Influential
People
The
book has a section on Influential People of the World. Pramukh
Swami Maharaj was chosen as one of the most influential people
today in recognition for his contribution in transforming the
lives of millions through the building of mandirs.
Record-breaking
Annakut Festival, London
Guinness World Records presented a certificate to recognise
the world record of offering 1247 vegetarian dishes during the
Annakut Festival held at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London
on 27 October 2000.
Record-breaking
Mandir
Guinness
World Records presented a certificate to recognise the largest
traditionally-built Hindu temple outside India.
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Guinness
World Records 2001
Guinness
World Records recognises the largest
traditionally-built Hindu temple outside India. |
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Mr. Tim
Footman presents Guinness World Records certificates to Pramukh
Swami Maharaj, July 2000
Biggest Hindu Temple
Outside India
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Guinness
World Records 2000
The
Millennium Edition of Guinness World Records 2000 hailed
His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj as a masterbuilder. On page
36, under the Architects & Masterbuilders category of the
Knowledge section, a colour photograph of the London mandir and
Pramukh
Swami Maharaj, together with brief details
of the Mandir were included.
The book reveals, "Biggest Hindu Temple Outside India: The
Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, London, UK, is the largest
Hindu temple outside India. It was built by His Holiness Pramukh
Swami Maharaj, a 79-year-old Indian sadhu (holy man), and is made
of 2,828 tonnes of Bulgarian limestone and 2,000 tonnes of Italian
marble, which was first shipped to India to be carved by a team
of 1,526 sculptors. The temple cost £12 million to build."
As it was a collector's item, a staggering 2.7 million copies
of the new Millennium Edition were printed, making it the largest
initial print run of a colour illustrated non-fiction book. The
English edition was distributed to 70 different countries, with
another 22 editions in foreign languages. |
Guinness Book
of Records 1998
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Guinness
Book of Records 1998
The
Mandir was mentioned in the 1998 edition of the Guinness Book
of Records on page 172 in the Religious Architecture section,
as the "Largest Hindu Temple outside India". |
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Guinness
Book of Records 1997 |
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Guinness
Book of Records
1997
The
first time the Mandir was recognized was in the 1997 Guinness
Book of Records on page 185 in
the Architecture category of the Commerce section. A colour photograph
and details of the mandir were included under the title "Largest
stone Hindu temple outside India."
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Royal
Commission on the Historical Monuments
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Royal
Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
In the 1997/8 Annual Report of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, the Mandir is featured on page 22 and is referred to as a "modern building of major importance in our multicultural society." The back page depicts a photo of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj doing darshan of the murtis in the central shrine. |
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The Eventful 20th Century – 70 Wonders
of the Modern World |
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The
Eventful 20th Century – 70 Wonders of the Modern World
This prestigious Reader's Digest publication (1998) prominently
mentions the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, lauding its scale,
intricate detail and the extraordinary story of how it was built
and inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
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Building
Award
Most
Enterprising Building Award, 1996 – awarded by the Royal Fine Art
Commission & British Sky Broadcasting for the Swaminarayan Mandir
in London. |
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Natural
Stone Award
The
Stone Federation issued a special award to the Swaminarayan Hindu
Mandir in 1995 as part of its Natural Stone Awards. |
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Environmental
Award
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Environmental
Award
Brent Green Leaf
Award for 1995, England, was presented by ALCAN to BAPS for collecting
over seven million cans in less than three years.
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