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CNN World News
STUDIO (Richard
Blystone): Weeks from now, what's billed as one of the world's
biggest Hindu temples is due to open in London. It's not finished
yet and workers are racing to meet the deadline. Margaret Lowry
has that story.
REPORTER: Two weeks from a scheduled completion. A flurry of
finishing touches on the Swaminarayan Hindu Temple. Followers
of the sect claim that it is the largest Hindu temple ever built
outside India – this in a working class London suburb better
known for Irish immigrants – took a dozen years in the planning.
SAGOON PATEL (Project Director): We import the marble, the limestone
from European countries, sent it to India where all this beautiful
intricate carving was done, shipped it back here, and an enormous
jigsaw puzzle was assembled here.
REPORTER: This enormous jigsaw puzzle is largely the work of
devotees of the Guru Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the inspirer
– a charismatic leader claiming some 15,000 families in Britain,
about 3,000 in London alone and a huge following in the Indian
State of Gujarat.
RHODES BOYSON MP: One third of my constituency comes from Gujarat
and they've always wanted to have a big temple here, where they
can worship as they want to worship and here it is. And it's
been done entirely by the Hindu community.
REPORTER: The project has involved over 1500 craftsmen in India
and hundreds of volunteers here. A labour of love, they say,
is financed by donations and impossible to estimate.
Swaminarayan followers boast their temple and the adjacent cultural
complex will rival the Taj Mahal when it's done. Margaret Lowry,
CNN, London.
(Coverage time: 2 min 30 sec.)
August 1995
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BBC
WORLD
"Britain's Taj Mahal"
...what's thought
to be the largest Hindu temple outside India opens in London today...
STUDIO: The money for the Swaminarayan Temple built in the west
of the city has been raised almost entirely by the Gujarati community
in Britain. Mike Wooldridge reports on the celebrations on a landmark
day for the British Hindu community.
REPORTER: Hindus not just from across Britain but from as far
afield as India, East Africa and the States will be taking part
in six days of opening ceremonies which began this morning as
floats were prepared for a parade through Central London.
They'll carry the idols which will be installed later in the most
sacred part of the temple. The lengths they've gone to in faithfully
following the tradition of temple building laid down in ancient
Hindu scriptures are staggering. The marble was first shipped
from Italy to India, where it was carved by 1,500 skilled sculptors
and then sent to Britain for the pieces to be slotted together
like a jigsaw. They've recreated designs that haven't been used
in six centuries. There's a similar revival of craftsmanship in
the carving of the Burma teak in the cultural complex.
The leader of the Swaminarayan Movement called for a temple to
last a thousand years.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj: Because God will reside in this country,
through His temple the whole country will be blessed.
Reporter: The architecture is undeniably awesome. But the temple
stands too as a symbol of the growing self-confidence of one of
Britain's largest religious minorities. Mike Wooldridge, BBC News.
STUDIO: The Mission which built the temple is staging a six-day
festival to mark the temple's opening that begins today with a
parade through Central London. The people taking part left Hyde
Park in Central London about an hour and a half ago – and we can
now go live to Central London to talk to one of the volunteers
who helped build the temple.
STUDIO (BBC TV center): What's been the reactions of the people
on the streets of London who don't usually see things like this?
Volunteer: I think it's overwhelmingly joyous. They're all very
pleased to see such cultural processions coming through the streets.
Everybody that's taking part is having a wonderful time. It's
a joyous occasion. We are all having a great time because it's
a landmark for not only the Hindus, but for society at large because
such a temple will grace the United Kingdom.
STUDIO: It's a momentous day of course for the Hindu community.
It's Lord Krishna's birthday and of course, the opening of this
long-awaited temple. How important is this temple going to be
for people – do you think you will attract very many thousands
of visitors as has another temple just outside London?
Volunteer: I think the temple is very important – not only for
the Hindus but for society and humanity at large, because it promotes
better living and better values. The temple is not owned by any
one man or any one generation. It inspires generations to come
and is owned by humanity. So I think the society at large will
benefit from this magnificent temple in London.
STUDIO: Now I knew earlier today that you held a march in London
and we can see some pictures of that right now. What was the purpose
of the march?
Volunteer: Whenever the sacred ceremonies of the murti pratistha
– idol installation – take place, prior to that, through the city
streets of the town that the Lord is going to reside in – the
idols are then marched through the streets giving a chance for
the people that live around the city to see the Lord and for the
Lord to bless the city that He is going to reside in.
STUDIO: Thankfully, the sun has shone for you today. It's as hot
in London, I understand, as it is anywhere in India. Thank you
very much indeed for joining us.
BBC NEWS HOUR
(Coverage time: 4 min 40 sec.)
London, Friday 18 August 1995
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SKY NEWS
REPORTER: It's
been hailed as the Taj Mahal of Britain and today thousands
of people flocked to see the final opening ceremony of the temple
in Neasden in North West London. It's the biggest traditional
Hindu temple to have been built in Europe. Presiding over the
ceremonies was the man who inspired it in the first place, the
leader of the Swaminarayan Hindu Mission – Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
His followers believe he has remarkable powers. Late last week,
craftsmen and builders were working round the clock to get the
temple finished in time. It's taken three years to construct
and more than 3000 volunteers have been drafted in to help.
Today, the most important of the ancient rituals was performed
– the purification of the idols which have been installed in
the temple's inner sanctum.
They say the temple will be for Hindus what Canterbury Cathedral
is to Anglicans. It will be a focal point for Asians around
the country and it's certain to put the Borough of Neasden firmly
on the map. Kane Haynes, Sky News.
(Coverage time: 1 min 25 sec.)
Sunday 20 August 1995
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