The Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple in Manchester celebrated its 37th anniversary over the weekend with a ‘Gayatri Maha Yagya’ and a day of celebrations.
The two temple priests, Acharya Shyam Sunder ji and Acharya Krishnakant Attri ji, conducted a day of festivities on June 16 to mark nearly four decades of community engagement.
Commencing with a ‘Kalash Yatra’ at 10am, the day also saw ‘Gauri Ganesh Sarvadev Pujan’ followed by traditional singing of bhajans and kirtans. Afternoon refreshments were followed by the main event of the ‘Gayatri Maha Yagya’. After that, a spiritual talk was followed by the ‘Maha Aarti’ and the ‘Preeti Bhojan’ (meal).
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Gita Bhavan Hindu Mandir has, over the years, become a central part of the British Hindu diaspora in Manchester, with religious celebrations, spiritual gatherings and community events happening almost every weekend.
During some of the most popular festivals of the year, such as the Janmashtami or Ganesh Chaturthi, the temple hosts up to a thousand visitors in a single day. Along with this, it also hosts monthly talks on various riveting topics and school trips from across Manchester with an aim of educating and informing about Hinduism.
In the past couple of decades, Manchester's Hindu population has grown significantly, highlighting the need for a community hall and a worship space to help the younger generation connect with their cultural and religious roots.
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Gita Bhavan began as a vision among a few British Hindus in 1987, starting with five families meeting monthly in a church hall. The current site, purchased the same year, was in dire condition with issues like dry rot, broken windows, and a leaking roof. With a substantial grant from Manchester City Council, the building was restored to its current state, and the community is profoundly grateful for the council's support.
This vision become a reality, thanks to the aid and dedication of many. The temple is now not only a place of worship but also a centre for cultural and religious activities, instilling a sense of cultural identity within the British Hindu community.