As part of the ‘iGlobal’ DiwaliFest 2020 celebrations, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, popularly known as the Neasden Temple, took viewers back into time to relive 25 years of Diwali celebrations.
BAPS Neasden Temple first opened its doors on August 20, 1995, and has become an international community-based Hindu organisation affiliated to the United Nations, caring for individuals, families, and societies.
Under the spiritual leadership of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS strives to build a righteous, peaceful, and harmonious community that is spiritually elevated.
The rare and exclusive journey through the BAPS archives this week gave the audience at home the unique opportunity to capture some of the mandir’s most iconic moments and for some a nostalgic journey.
Highlights included HRH Prince Charles with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, visit to the temple in 2007 where he shared his joy and privilege of celebrating the Festival of Lights Diwali, with the British Hindu community.
He also highlighted the extravagant celebrations Neasden Temple is known for as being the most magnificent in all of Britain – as was reflected in the archival presentation.
The temple, which has hosted a variety of national and international dignitaries, included archive footage of the former UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the then Mayor of London and now Prime Minister of the UK, Boris Johnson, who both spoke with passion of the importance of Diwali as they joined in celebrating the Hindu New Year.
Likewise, the ISKON Pandava Sena, took the audience at home back to the dawn of creation as it offered an epic re-enactment of one of the most influential ancient texts in Eastern philosophy – the ‘Bhagavad Gita’.
The immersive performance was centered around a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Prince Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
ISKON Pandava Sena is an international youth organisation centered on making spirituality a part of our modern-day lives through the teachings of Krishna Consciousness.
*Catch some of the action you may have missed, here