Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Cardiff
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
Deity | Swaminarayan in the form of Ghanshyam |
Location | |
Location | Cardiff |
Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
Geographic coordinates | 51°28′26″N 3°11′10″W / 51.474°N 3.186°W |
Architecture | |
Date established | 1979* |
Completed | 1982 |
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Cardiff is a
History
It is the first Swaminarayan temple in Wales, purchased in 1979, being opened in 1982. At the time, the temple was located in a converted synagogue.[4] In 1993, it was moved across the road from the original temple site to the current site, replacing an old Irish club.[2]
Refurbishment
Between 2005 and 2007, the temple underwent major refurbishment work, at the cost of £700,000. This included installation of new marble idols in the temple, three white stone spires (the first on a Hindu temple in Wales), an exterior in the style of a traditional Hindu temple and new classrooms and living quarters. The three spires were placed above three new altars inside the building – one for women, one for men, and one mixed. Half the original temple was brought down, and replaced. During this period, services took place in a temporary room downstairs while work was under way. Most of the funds for the refurbishment came from donations within the community.
Community spirit
The temple has been in the forefront in humanitarian activities. When an earthquake struck Gujarat in 2001, devotees who originated from Gujarat collected £30,000 in just 3 days for victims. The temple priest immediately flew out to oversee relief work. Hundreds of bags of clothes were donated by the community and shipped to Bhuj, the capital of Kutch district, the epicentre of the earthquake.[6] Similarly, later that year, when the September 11 attacks shook the world, the temple along with other religious establishments in Cardiff held a special service in memory of the people who died in the attack.[7]
25th-anniversary celebrations
The refurbishment was completed in time for the 25th anniversary of the temple in 2007. The event was attended by
Diwali celebrations and visit by First Minister
References
- ^ a b "Worshippers celebrate with parade". BBC News. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ a b c "It's a big day for temple project". Wales Online. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "History: Swaminarayan Temple, Cardiff". Archived from the original on 9 June 2010.
- ^ Raymond Brady Williams (2001). An introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
Swaminarayan temple Cardiff.
Page 222 - ^ "Edwina Hart Awards community grants in Cardiff".
- ^ "Earthquake aid Shipment organised". BBC News. 30 January 2001. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ "Services held for attack victims". BBC News. 15 September 2001. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ "Rhodri's Diwali festival honour".
- ^ "First Minister to celebrate Diwali festival with Hindu community". Archived from the original on 20 January 2010.