THE King and Queen were presented with elaborate flower garlands as they celebrated the 30th anniversary of a landmark Hindu temple with its devotees yesterday. Charles and Camilla wished worshippers a belated “Happy Diwali” – the Hindu festival of lights celebrated on October 20 – as they enjoyed a tour and observed spiritual ceremonies at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in West London, popularly known as the Neasden temple.
Priests dressed in flowing orange robes placed garlands of roses and carnations around the necks of the royal couple when they first arrived. And sacred threads called nada chadi were tied around their right wrists “to show our bonds remain ever sweet,” the King was told by a priest.
They then watched as children performed Shanti Path, a Vedic prayer for world peace.
Their visit on its 30th anniversary also looked forward to the completion of BAPS Mandir in Paris, which will be the first traditional Hindu temple in France.
They met architects and viewed a model of the temple ,which is currently under construction but due to be completed in September 2026.
The Neasden temple is Europe’s first traditional Hindu stone temple and was the largest to be built outside India at the time of its completion.
Stretching 102,018 square feet, the temple is covered in ornately carved stone and is built using classical Vedic architectural principles, with no structural steel and its ceilings and pillars are decorated with figures reflecting the devotion and craftsmanship.
The King and Queen observed a family of four perform an Abhishek—a ceremonial pouring of water over a deity’s image. Charles asked the family how often they performed an Abhishek and whether the children were off school for half term.
The family told him about the festivities and fireworks for Diwali just over a week before.
Leaving the Abhishek, the King said to them, “Well, very happy belated Diwali.”
The congregation, wearing traditional Indian dress, stood and applauded as the King and Queen entered the main assembly hall, with children lining the central aisle waving BAPS flags.
The head priest, Pujya Yogvivekdas Swami, said their presence on the 30th anniversary reflected the “relationship that runs long and deep”, having marked both “joy” and “sorrow” on previous visits, from celebrating Holi to reflecting on the Gujarat earthquake.
The head priest then presented the King with a special gift and the Queen with sweets, representing, “the sweet enduring friendship between the crown and our community”.