Temple visit

Year 8 students visited the Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden this week, consolidating their studies on the Hindu faith.

The day began with a video outlining how the Mandir came to be. Fourteen hundred skilled craftsmen in India were involved in designing and making the individual parts; one thousand Hindu volunteers in London then assembled those parts; altogether, it took 3 years to complete the feat of erecting Swaminarayan Mandir seen today. From here the girls were allowed to explore the Marble Temple, with its statues of the various Hindu Gods, to extend their learning in lessons. The balcony section was open, an unexpected treat, so students could explore the views of the grand steps leading up to the Mandir.

The exhibition area featured tapestries of the stories of Hindu texts and characters, conveying the essence of the Hindu faith rooted in nature, people and animals. Signs explained the connection between Hinduism, one of the oldest religions in the world, and civilisation today, highlighting astrology, philosophy, mathematics and surgery. Finally students observed arti (worship ritual) take place in the Marble Temple and listened to the chanting. To conclude, the temple speaker explained why Hindus are vegetarian, wear bindis, the meaning of the festival Holi and the importance of prayer. The girls, as always, asked lots of probing questions and were warmly invited back to volunteer at the Mandir over the summer and beyond – an edifying trip for students and staff alike.