Submitted by Iona C. Hine on Sat, 01/11/2025 - 09:38
The head monk of Neasden Temple tied a sacred thread round King Charles' wrist. Cambridge PhD-student Tilak Parekh has been reflecting on the significance of Wednesday's royal visit.
In an opinion piece for the Religion News Service, Tilak explains:
"With its intricately carved limestone and gleaming marble, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir is widely recognized as the first traditional Hindu stone temple built in the Western world. The king’s fifth visit to the mandir, commonly known as the Neasden Temple for its neighborhood in northwest London, marked the mandir’s 30th anniversary."
Tilak is well-placed to comment on this topic, as he is presently writing up his extensive fieldwork observations in and around the Neasden Hindu community.
Read the full article at ReligionNews.com: In visit to Hindu temple, King Charles demonstrates power of presence in a divided world.