Hindu temple opens after redevelopment

A HINDU temple in Greenford, west London, has opened its new eco-friendly building to the public after undergoing redevelopment.

The Shree Jalaram Mandir in Greenford held its Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav followed by a grand opening ceremony on June 23.

Dedicated to Shree Jalaram Bapa, the temple was temporarily relocated from Greenford to Perivale while it underwent an ambitious redevelopment project.

The new building has three levels and houses a prayer hall, a meditation room, a dining

area, special kitchen, a storage area, a library and an audio-visual room.

Solar panels power the entire structure.

In addition to housing idols of all three main streams of Sanatan Dharma - Vaishnavism,

Shaivism and Shaktism - the new building will also host idols of Swaminarayan Bhagwan and Mahavir Swami.

Set up in 2000, the Shree Jalaram temple in Greenford has been a pillar for the community

and its charitable work extends beyond the Hindu faith.

The temple’s Sadavrat (free soup kitchen) is open to all, irrespective of race or religion,

and it has been providing thousands of free meals weekly.