A GRAND procession will take place from Alperton to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London – popularly known as ‘Neasden Temple’ – on Sunday (17) to commemorate the birth centenary of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2016), one of the world’s great spiritual leaders and the creator of the iconic Neasden Temple.
The ‘Nagar Yatra’, as the devotional parade is traditionally called, will bring together hundreds of men, women and children from across the country for a colourful, joyous occasion through the streets of Alperton and Wembley.
The procession will feature giant 3D decorative floats exhibiting various aspects of the forthcoming 10-day ‘Festival of Inspirations’ (click here for further details), including the ‘Island of Heroes’, a children’s cultural adventure-land packed with fun shows and interactive games.
The celebratory gathering will include devotional music and will be flanked by traditional Indian folk dancing by children and youth dressed in vibrant costumes.
The procession will fittingly conclude at the ‘Pramukh Swami Maharaj Maha-Murti’ – a 27-foot image of Pramukh Swami Maharaj housed in the courtyard of Neasden Temple that has been installed as a tribute to the temple’s creator.
Pooja Barot, one of the lead organisers of the event, said, “This wonderful, uplifting occasion will invoke memories from 1995 when a similar nagar yatra was held from Trafalgar Square and travelled to Piccadilly Circus in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj during the inauguration of Neasden Temple. We are delighted to bring together hundreds of people once again and share with the local community the universal cultural values that Pramukh Swami Maharaj fostered during his many visits to the UK and on his travels throughout the world.”
Under HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj's leadership, BAPS flourished into an international spiritual and humanitarian organisation with more than one million members, 55,000 volunteers and 3,850 centres across the world.
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View of the entrance to Blickling Hall on a rainy autumn dayAmit Roy 
Kente cloth from Ghana in the Long Gallery in Blickling Hall 
Decoration in the Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Palampore fragment made in coastal south-east India in the Brown Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Bed valance dating from early 1700s in the Italian Print Room at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Indian inspired fabric draped on sofas in the South Drawing Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Indian inspired fabric draped on sofas in the South Drawing Room with Indian carpet in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
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ikat robes and arabachi coats in the Peter the Great Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
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Baghs and kanthas in the entrance Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy
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Kimono in Upper Ante Room in Blickling Hall 
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Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
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Unfinished 17th century Italian embroidery in the Print Room at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
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A panel of Ashburnham bed hangings made in Gujarat for sale in Europe in the Brown Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
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