ROBBINSVILLE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On October 8, 2023, the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, N.J., a Hindu temple that took 12 years and 12,500 volunteers to complete and is believed to be the largest Hindu temple in the Western Hemisphere, celebrated its grand opening. The monumental occasion was marked with an inauguration by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS. It was attended by volunteers, well-wishers and dignitaries, including Governor John Carney of Delaware, Congressman Andy Kim of New Jersey, Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General of India in New York. The festivities concluded with fireworks illuminating the evening sky above the temple, webcast to viewers worldwide.
“The temple is a bridge – a bridge from the past to the future, a bridge from India to America, a bridge from one community to the next,” remarked Governor Carney, sharing his admiration for Akshardham with the crowd.
“May all souls who come here experience param shanti (eternal bliss) and param anand (eternal happiness) in their lives,” said Mahant Swami Maharaj in his blessings during the last sacred ritual.
Envisioned by the esteemed Hindu guru His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the late spiritual leader of BAPS, Akshardham serves as a place of peace, inspiration and unity for individuals from all walks of life. It is a center for religious practice, cultural expression, art and architecture and education.
BAPS initiated the creation of Swaminarayan Akshardham in 2011. It stands as a revered Hindu place of worship that honors Bhagwan Swaminarayan, his spiritual successors, and other Hindu deities, including Bhagwan Shri Sita-Ram, Bhagwan Shri Radha-Krishna and Bhagwan Shri Padmavati-Tirupati and more, across its 13 inner sanctums.
Drawing from traditional mandir architecture described in ancient Hindu scriptures, Akshardham has been designed to stand for over a millennium. With stones quarried from Italy, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, India, and other countries, intricately hand-carved by master artisans in India and assembled in Robbinsville by thousands of volunteers from North America and around the world, Akshardham was truly a global endeavor. BAPS created the temple to preserve values of faith, unity, and selfless service for generations.
Several events were held in the week prior to Sunday’s grand opening, including programs that celebrated BAPS’ core values.
“[BAPS] has become part of our community, and we are honored that you thought to choose our community and had the vision to turn this piece of land into something that is truly unbelievable and one of the wonders of the world,” said Robbinsville Mayor David Fried at the Community Day celebration that brought together over 38 elected officials, including 16 mayors from across the nation.
Volunteers from diverse age groups and professions, including students, artists, engineers, entrepreneurs and career professionals, united to create the spiritual haven. Their selfless contributions, offered as acts of devotion, highlight the essence of unity and mutual respect promoted by BAPS. Akshardham symbolizes the diversity and vibrancy of the Indian American community in the United States.
With a deep commitment to service, BAPS launched several community programs in anticipation of the grand opening of Akshardham. Among these were the Days of Giving campaign and an extensive 10-week marathon blood drive. The Days of Giving initiative gathered over 12,000 donations of school supplies, hygiene essentials and food items for the local community. Meanwhile, the marathon blood drive, recognized as one of the longest-running drives in New Jersey, responded to the nationwide blood shortage by collecting enough donations to potentially save over 10,000 lives.
Additionally, the Festival of Inspirations, a three-month-long celebration leading up to the opening of the temple, commemorated Hinduism’s legacy through prayer and programs celebrating diversity, women’s contributions, unity, non-violence, and interfaith harmony.
“Through harmony, unity and inclusivity, you all have accomplished a remarkable feat under the guidance of your spiritual gurus. I am positive that great people like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi would appreciate the beautiful art and architecture of this Akshardham. More importantly, they would cherish the principles of peace for all, harmony and love upon which the structure stands,” expressed Ndileka Mandela, the eldest grandchild of Nelson Mandela, at a program celebrating women and youth.
“As I looked through this magnificent structure, the words that popped into my head were from the Vayikra from Leviticus: love your neighbor as yourself. We are on this planet together and need to work together to make the world a better place. There’s more that unites us than divides us,” said Rabbi Jay M. Kornsgold, Senior Rabbi at Beth El Synagogue, at the Interfaith Harmony Day, where religious leaders from different faiths engaged in an open dialogue.
Beyond being a sacred space for Hindu Americans to deepen their faith, Akshardham invites the broader community to experience Hindu and Indian culture and traditions. For enthusiasts of culture and architecture, it may serve as a hub of knowledge and learning. Future plans for Akshardham include a museum with interactive exhibits explaining Hinduism’s history, core teachings and universal values, as well as the remarkable journey of how Akshardham was created.
Akshardham will be open to all visitors beginning October 18, 2023. For more information or for inquiries about future visits, please visit https://usa.akshardham.org/.
About BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham
The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham at Robbinsville, N.J., is a sacred place of worship and a center of Hindu architecture, culture, unity, and selfless service. Presenting India’s heritage to modern America, it embodies the visionary guidance of BAPS leaders Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Mahant Swami Maharaj. Created by volunteers around the world, this masterpiece stands as an enduring symbol of love while preserving traditions and spreading messages of peace, hope, and harmony across generations.
About BAPS
Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is a volunteer-driven spiritual organization committed to fostering individual growth through Hindu values of faith, service, and harmony. It enriches society with the devoted efforts of tens of thousands of volunteers from diverse professional and social backgrounds, contributing millions of volunteer hours annually. Under the spiritual leadership of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS nurtures Indian traditions in over 100 North American and 3,500 communities worldwide. Through these communities, it champions holistic personal growth, promotes social progress, and encourages diversity by embracing all.
