An asset to whole swindon community. With library, meditation center, inclusive place of worship, brimming with activities and public events all the year round.
Hindus have been living in Swindon for well over 50 years and there is a large Hindu population in the region. In addition, thousands of Hindus mainly from the Indian subcontinent visit Swindon every year on short-term employment contract with some of the key employers in the area. For all these years, there was no place of worship for Hindus in the area and people had to go further afield to places like London, Birmingham to visit Hindu temples, which was not easy/practical specially for families and elderly people. They were compelled to worship in their homes and occasionally hire community halls to celebrate one or two Hindu festivals as small groups. The community was hugely fragmented as a result.
Swindon Hindu Temple Trust was formally established in Feb 2014 to fulfil the aspirations of the Hindu community to establish a Hindu Temple in Swindon as a place of worship and a safe place for socialising. After more than two years of hard work, the first Hindu Temple in Swindon and the County or the region was established on 1st April 2016 when the Trust took lease of the derelict and dilapidated premises in Cheney Manor Industrial Estate and transformed it into one of the most welcoming and aesthetic places. Since then, Hindus not only from Swindon but from surrounding towns/cities such as Cirencester, Newbury, Oxford, Bath, Gloucestershire, etc. visit the Temple for their spiritual needs as well as to meet fellow Hindus. But a lot of ground work actually went in much before it was formally established. The very founding principle of Swindon Hindu Temple was to bring all communities together and that’s precisely how it started.
Different communities were first identified and then people from all communities were invited and spoken to, like Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, other North and South Indian communities. The first community puja event was organised on 5th April 2014 at Freshbrook community centre and then halls/venues were hired every month, painstakingly transporting cars full of items to set up the altar to do monthly worship/puja, followed by hot meals/preetibhoj served to the congregation, to build momentum and bring people together – this continued for good two years before the site for the temple was found. Looking back, we cannot even comprehend what it took to establish the first Hindu Temple in Swindon after more than 50-60 years of Hindus living in the town.
Swindon Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre fulfils a vital need for tens of thousands of people and now serves as the focal point within the region for matters related to the Hindu faith and population in respect of their religious, spiritual, cultural, social, educational, recreational needs, aspirations and endeavours.
Swindon Hindu Temple is not just a temple or a place of worship, it is one of the most vibrant hubs in the county and the nation; it is a movement, a social enterprise, a unifying force; a place for Elderly Club, Ladies Club, Blood Donation, Vaccination sessions, Community Library, Community Centre, Yoga, Meditation, Weddings, Health Camps, Arts & Music, Talks by eminent speakers, School visits, Interfaith activities, Chess Club, Language Classes, Food, Clothes & Toys donation, Fundraising for other charities, etc.
Swindon Hindu Temple has significantly transformed the Swindon town and the region, and made a positive difference in so many ways.
1st Meeting held to discuss the need for a Hindu Temple in Swindon
Meeting held with different community representatives to plan the way forward for the Temple
1st community Bhajan congregation event at Freshbrook Community Centre
Swindon Hindu Temple Trust becomes a Registered Charity (#1158603)
1st Balaji Kalyanam event in Swindon
Nepal Earthquake Relief fundraiser organised
1st International Yoga Day in Swindon
1st public Havan & Katha event in Swindon
1st Krishna Janmashtami event in Swindon
1st Satyanarayan Puja event in Swindon
1st Maha Shivratri event in Swindon.
Lease for 1st Hindu Temple in Swindon signed.
1st Hindu Temple in Swindon formally opens with a puja.
1st public Ganesh Utsav in Swindon.
1st Cultural event by Swindon Hindu Temple (Keyboard musical concert by Sathya).
Swindon Hindu Temple launches Guitar classes .
Swindon Hindu Temple launches free public Yoga sessions with Bhartiya Yog Sansthan.
1st Art of Living Seminar in Swindon.
1st public Baba Balaknath Katha in Swindon.
1st Indian Classical Dance Spectacular event in Swindon.
Swindon Hindu Temple launches Community Library (1st in Swindon managed entirely by volunteers).
1st Indian Food Festival in Swindon.
1st public Mata Ki Chowki event in Swindon.
1st public Karwa Chauth event in Swindon.
Swindon Hindu Temple launches Centre of Indian Classical Music & Dance.
Swindon Hindu Temple launches Chess Club.
1st public Diwali Chopda puja & Lakshmi puja in Swindon.
Jalaram Bappa Jayanti festival celebrations.
Akhand Sai Bhajan event.
Meditation workshop at TE Connectivity corporate office.
1st public celebrations of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Bihu festivals
1st Community Health Workshop (basic life support training) in Swindon
Breast Cancer Awareness Workshop
Free Kitchen (serving hot Indian meals) at Nationwide HQ
Hosted talk by Brahma Kumaris (World Spiritual University)
1st public Holi – Festival of Colours celebrations in Swindon.
1st public Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Vishu, Baisakhi, Puthandu festival celebrations
Hosted Charity Fundraiser Cultural Extravaganza for Rotary Jaipur Limb International project.
Tamil New Year celebrations.
Hosted Violin Music Concert by international artist Shreya Devnath
Bengali New Year Celebrations
Hosted Talk by Spiritual Leader H.H. Dr Bageeshwari Devi
Language classes started (Gujrati, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi)
Solidarity Vigil for Manchester attack victims
Hosted Free Kitchen (serving hot Indian meals) at Regent Circus
Hosted Shiv Katha Saptah by International Spiritual Guru Shri Giri Bapu
Hosted 1st Indian (Kannada) Movie Clapping event in Swindon
Bond of Protection – Raksha Bandhan with British Armed Forces & Emergency Services
1st public Durga Puja in Swindon (inc. Pushpanjali, Bisarjan, Sindoor Khela)
Swindon Hindu Temple wins MTM Special Recognition Award 2017
Provided Indian Food Buffet for Christmas Care Homeless Shelter
Hosted National Hindu Students Forum Bhakti Hanuman Chalisa event
Hosted Indian Classical Violin Musical Concert by International Artist Shreya Devnath
Hosted Satsang by Spiritual Guru Vedantacharya Shri Giriraj ji from India
Hosted Ram Katha Saptah by International Spiritual Guru Swami Chinmayananda Bapu
Hosted Art of Parenting talk by Nirbhayananada Saraswathi Swamii, Veereshananda Saraswathi Swamiji and Paramananda Swamiji of Ramakrishna Mutt, India
Hosted Special Yoga Therapy Session by Manavta
Hosted Ek Sham Mastani Ghazal Night Fundraiser
Hosted Talk on Development Paradigm by Vasant Jajoo from India
Sounds of Isha Musical Concert
1st Bollywood Singer Musical Concert in Swindon
Hosted Solidarity Candlelight Vigil for Pulwama attack victims
Hosted Swindon Stands with Sri Lanka Candlelight Vigil
Dhanyadhivasam Consecration Ceremony, 1st in Swindon
Hosted Healthy Communities CPR Training and Prostate Cancer Awareness Session
Hosted Shrimad Bhagwat Katha Saptah by International Spiritual Guru Pujya Chinmayanand Bapu
Murti Sthapana – Idol Consecration Ceremonies for 3 days
International Yoga Day Celebrations
Hosted Universal Peace Federation for Celebration of Family event
Hosted Talk on Hindu Contribution to Modern World by HSS National Coordinator
Hosted 1st India Consular Camp in Swindon
Hosted Sri Srinivas Balaji Divine Kalyanam event
Hosted Musical Concert by World Record holders Carnatica Brothers
Hosted NHS Blood Donation Camp
Hosted Interfaith Visit
Hosted NHS Blood Donation Camp
Hosted NHS Blood Donation Camp
Hosted NHS Blood Donation Camp
Hosted Varalakshmi Puja
Hosted Raksha Bandhan festival
Hosted Krishna Janmashtami festival celebrations
Hosted Ganesh Utsav festival celebrations
Temple Premises Lease terminated on Health & Safety grounds after multiple break-ins.
Heads of Terms agreement signed for new Temple premises. Rigorous work in progress currently to acquire new/additional premises, obtain statutory permission, undertake refurbishment.
Swindon Hindu Temple formally announces two new premises for their religious, cultural, social, charitable activities.
Swindon Hindu Temple takes the possession of its new premises at Regent House, Theatre Sq, Swindon SN1 1QN