Shree Hindu Community Centre at Shree Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Birmingham celebrated “Shikhar Pratishtha Mahotsav” on Saturday 27 th and Sunday 28 th May 2023. This was a truly magnificent celebration over two extraordinary days graced by the Consul General of India, Birmingham Dr Shashank Vikram; Lord Mayor of Birmingham – Councillor Chaman Lal; Shri Dhirajbhai Shah, President of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Shri C B Patel of Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice and leaders of numerous other local and national temples and organisations, where the spirit of "unity in diversity– anekata mein ekta" truly shone brightly at the Mandir’s festivities. Over 1,800 devotees from Birmingham and various nearby and faraway towns congregated to commemorate a significant milestone in the transformation journey of the Mandir.
10 years ago, a vision was outlined to replace the old façade of the Mandir building with a more fitting frontage of the Mandir that was representative and symbolic of the Sanatan Dharma. This vision became a reality this year!
On Saturday morning the festivities started with a Maha Puja of Ganesh ji and Shree Laxmi Narayan Bhagwan and was followed by a Havan conducted by the Mandirs’ Shashtriji, Shri Mayurbhai Joshi and supported by 80 Yajmans. Following a delicious Mahaprasad, the visitors were treated to a spectacular cultural programme with over 20 performances delivered by over 140 participants from 3 to 80 years old. The performances epitomised the diversity of cultures from across India and covered Bharat Natyam and semi-classical song in Kannada from Karnataka; poems, folk dances and Krishna-Sudama Milan natak from Gujarat; Kutchi Pudi from Andhra Pradesh; Bathukama, Natu-Natu dance, and patriotic songs in Telugu; folk dances from Rajasthan; Lavni, Jogwa and Powda from Maharastra; bhangra from Punjab; a Kutchi folk dance and most inspiring was recitations of mantras and presentation of Surya namaskar by children from Balgokulum who transported everyone to the sacred realm of Bhakti Yoga as they recited Chapter 12, and sharing the heart-warming teachings from the Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta.
The whole programme was adorned in the rich tapestries of cultures, costumes and dialects from many regions of India and reverberated the true essence of a united Hindu Community Centre at Shree Laxmi Narayan Mandir. The cultural programme was compered by Dev Parmar, a radio presenter and mimicry artist.
On Sunday morning, there was a high-energy Rath Yatra full of reverence and devotion from the nearby Tyseley Locomotive works to the Mandir. Several hundred devotees together with Iskcon Coventry chanted and danced in complete devotion and unison and marched towards the Mandir. At the Mandir, with a deep sense of bhakti, pride and an opulent grandeur, the 3 Shikhar “Dhwajas” were raised and a Pradikshina of the Mandir was completed. Following the ceremonies, there was a programme of Abhaar Vidhi compered by Piyush Mistry, Public Relations Officer of Shree Prajapati Association UK.
Shri Mukeshbhai Ladwa – President of the Centre and Laxmi Narayan Mandir, addressed the congregation and provided an overview of the 10-year journey from the inception of the Shikhar Project to its fruitful completion this year. The journey highlighted the conviction and resolve of Mukeshbhai, the Mandir committee and the project team made up of the principal contractor, Vascroft Contracts Limited and its inspirational co-founder Shri Shashibhai Vekaria, sub-contractors, architects, structural engineers, site manager and the lighting engineers.
Swami Sarvasthananda Ji – minister in charge of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre in Buckinghamshire – addressed the audience providing his reflections on the role of the Mandirs and encouraging the youth to carry forward our Dharma. Following this, several dignitaries who have made significant contributions to the journey of the transformation of the Mandir were offered obeisance with a symbolic shawl. The programme concluded with a Dhun.
Following lunch, there was a Bhajan programme led by Iskcon Coventry and the devotees joined in with much joy and enthusiasm. Final farewells brought the weekend’s programme to an end, with everyone heading home still buzzing with the weekends celebrations.
Led by Shri Bhagubhai Chudasama, the Religious Committee and Mahotsav co-ordinator, over 120 volunteers exemplified the essence of sewa bhav, flawlessly executing their duties with utmost devotion ranging from efficiently managing the carpark and shuttle bus transport to warmly welcoming the guests, from serving delicious Mahaprasad to maintaining crowd control, and from arranging chairs across the three areas of the Mandir to accomplishing various other tasks to co- ordinating and running the programmes on stage and around the Mandir, and finally clearing up the hall to make the overall programme a success.
More importantly several Mandirs from Birmingham, Luton, Leamington Spa and Coventry rallied together to provide their support during the Mahotsav exemplifying the spirit of “Sangathan Mein Shakti Hein” – we are strong when united!
The President, Shri Mukeshbhai Ladwa, commented on the programme saying, "This was a fabulous event that has truly epitomised the vision of bringing Hindus from all parts of India living in Birmingham to use the Mandir as theirs, to celebrate the religious and cultural events together, and the true measure of success is not the buildings but the increased vibrancy within the Mandir and increasing the youth participation going".
