In Bussy-Saint-Georges, the first traditional Hindu temple in France is consecrated

The first Hindu temple of traditional architecture built in France by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) organization was consecrated on Sunday, September 6 in Bussy-Saint-Georges, Seine-et-Marne.

The religious ceremony, which began shortly before 7 a.m., was presided over by Mahant Swami Maharaj, the 93-year-old spiritual leader of the movement. Reserved for a small number of monks and men, it was closed to the press.

However, it was broadcast on giant screens set up under a large tent. According to testimonies gathered on site, approximately 7.000 men, women, and children from various countries were thus able to follow the consecration live.

A temple made of sculpted stones, reaching a height of 24 meters

After the ceremony, the faithful walked to the new building. Presented by its promoters as the largest Hindu temple built in continental Europe according to traditional architecture, it is distinguished by its domes and spires of sculpted stone, the highest of which reaches 24 meters.

Inside the mandir, the Hindi term for a temple, visitors prayed barefoot before representations of deities, surrounded by offerings. Some worshippers prostrated themselves on the ground while others prayed with clasped hands.

"The temple is consecrated: now it is open to everyone. During the ceremonies, we are separated, men and women, but in the mandir, we are together," Jenish Padekh, a BAPS volunteer in charge of press relations, explained to AFP.

A new building on the Esplanade of Religions and Cultures

The temple was built in the new town of Bussy-Saint-Georges, between an elementary school and a mosque. It joins the various places of worship gathered on the Esplanade of Religions and Cultures , a space designed to promote coexistence and dialogue between the religious communities present in the town.

This location gives the project a unique urban dimension, beyond its purely religious function. The building becomes a new architectural element in this neighborhood dedicated to religious and cultural diversity.

Worshippers from several countries

Among the participants was Ketan Vaghani, 46, who came from Chicago. A former student in Paris, he remembers a time when it was "very difficult" to find a space to practice his Hindu faith.

"We have waited decades and finally have a temple here [...] It's such an incredible day," he told AFP.

The interviews with the faithful were organized with the support of BAPS volunteers, who introduced several participants in the ceremony to AFP.

A religious movement founded in India in 1907

Founded in 1907 in the Indian state of Gujarat, the BAPS claims an international network of over 1.300 temples. The organization presents the new mandir in Bussy-Saint-Georges as a place of worship as well as an emblem of Indian culture and Hinduism.

The inauguration is part of a program of celebrations organized from September 2 to 14, 2026, including religious ceremonies, processions and several cultural events.

An inauguration that was also contested

However, the international expansion of BAPS and the opening of the temple have drawn criticism from some members of the Indian diaspora. The Indian Alliance Paris association presents this inauguration as a new offensive by "Hindu supremacism" and accuses the movement of promoting "a conservative and Hindu-nationalist worldview."

These assessments are those of the association and are contested by the presentation that BAPS makes of its project, which is centered on faith, culture and dialogue between communities.