Quick answer (as of 9 October 2026): At Neasden Temple in London, Mahant Swami Maharaj consecrated a 42-foot Tapomurti of Nilkanth Varni on 20 September, and a Maha Annakut is scheduled for Saturday 10 October, with Annakut Darshan open to all. His 93rd birthday was celebrated at OVO Arena Wembley on 4 October. In France, the new BAPS mandir at Bussy-Saint-Georges hosted UNESCO diplomats from 43 countries, and in the UAE, Abu Dhabi's BAPS Hindu Mandir held prayers for an injured flydubai pilot.

For Hindus living abroad, the local mandir is far more than a place of worship: it is where children learn the festivals, where families meet, and where the wider community first encounters Hindu culture. This autumn, temples in London, Paris and Abu Dhabi have all been in the news. Here is what happened, with the source and date for each item.

Neasden, London: 42-foot Tapomurti of Nilkanth Varni consecrated

Reported. Eastern Eye reported that Mahant Swami Maharaj consecrated a new 42-foot Tapomurti of Nilkanth Varni Maharaj, the youthful form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, at Neasden Temple on Sunday 20 September, with thousands of devotees attending. He performed the abhishek with water from the River Thames (Source: Eastern Eye, 22 September 2026).

Nilkanth Varni is the name given to Bhagwan Swaminarayan as a young ascetic who left home and travelled on foot across India. A tapomurti depicts him in that austere form, standing in meditation. For many British Hindu families, the new murti is likely to become a landmark of visits to Neasden, one of the best-known Hindu temples in Europe.

Neasden: Maha Annakut on Saturday 10 October

Expected (official schedule). Neasden Temple has announced a Tapomurti Shri Nilkanth Varni Maha Annakut for Saturday 10 October 2026, with Annakut Darshan open to all from 12 noon to 4pm. The event is part of Mahant Swami Maharaj's visit to Neasden Temple, scheduled from 16 September to 13 October 2026, and is separate from the temple's Diwali celebrations (Source: Neasden Temple, Satpurush 2026 official site, live as of 9 October 2026).

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  • Venue: Neasden Temple, Neasden, London.
  • Date: Saturday 10 October 2026.
  • Organiser: Neasden Temple.
  • Before you go: check the organiser's page for timings and any entry arrangements, as schedules can change on the day.

An Annakut, literally a mountain of food, is an offering of many vegetarian dishes arranged before the deity. It is most associated with the day after Diwali; read our Govardhan Puja 2026 in the UK guide for that festival.

Wembley: Mahant Swami Maharaj's 93rd birthday

Reported. India West reported that Mahant Swami Maharaj's 93rd Janma Jayanti was celebrated at OVO Arena Wembley on 4 October 2026, with about 11,000 people attending in person. Guinness World Records presented a certificate recognising the 13-volume biography of Pramukh Swami Maharaj by Sadhu Adarshjivandas as the longest biography by a single author. The biography runs to 8,848 pages and 2,146,447 words (Source: India West, 6 October 2026).

Mahant Swami Maharaj is the spiritual head of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, and Pramukh Swami Maharaj was his predecessor, under whose leadership many BAPS mandirs abroad, including Neasden, were built.

Paris: new BAPS mandir hosts UNESCO diplomats

Reported. IANS, via OmmCom News, reported that India's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO hosted an Indo-French Cultural Open Day at the newly inaugurated BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Bussy-Saint-Georges. More than 50 UNESCO ambassadors and diplomats from 43 countries attended, touring the mandir and watching a film on its construction. India's Ambassador to UNESCO, Vishal Sharma, spoke at the event (Source: IANS via OmmCom News, 12 September 2026). The report did not state the date of the event.

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For Hindus in France and nearby countries, the new mandir adds a major place of worship near Paris. Our Navratri 2026 in Europe guide and Diwali 2026 in Europe guide cover the festival season.

Abu Dhabi: prayers for an injured flydubai pilot

Reported. Gulf News reported that devotees and priests at the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi sang bhajans and offered puja for flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar on Sunday 4 October. The pilot was seriously injured on 30 September while commanding flight FZ1073, which was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and landed safely (Source: Gulf News, 4 October 2026).

The moment showed a role temples abroad often play: a place where a community gathers to pray for one of its own in a crisis. For UAE festival dates, see Navratri 2026 in Dubai and the UAE and Diwali 2026 in Dubai and the UAE.

Temples abroad news at a glance

PlaceNewsDateStatusSource
Neasden, London42-foot Tapomurti of Nilkanth Varni consecrated20 Sep 2026ReportedEastern Eye (22 Sep)
Neasden, LondonTapomurti Shri Nilkanth Varni Maha Annakut10 Oct 2026ExpectedNeasden Temple official site
OVO Arena WembleyMahant Swami Maharaj's 93rd birthday; Guinness certificate4 Oct 2026ReportedIndia West (6 Oct)
Bussy-Saint-Georges, FranceBAPS mandir hosts UNESCO diplomats from 43 countriesNot statedReportedIANS via OmmCom News (12 Sep)
Abu Dhabi, UAEPrayers for injured flydubai pilot4 Oct 2026ReportedGulf News (4 Oct)

Coming up for temples abroad

In India, Navratri runs 11 to 19 October and Dussehra falls on Tuesday 20 October 2026; Dhanteras is Friday 6 November and Diwali Sunday 8 November 2026 (Drik Panchang, India). Dates and muhurat times abroad differ, so use your own country's guide rather than converting India's times: Diwali 2026 in the UK, city by city, Navratri 2026 in the UK and Bathukamma 2026 in the UK.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the new Tapomurti at Neasden Temple?

It is a 42-foot Tapomurti of Nilkanth Varni Maharaj, the youthful form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, consecrated by Mahant Swami Maharaj at Neasden Temple on Sunday 20 September 2026, as reported by Eastern Eye on 22 September 2026.

When is the Maha Annakut at Neasden Temple in October 2026?

Neasden Temple has announced a Tapomurti Shri Nilkanth Varni Maha Annakut for Saturday 10 October 2026, with Annakut Darshan open to all from 12 noon to 4pm, according to its official schedule. It is separate from the temple's Diwali celebrations. Check the organiser's page for any changes.

How long is Mahant Swami Maharaj visiting Neasden Temple?

The official Neasden Temple schedule lists the visit from 16 September to 13 October 2026.

Where is the new BAPS mandir in Paris?

The BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir is in Bussy-Saint-Georges, France. IANS (via OmmCom News) reported on 12 September 2026 that it hosted UNESCO ambassadors and diplomats from 43 countries.

Will this page be updated?

Yes. News was checked on 9 October 2026, and we will update the page as announcements change.

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

News checked on 9 October 2026; we will update as announcements change. Each item comes from the cited source and is labelled reported or expected. Attendance and other figures are as reported by those outlets; we have not added any. For events, check the organiser's page for timings and entry before you go.