Thousands attended the festivities of the Edinburgh Mandir Mahotsav from all over the United Kingdom and other parts of the world, which began April 4 and would continue till April 12. It was a very special occasion for the Edinburgh Hindu community which has waited for about 34 years for its inauguration.
Although the temple and cultural center have been used by the Hindu community in the past, its reopening marks the initiation of a full-time priest, a gorgeous wooden throne and numerous white marble deities, all hand-painted and flown in from North India. Other notable additions include a kitchen and a surround sound speaker system for prayers and other services.
Friday, April 4 marked the start of the festivities with a procession as children waved Scottish and Mahotsav flags and the community marched in joy with bagpipers, dancers and dhols on the streets surrounding the temple. Prayers were held after the procession as well as for the next two days. Priests were flown in from all over world for the induction on Sunday, April 6 when the deities were finally unveiled to the public.
Dancers from Scotland and New York trained in various Indian dance forms performed at the ceremony prior to the unveiling. Notable ministers, the Lord Provost and the Consul-General of India Vishnu Sharma gave speeches highlighting the importance of this event as a proud moment for the community, a symbol of Scotland’s diversity and as motivation to continue the presence of devotees at the temple for its future success.
