THOUSANDS of people lined the streets of Kingsbury in north London last Saturday (24) to witness the fifth anniversary celebrations of the Maninagar Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan Shree Swaminarayan Mandir.
Celebrations were led by global spiritual leader Acharya Swamishree Maharaj, leader of the Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, and they kicked off with a grand parade that featured dancers, floats and musicians.
They were guided by the temple’s Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band.
Guests included the Queen’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Simon Ovens DL FCM, Labour MP Barry Gardiner and leader of Brent council Mohammed Butt.
Widely regarded as the world’s first eco-temple, the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Kingsbury opened its doors to the public in 2014 and it aims to inspire the community to live greener.
The temple also offers a range of sporting, educational and charitable activities.
St Luke's Hospice in Kenton is one of the charity partners the temple supports. To date, the temple has raised £60,000 for the hospice, including £10,000 this year, for which a cheque was presented to the hospice by Acharya Swamishree Maharaj.
Dharavi slum in Mumbai
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)