France's First Traditional Stone Hindu Temple, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Inaugurated near Paris

7 September 2026National

The BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir at Bussy-Saint-Georges in France's Seine-et-Marne department was inaugurated on 6 September 2026 — France's first traditionally designed stone Hindu temple and the largest of its kind in mainland Europe. It was consecrated by BAPS spiritual leader Mahant Swami Maharaj, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi joining by video conference. Construction began in April 2024 using hand-carved stones shipped from India and assembled with French engineering support from the architectural firm Arte Charpentier. The opening capped a 13-day Festival of Culture from 2 to 14 September that included a Jal Yatra on the River Seine, and coincides with 2026 being observed as the India–France Year of Innovation.

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BAPS stands for Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, founded in 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj | The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, the UAE's first traditional stone Hindu temple, was inaugurated in February 2024 | France's capital is Paris and its currency is the Euro

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