An asset to whole swindon community. With library, meditation center, inclusive place of worship, brimming with activities and public events all the year round.
Our History
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Explore Our Great History!!
Hindus have been living in Swindon for well over 50 years and there is a large Hindu population in the region. In addition, thousands of Hindus mainly from the Indian subcontinent visit Swindon every year on short-term employment contract with some of the key employers in the area. For all these years, there was no place of worship for Hindus in the area and people had to go further afield to places like London, Birmingham to visit Hindu temples, which was not easy/practical specially for families and elderly people. They were compelled to worship in their homes and occasionally hire community halls to celebrate one or two Hindu festivals as small groups. The community was hugely fragmented as a result.
Swindon Hindu Temple Trust was formally established in Feb 2014 to fulfil the aspirations of the Hindu community to establish a Hindu Temple in Swindon as a place of worship and a safe place for socialising. After more than two years of hard work, the first Hindu Temple in Swindon and the County or the region was established on 1st April 2016 when the Trust took lease of the derelict and dilapidated premises in Cheney Manor Industrial Estate and transformed it into one of the most welcoming and aesthetic places. Since then, Hindus not only from Swindon but from surrounding towns/cities such as Cirencester, Newbury, Oxford, Bath, Gloucestershire, etc. visit the Temple for their spiritual needs as well as to meet fellow Hindus. But a lot of ground work actually went in much before it was formally established. The very founding principle of Swindon Hindu Temple was to bring all communities together and that’s precisely how it started.
Different communities were first identified and then people from all communities were invited and spoken to, like Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, other North and South Indian communities. The first community puja event was organised on 5th April 2014 at Freshbrook community centre and then halls/venues were hired every month, painstakingly transporting cars full of items to set up the altar to do monthly worship/puja, followed by hot meals/preetibhoj served to the congregation, to build momentum and bring people together – this continued for good two years before the site for the temple was found. Looking back, we cannot even comprehend what it took to establish the first Hindu Temple in Swindon after more than 50-60 years of Hindus living in the town.
Swindon Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre fulfils a vital need for tens of thousands of people and now serves as the focal point within the region for matters related to the Hindu faith and population in respect of their religious, spiritual, cultural, social, educational, recreational needs, aspirations and endeavours.
Swindon Hindu Temple is not just a temple or a place of worship, it is one of the most vibrant hubs in the county and the nation; it is a movement, a social enterprise, a unifying force; a place for Elderly Club, Ladies Club, Blood Donation, Vaccination sessions, Community Library, Community Centre, Yoga, Meditation, Weddings, Health Camps, Arts & Music, Talks by eminent speakers, School visits, Interfaith activities, Chess Club, Language Classes, Food, Clothes & Toys donation, Fundraising for other charities, etc.
Swindon Hindu Temple has significantly transformed the Swindon town and the region, and made a positive difference in so many ways.
05 Oct 2013
1st Meeting held to discuss the need for a Hindu Temple in Swindon
19 Jan 2014
Meeting held with different community representatives to plan the way forward for the Temple
5 Apr 2014
1st community Bhajan congregation event at Freshbrook Community Centre
17 Sep 2014
Swindon Hindu Temple Trust becomes a Registered Charity (#1158603)
15 Mar 2015
1st Balaji Kalyanam event in Swindon
16 Apr 2015
Nepal Earthquake Relief fundraiser organised
21 Jun 2015
1st International Yoga Day in Swindon
12 Jul 2015
1st public Havan & Katha event in Swindon
5 Sep 2015
1st Krishna Janmashtami event in Swindon
05 Dec 2015
1st Satyanarayan Puja event in Swindon
07 Mar 2016
1st Maha Shivratri event in Swindon.
01 Apr 2016
Lease for 1st Hindu Temple in Swindon signed.
21 May 2016
1st Hindu Temple in Swindon formally opens with a puja.
04 Jun 2016
1st public Ganesh Utsav in Swindon.
02 Jul 2016
1st Cultural event by Swindon Hindu Temple (Keyboard musical concert by Sathya).
13 Jul 2016
Swindon Hindu Temple launches Guitar classes .
13 Jul 2016
Swindon Hindu Temple launches free public Yoga sessions with Bhartiya Yog Sansthan.
18 Jul 2016
1st Art of Living Seminar in Swindon.
21 Aug 2016
1st public Baba Balaknath Katha in Swindon.
10 Sep 2016
1st Indian Classical Dance Spectacular event in Swindon.
27 Sep 2016
Swindon Hindu Temple launches Community Library (1st in Swindon managed entirely by volunteers).
27 Sep 2016
1st Indian Food Festival in Swindon.
09 Oct 2016
1st public Mata Ki Chowki event in Swindon.
19 Oct 2016
1st public Karwa Chauth event in Swindon.
22 Oct 2016
Swindon Hindu Temple launches Centre of Indian Classical Music & Dance.
24 Oct 2016
Swindon Hindu Temple launches Chess Club.
30 Oct 2016
1st public Diwali Chopda puja & Lakshmi puja in Swindon.
12 Nov 2016
Jalaram Bappa Jayanti festival celebrations.
13 Nov 2016
Akhand Sai Bhajan event.
12 Jan 2017
Meditation workshop at TE Connectivity corporate office.
14 Jan 2017
1st public celebrations of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Bihu festivals
04 Feb 2017
1st Community Health Workshop (basic life support training) in Swindon
13 Feb 2017
Breast Cancer Awareness Workshop
24 Feb 2017
Free Kitchen (serving hot Indian meals) at Nationwide HQ
05 Mar 2017
Hosted talk by Brahma Kumaris (World Spiritual University)
12 Mar 2017
1st public Holi – Festival of Colours celebrations in Swindon.
28 Mar 2017
1st public Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Vishu, Baisakhi, Puthandu festival celebrations
09 Apr 2017
Hosted Charity Fundraiser Cultural Extravaganza for Rotary Jaipur Limb International project.
14 Apr 2017
Tamil New Year celebrations.
16 Apr 2017
Hosted Violin Music Concert by international artist Shreya Devnath
22 Apr 2017
Bengali New Year Celebrations
06 May 2017
Hosted Talk by Spiritual Leader H.H. Dr Bageeshwari Devi
13 May 2017
Language classes started (Gujrati, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi)
23 May 2017
Solidarity Vigil for Manchester attack victims
28 May 2017
Hosted Free Kitchen (serving hot Indian meals) at Regent Circus
20 Jun 2017
Hosted Shiv Katha Saptah by International Spiritual Guru Shri Giri Bapu
31 Jul 2017
Hosted 1st Indian (Kannada) Movie Clapping event in Swindon
03 Aug 2017
Bond of Protection – Raksha Bandhan with British Armed Forces & Emergency Services
28 Sep 2017
1st public Durga Puja in Swindon (inc. Pushpanjali, Bisarjan, Sindoor Khela)
17 Dec 2017
Swindon Hindu Temple wins MTM Special Recognition Award 2017
27 Dec 2017
Provided Indian Food Buffet for Christmas Care Homeless Shelter
25 Feb 2018
Hosted National Hindu Students Forum Bhakti Hanuman Chalisa event
17 Mar 2018
Hosted Indian Classical Violin Musical Concert by International Artist Shreya Devnath
15 Apr 2018
Hosted Satsang by Spiritual Guru Vedantacharya Shri Giriraj ji from India
01 May 2018
Hosted Ram Katha Saptah by International Spiritual Guru Swami Chinmayananda Bapu
5 May 2018
Hosted Art of Parenting talk by Nirbhayananada Saraswathi Swamii, Veereshananda Saraswathi Swamiji and Paramananda Swamiji of Ramakrishna Mutt, India
13 May 2018
Hosted Special Yoga Therapy Session by Manavta
03 Jun 2018
Hosted Ek Sham Mastani Ghazal Night Fundraiser
27 Sep 2018
Hosted Talk on Development Paradigm by Vasant Jajoo from India
09 Feb 2019
Sounds of Isha Musical Concert
15 Feb 2019
1st Bollywood Singer Musical Concert in Swindon
22 Feb 2019
Hosted Solidarity Candlelight Vigil for Pulwama attack victims
27 Apr 2019
Hosted Swindon Stands with Sri Lanka Candlelight Vigil
04 May 2019
Dhanyadhivasam Consecration Ceremony, 1st in Swindon
11 May 2019
Hosted Healthy Communities CPR Training and Prostate Cancer Awareness Session
19 May 2019
Hosted Shrimad Bhagwat Katha Saptah by International Spiritual Guru Pujya Chinmayanand Bapu
21 Jun 2019
Murti Sthapana – Idol Consecration Ceremonies for 3 days
29 Jun 2019
International Yoga Day Celebrations
06 Jul 2019
Hosted Universal Peace Federation for Celebration of Family event
11 Oct 2019
Hosted Talk on Hindu Contribution to Modern World by HSS National Coordinator
19 Oct 2019
Hosted 1st India Consular Camp in Swindon
16 Nov 2019
Hosted Sri Srinivas Balaji Divine Kalyanam event
23 Nov 2019
Hosted Musical Concert by World Record holders Carnatica Brothers
06 Jan 2020
Hosted NHS Blood Donation Camp
19 Feb 2020
Hosted Interfaith Visit
11 May 2020
Hosted NHS Blood Donation Camp
02 Sep 2021
Hosted NHS Blood Donation Camp
08 Feb 2021
Hosted NHS Blood Donation Camp
20 Aug 2021
Hosted Varalakshmi Puja
22 Aug 2021
Hosted Raksha Bandhan festival
30 Aug 2021
Hosted Krishna Janmashtami festival celebrations
11 Sep 2021
Hosted Ganesh Utsav festival celebrations
21 Oct 2021
Temple Premises Lease terminated on Health & Safety grounds after multiple break-ins.
01 Feb 2022
Heads of Terms agreement signed for new Temple premises. Rigorous work in progress currently to acquire new/additional premises, obtain statutory permission, undertake refurbishment.
16 Mar 2022
Swindon Hindu Temple formally announces two new premises for their religious, cultural, social, charitable activities.
10 Dec 2022
Swindon Hindu Temple takes the possession of its new premises at Regent House, Theatre Sq, Swindon SN1 1QN