Latest news with #BAPSSwaminarayan
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Indian Express
Youth claims bomb planted at BAPS temple, arrested for hoax call
A youth was on Thursday arrested for making a hoax call claiming that a bomb had been planted at BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Bharuch, police said. They added that the accused was involved in a property dispute with his brothers and brother-in-law, and thus took their names during the phone call in order to implicate them in the case. Around 1 am on Wednesday, the Bharuch police control room received a call from an anonymous person who claimed that Aslam Patel, Usman Patel, Ejaz Islampuri, and Sharif Islampuri were about to carry out a blast at BAPS Swaminarayan temple at the town's Zhadeshwar junction. Acting on the information, a Special Operation Group of the Bharuch police, Bharuch C Division police staffers, and a bomb disposal squad reached the temple and searched the premises. The temple was vacated before the search was carried out. However, the officials did not found any suspicious items, following which the people were allowed to re-enter the temple. The police subsequently realised that it was a hoax call. Another team of Bharuch police finally zeroed in on Tausif Adam Patel (30), a resident of Jambusar bypass in Bharuch with the help of the mobile number from which the call was made. During primary interrogation, Tausif disclosed that he had an enmity with his brothers — Aslam Patel and Usman Patel — and his brother-in-law Ejaz Islampuri and Ejaz's brother Sharif Islampuri. He also alleged that he had received a life threat. Tausif further told police that he wanted to harass his brothers and brother-in-law by implicating them. Bharuch C Division police registered an offence under BNS Act Sections 217 (Providing false information to a public servant with the intent to cause that public servant to misuse their lawful power or to cause harm to another person) and 353 (2) (promoting enmity or hatred between groups) and against Tausif. Talking to The Indian Express, an SOG officer said, 'After receiving the call, searches were conducted at the temple and later it was found to be a hoax call. We have arrested the caller who made the call from his mobile phone. He wanted his brothers and brother-in-law to land in a legal soup. The accused does petty labour jobs.'
Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Daily Mail
It looks like India but is just 40 minutes from NYC... the mini kingdom where you take off your shoes to enter
A New Jersey Hindu temple transports visitors to India as it houses the second largest temple in the world, and it's conveniently located only 40 minutes outside of New York City. The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham sits on 183 acres in Robbinsville and is the biggest Hindu temple in the United States. But visitors walking along the grounds could be fooled into thinking they took an international trip to India. 'It is genuine, built just like temples in India,' Darshan Patel told NJ Monthly. The temple took 12 years to build from 2011 to 2023 and it is designed according to ancient Hindu scriptures, the temple said. It features 10,000 statues and statuettes and has carvings of Indian musical instruments and dance forms. And like tradition, those inside the temple will have to remove their footwear. It also houses the largest elliptical dome of traditional stone architecture that's ever been made and the stone found throughout the grounds were sourced from Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, India, and China. When one enters the grounds, they're met with a 49-foot statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, an Indian yogi who founded a major branch of Hinduism. The statue has him in a yoga pose where he's in deep prayer to symbolize discipline and empathy The Brahma Kund, a stepwell, also contains water from more than 300 bodies of water around the world, including from 108 holy rivers in India and all 50 US states, the temple said. When one enters the grounds, they're met with a 49-foot statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, an Indian yogi who founded a major branch of Hinduism. The statue has him in a yoga pose where he's in deep prayer to symbolize discipline and empathy. The temple also has a café that is filled with greenery, ornate tiles, and full of natural light that makes the place feel serene and calm. Visitors can get a taste of vegetarian Indian and Western cuisines that helps promote the religion's call for non-violence. The temple will also be adding a Hindu Learning Center to help visitors understand the religion and learn about it. New Jersey is home to the largest Hindu population in the United States, followed by California. And the US has the seventh largest Hindu population outside of India. BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham gathers more than just Hindus looking to worship, but many visitors fascinated by the breathtaking architecture right off Route 130. The temple gets tens of thousands of visitors a day. They get so many visitors, the temple now has timed entry and visitors have to book their free ticket in advance. 'The campus is meant to bring all people together from all backgrounds. That's how the temple was built, how it operates,' Patel told NJ Monthly. 'We did expect this. 'The ancient idea is that, when you build a temple, it will last for at least a thousand years.' Debbie Stetzer heard about the temple from her Indian friend and brought her daughter, she told NJ Monthly. 'It's awesome, it's totally amazing,' she told the publication. When she sent a photo to her friend, she asked if she was on vacation as the place looked like anything but the Garden State. The campus does have a dress code, which includes no sleeveless or low-cut tops, shorts, skirts, or dresses above knee length; and no clothing featuring offensive language or imagery, its website read.
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- The Hindu
First stop Akshardham Temple for Vances, U.S. VP says his 'kids, in particular, loved it'
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, his Indian-origin wife Usha and their three children began their India trip on Monday (April 21, 2025) with a visit to the sprawling Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple near the banks of the Yamuna. The Vances, who are here for a four-day visit during which they are also scheduled to travel to Jaipur and Agra, were at the temple complex for about an hour. The children— Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel, all three dressed in Indian attire—- were the cynosure of many an eye. "Thank you all so much for your hospitality and kindness in welcoming me and my family to this beautiful place. It is a great credit to India that you built a beautiful temple with precision and care. Our kids, in particular, loved it. God bless," the Vice President wrote in the temple guest book. Once done, the family posed for camera crews outside the imposing facade of the temple. "They were given a traditional welcome after which they had 'darshan'. A carved wooden elephant, a model of the Delhi Akshardham Temple and children's books were gifted to the family," a priest at the temple told PTI. Temple volunteer Meera Sondagar added that the Vice President was especially captivated by the intricately sculpted Gajendra Peeth, a plinth adorned with carvings of elephants that symbolises strength and wisdom. "He was shown the entire Akshardham complex and was deeply moved by the experience. He said he felt a sense of peace here," she said. The temple also put out a post on X about the visit. "The U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and their children visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in Delhi 'their first stop in India' experiencing its majestic art, architecture and timeless values of faith, family and harmony." "The Vance family explored the mandir's majestic art and architecture, experiencing India's heritage and cultural depth and they appreciated the messages of harmony, family values, and timeless wisdom embodied in the Akshardham campus," it added. Inaugurated in 2005, the temple dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan is a must see for most visitors to the capital. Swaminarayan, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, established the Swaminarayan faith and renewed the ideals of Hinduism in 18th century India. He established a spiritual way of life and code of conduct to be followed, according to the website of BAPS Swaminarayan. Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visited the temple during their India tour last year. The Vance family arrived in Delhi to a warm reception earlier in the day and was received at the airport by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
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Business Standard
21-04-2025
- Business Standard
First stop Akshardham Temple; US V-P Vance says his kids 'loved it'
US Vice President JD Vance, his Indian-origin wife Usha and their three children began their India trip on Monday with a visit to the sprawling Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple near the banks of the Yamuna. The Vances, who are here for a four-day visit during which they are also scheduled to travel to Jaipur and Agra, were at the temple complex for about an hour. The children -- Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel, all three dressed in Indian attire -- were the cynosure of many an eye. "Thank you all so much for your hospitality and kindness in welcoming me and my family to this beautiful place. It is a great credit to India that you built a beautiful temple with precision and care. Our kids, in particular, loved it. God bless," the vice president wrote in the temple guest book. Once done, the family posed for camera crews outside the imposing facade of the temple. "They were given a traditional welcome after which they had 'darshan'. A carved wooden elephant, a model of the Delhi Akshardham Temple and children's books were gifted to the family," a priest at the temple told PTI. Temple volunteer Meera Sondagar added that the vice president was especially captivated by the intricately sculpted Gajendra Peeth, a plinth adorned with carvings of elephants that symbolises strength and wisdom. "He was shown the entire Akshardham complex and was deeply moved by the experience. He said he felt a sense of peace here," she said. The temple also put out a post on X about the visit. "The US Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and their children visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in Delhi 'their first stop in India' experiencing its majestic art, architecture and timeless values of faith, family and harmony." "The Vance family explored the mandir's majestic art and architecture, experiencing India's heritage and cultural depth and they appreciated the messages of harmony, family values, and timeless wisdom embodied in the Akshardham campus," it added. Inaugurated in 2005, the temple dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan is a must see for most visitors to the capital. Swaminarayan, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, established the Swaminarayan faith and renewed the ideals of Hinduism in 18th century India. He established a spiritual way of life and code of conduct to be followed, according to the website of BAPS Swaminarayan. Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visited the temple during their India tour last year. The Vance family arrived in Delhi to a warm reception earlier in the day and was received at the airport by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Later in the evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to host a private dinner for the Vances following bilateral talks. Vance's first visit to India comes weeks after US President Donald Trump imposed and then paused a sweeping tariff regime against around 60 countries, including India. The two sides are currently working to seal a bilateral trade pact focused on tariff relief and enhanced market access.
NDTV
21-04-2025
- NDTV
"Our Kids Loved It": JD Vance Visits Akshardham Temple With Family
New Delhi: US Vice President J D Vance, his Indian-origin wife Usha and their three children began their India trip on Monday with a visit to the sprawling Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple near the banks of the Yamuna. The Vances, who are here for a four-day visit during which they are also scheduled to travel to Jaipur and Agra, were at the temple complex for about an hour. The children -- Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel, all three dressed in Indian attire -- were the cynosure of many an eye. "Thank you all so much for your hospitality and kindness in welcoming me and my family to this beautiful place. It is a great credit to India that you built a beautiful temple with precision and care. Our kids, in particular, loved it. God bless," the vice president wrote in the temple guest book. Once done, the family posed for camera crews outside the imposing facade of the temple. "They were given a traditional welcome after which they had 'darshan'. A carved wooden elephant, a model of the Delhi Akshardham Temple and children's books were gifted to the family," a priest at the temple told PTI. Temple volunteer Meera Sondagar added that the vice president was especially captivated by the intricately sculpted Gajendra Peeth, a plinth adorned with carvings of elephants that symbolises strength and wisdom. "He was shown the entire Akshardham complex and was deeply moved by the experience. He said he felt a sense of peace here," she said. The temple also put out a post on X about the visit. "The US Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and their children visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in Delhi 'their first stop in India' experiencing its majestic art, architecture and timeless values of faith, family and harmony." "The Vance family explored the mandir's majestic art and architecture, experiencing India's heritage and cultural depth and they appreciated the messages of harmony, family values, and timeless wisdom embodied in the Akshardham campus," it added. Inaugurated in 2005, the temple dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan is a must see for most visitors to the capital. Swaminarayan, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, established the Swaminarayan faith and renewed the ideals of Hinduism in 18th century India. He established a spiritual way of life and code of conduct to be followed, according to the website of BAPS Swaminarayan. Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visited the temple during their India tour last year. The Vance family arrived in Delhi to a warm reception earlier in the day and was received at the airport by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Later in the evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to host a private dinner for the Vances following bilateral talks. Vance's first visit to India comes weeks after US President Donald Trump imposed and then paused a sweeping tariff regime against around 60 countries, including India. The two sides are currently working to seal a bilateral trade pact focused on tariff relief and enhanced market access.
