Bhubaneswar: London, will soon be known as the ‘Jagannath Dham’ of Europe, with the construction of a grand Jagannath Mandir Temple Complex in the capital city of the United Kingdom.
The plans for this divine project were unveiled by The Jagannath Temple Trust, UK, a charitable organisation founded by eminent UK based Odias, at the 41st Annual Convention of the Odisha Society of United Kingdom (OSUK), in the presence of several dignitaries from Odisha and India.
This year’s OSUK Convention was held on an online digital platform in view of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic and was attended by nearly a thousand members of the Odia diaspora living in the UK, USA, Europe, India and other parts of the world.
It has been a long-cherished dream of UK based Odias to spread Jagannath Culture in their adopted land, and to establish a dedicated Lord Jagannath temple. The UK already has temples to the deities of some of the holy Hindu Chaar Dhaams. However, the absence of a dedicated temple to Lord Jagannath has been acutely felt by the Odia Community in the UK.
The Jagannath Temple Trust, UK aims to complete the construction of the majestic Jagannath Mandir in the Greater London region by 2024. The Trust is currently finalizing an appropriate site in the Greater London region for the temple.
The Trust envisages that the Jagannath Mandir will become the epi-centre of Jagannath culture in the UK and Europe and an easily accessible prominent landmark in London that will attract thousands of devotees and tourists from across the world.
The Mandir Complex will also be a hub for the propagation of Hindu philosophy, and the promotion of educational, social, cultural, and philanthropic activities associated with Lord Jagannath and the hallowed land of Odisha.
Attending the convention via video conferencing, BJP national vice president Baijayant Panda said, “The decision you have taken to construct a Jagannath temple in the United Kingdom is not only a matter of pride for people in Odisha, but also for all Odias across the world. Jagannath temples have already been set up in Bali, Indonesia, and in many continents and countries.”
“We all will come to seek blessings of the supreme lord and have abadha after the Sri Jagannath temple take its shape in the UK,” said BJP spokesperson Sabmit Patra.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)
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