Neasden Temple Named Community Partner in British Museum Exhibition on Ancient Indian Sacred Art, London, UK

The British Museum has opened a major new exhibition, titled Ancient India: living traditions, exploring the origins and evolution of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist sacred art dating back over 2,000 years. 

As one of the world’s most prestigious cultural institutions, the British Museum houses one of the largest permanent collections of artworks and artefacts globally, with more than eight million objects. In 2024, it was officially recognised as the most-visited attraction in the UK for the second consecutive year, welcoming over 6.4 million visitors through its doors.

In curating this exhibition, the British Museum collaborated closely with an advisory panel comprising practising Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists, as well as cultural experts, academics, and a diverse group of community partners. Among these consultants was BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London – popularly known as Neasden Temple. Neasden Temple and the British Museum share a longstanding relationship, having previously collaborated on the Museum’s Celebrating Diwali event in 2022 and an interfaith music festival in 2018. 

As part of the development of Ancient India: living traditions, curators, designers, and planners from the British Museum visited Neasden Temple on several occasions. These visits fostered meaningful dialogue on devotional practice, sacred iconography, and the respectful display of living religious traditions. The insights shared during these discussions helped inspire various elements of the exhibition and its design. 

The exhibition was officially inaugurated on Sunday 19 May with a community event hosted in the Museum’s iconic Great Court, bringing together senior leaders, interfaith representatives, academics, trustees, journalists, and cultural partners from across the UK. Reflecting the living spirit of the exhibition, the evening opened with sacred chants offered by representatives of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions. Kirtan Patel from BAPS chanted Sanskrit verses from Hindu scriptures such as the Upanishads and offered prayers composed by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, invoking peace, harmony, and universal well-being. The evening was presided over by the Chair of the British Museum’s Trustees, Rt Hon George Osborne CH, who emphasised the exhibition’s significance and the collaborative spirit in which it was created.

Featuring more than 180 objects, including sculptures, paintings, and devotional artefacts, the exhibition offers a compelling, multi-sensory journey through the sacred art of ancient India. It highlights not only the enduring aesthetic legacy of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, but also their continuing relevance in Britain’s diverse religious and cultural landscape.

Sushma Jansari, the exhibition’s curator, reflected on the unique continuity and influence of these living traditions: “We have been fortunate to work with a number of different community partners, one of them is of course Neasden Temple, and we were so lucky to have been welcomed to this beautiful space. We came with our designers, the lighting designer, the graphic designer, at the very start of this project, thinking about what a sacred space looks like and feels like. How does it impact how you venerate and how you feel inside a sacred space? And when you come to the exhibition, you see vibrant colours, beautiful lighting, lots of textures as well, and it really enhances how you experience the exhibition and look at the devotional sculptures on display. I think what’s really very special is that these are living traditions and when you go to places like Neasden Temple, and you go into the mandir, you will see these incredible figures of God being venerated and you’ll see them being dressed, you’ll see them being garlanded with fresh flowers – and if you think about the ancient past, that’s pretty much exactly what people would have done to the incredible ancient sculptures on display in the exhibition.”

Kamlesh Patel, a volunteer from Neasden Temple who contributed to the consultation process, shared, “It was a privilege to support the British Museum in shaping this important exhibition. To see Hindu, Jain and Buddhist sacred art presented not as relics of the past but as part of living, breathing traditions is deeply meaningful. We are delighted to have contributed to a project that celebrates the continuing relevance of these traditions in the UK and around the world, and to be a part of this landmark exhibition, which brings the sacred art of India into dialogue with contemporary expressions of faith and devotion.”

To learn more about the Ancient India: living traditions exhibition at the British Museum, please click here.