Hundreds of devotees gathered at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, on Monday 6 April 2026 to participate in the Pratham Shila Pujan (first ceremonial offering of the foundation stones) for Tapomurti Shri Nilkanth Varni Maharaj, marking the commencement of a historic project that will inspire generations to come.
The ceremony followed the blessings of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, who, on 15 March 2026 in Sarangpur, India, sanctified the foundation stones for the Tapomurti project and blessed the bricks that would form its foundation.
In the weeks leading up to the ceremony, devotees had the opportunity to write personal prayers on their individual bricks before placing them in their respective ghar mandirs. During the Pratham Shila Pujan, families reverently offered these sanctified bricks, symbolically embedding their prayers, faith and devotion into the foundation of this sacred project and becoming part of a lasting spiritual legacy.
Tapomurti Shri Nilkanth Varni Maharaj will depict the youthful, ascetic form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan during his remarkable pilgrimage across India. Standing 42 feet tall, the murti will serve as an enduring symbol of unwavering faith, spiritual discipline, loving compassion, and selfless service. His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj will perform the murti’s pratishtha (consecration ceremony) on Sunday 20 September 2026, marking another historic milestone in the spiritual journey of BAPS in the United Kingdom.
As the first bricks were reverently placed into the foundation, the ceremony marked not only the beginning of construction but also the collective offering of countless individuals united in devotion and prayer. The occasion provided a unique opportunity for families across generations to personally participate in a sacred milestone that will remain embedded within the very foundations of the Tapomurti.
Reflecting on the occasion, Arpan Patel, one of the volunteers who is leading the construction project, shared, “Through the blessings of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, devotees were able to offer not just a brick, but their heartfelt prayers and devotion into the foundation of Tapomurti Shri Nilkanth Varni Maharaj. It was deeply moving to see entire families come together to participate in this historic moment, knowing that the Tapomurti will inspire countless people for generations to come with the timeless ideals of faith, devotion, courage, and selfless service that he emobodied.”