Catch up TV

Series 1: 3. Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, Cardiff

The Hindu Aarti service is the focus of this episode - a ceremony of light, where the community gathers to offer thanks and devotion to the deities, seeking blessings for peace, protection and prosperity.\n\nThe programme includes chanting of devotional songs (Kirtan), the Aarti or flame service itself, and a lullaby, Podho Podho, which sings the deity to sleep as part of the devotion. \n\nThe Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Cardiff was established in 1979 after community efforts led to the purchase of a former synagogue. It now stands as a vibrant cultural and religious centre for the Kutchi Hindu community in Cardiff and south east Wales.\n\nThe mandir, or temple, serves as a community hub for daily worship, with Gujarati hymns and the recitation of the Swaminarayan mantra forming the core of its devotional practices. The temple’s activities and architecture highlight how the community has adapted its practices and created an environment which maintains strong ties to its heritage.\n\nThe principal contributors include Karsan Vaghani, one of the trustees of the Shree Swaminaryan Temple, who introduces us to the faith and the location, and also Pradyuman Halai – the singer at the Aarti service and the youngest member of the Hindu Council in Wales. Other contributors include worshippers of different ages who share their experiences, explaining the importance for them of visiting the temple and what the Hindu faith means for them.

Source: BBC 1