India and France Inaugurate BAPS Temple in Paris

Key facts

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the inauguration of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Paris as a landmark moment in India-France cultural relations, addressing the gathering through video conference.
• PM Modi said the temple embodies the spirit of universal brotherhood and the ancient Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, and will enrich France's cultural diversity.
• PM Modi paid homage to Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Ji Maharaj, whose vision was to take India's ancient cultural and spiritual traditions to the world, and drew a parallel with the BAPS temple in Abu Dhabi inaugurated earlier in 2024.
• India and France are working together to build a Special Global Strategic Partnership, with cooperation expanding into artificial intelligence, defence, space and climate action.
• The two countries are moving ahead with the upcoming 2026 India-France Year of Innovation.
• PM Modi recalled the contribution of Indian soldiers who fought on French soil and the role of French scholars in popularising Sanskrit, as well as Romain Rolland's writings on Indian mystics and Srila Prabhupada Swami's role through ISKCON in deepening spiritual links.
• The temple represents a synthesis of traditional Indian craftsmanship and contemporary French engineering, with stones sent from India and shaped before integration in France; PM Modi called it truly 'Made in India' and 'Built in France'.
• PM Modi expressed confidence that the Paris centre would become a platform for humanitarian initiatives and a source of India's cultural and spiritual message for people across Europe.