France is set to welcome its first major Hindu temple, with the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Bussy-Saint-Georges, near Paris, scheduled to be inaugurated in September. The historic opening will be marked by a 13-day ‘Festival of Culture’ from September 2 to 14, 2026. Mahant Swami Maharaj will bless the inauguration and the celebrations. Devotees and well-wishers from across the world are expected to take part in the event. BAPS said the ‘Festival of Culture’ was launched globally during ‘satsang’ assemblies held around the world in March and April.

The launch featured several video presentations, including a personal message from Yogvivekdas Swami, head swami for BAPS in the UK and Europe. The presentations highlighted the historic importance of the new temple and gave an overview of the 13-day festival.

Members of the Indian diaspora in France have welcomed the temple with great pride. They said it would strengthen the cultural and spiritual bond between India and France. A member of the Indian diaspora associated with BAPS said the temple had been built with stones brought from India. Ahead of the inauguration, swamis and devotees gathered for the sacred ‘Kalash’ and ‘Dhaja Dand Pujans’ atop the ‘shikhars’ and the central dome of the BAPS Paris temple.

They offered Vedic chants and prayers for peace, harmony and the well-being of people in the surrounding areas and beyond. The temple is set to become a place of devotion, culture and spiritual harmony, bringing together people from different communities in the heart of France.