BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Toronto

About BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Toronto

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto is a traditional hand-carved Hindu mandir in Etobicoke, in the city's north-west, and the largest of its kind in Canada. It stands on an 18-acre campus beside Highway 427 and is a landmark for Hindu families across the Greater Toronto Area.

The mandir was assembled from about 24,000 hand-carved pieces of Italian Carrara marble, Turkish limestone and Indian pink stone, carved by craftsmen in India and fitted together in Toronto. Inside, the central shrine honours Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami, and other shrines are dedicated to Radha-Krishna, Sita-Rama, Shiva-Parvati, Vishnu-Lakshmi, Ganesha and Hanuman. Five aartis are offered each day.

Beside the mandir is a carved wooden haveli used for assemblies and community activities, and a Heritage Museum that introduces visitors to Hindu culture and the story of Canadian Hindus. Diwali and Annakut are the busiest days of the year, when thousands of devotees come for darshan of the food offerings. Visitors of every faith are welcome; modest dress is expected.

History

The mandir was built in about eighteen months by craftsmen and volunteers and was inaugurated in 2007 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, then the spiritual leader of BAPS. It has since become a centre for the Gujarati and wider Hindu community in Ontario, hosting festivals, youth activities and visits from schools.