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New Hindu temple shows city's 'growing diversity'

Bea Swallow
BBC News, Somerset
University of Bath A group of people standing in front of a red shrine area in the new Hindu temple and smiling at the camera. There are red and white varamala flower garlands hanging from the wall, and lots of red white and gold religious symbols and objects sitting on the shrine. University of Bath
The space has been set up in response to the increasing number of Hindu students and staff at the university

A university has opened a new Hindu temple for students and staff to worship on campus.

The University of Bath set up the sacred space, based at Claverton Down, to support those with religious beliefs to practise their faith in a safe and welcoming environment.

It is the second Hindu Temple in the city, with the other located at Rush Hill.

Nathan Hartley, director of the Bath and North East Somerset Faith Foundation, said the new temple "reflects the growing diversity" of the area's population.

Project lead Nigel Rawlinson, who attended the official opening on 29 January, said the religious space had been in the works for the last 18 months.

Speaking at the event, he said: "I'm grateful to the Hindu Society and various members of staff that have worked so hard behind the scenes to ensure this new Hindu Temple can open on campus."

University of Bath A woman cutting a red ribbon to symbolise the official opening of the temple, while two men on either side hold it taut. The room is decorated with orange and yellow ribbons wrapped around a column, and there is someone taking a picture of the ribbon cutting on the left. The carpet is red and the room is bright.University of Bath
An official opening ceremony was held to celebrate the new temple

Mr Rawlinson said the university's drive to open a Hindu Temple "has been a part of our wider interfaith programme where we already cater for our large number of Christian and Muslim students too".

"The University of Bath is an inclusive environment where students and staff from a wide range of backgrounds are welcome," he added.

Hinduism is about 4,000 years old and the third-biggest religion in the world, with more than one billion followers.

Most are of Indian heritage, but the spiritual tradition has attracted a large number of Western converts over the last 60 years.

Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara - the continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation.

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