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Ashwinbhai Morarjibhai Soni (Ghaghada) and the Crawley Mandir committee welcome HRH Duke of Gloucester at the Crawley (London) Temple HRH Duke of Glucester was visited Apple Tree Centre on 14 October 2015 and was warmly welcomed by Trustees, Committee members and volunteers.
Gurjar Hindu Union is celebrating its 5th Anniversary since building the prestigious Apple Tree Centre, Sanatan Mandir and Community Centre in Crawley. It is a purpose built temple and community centre in Crawley (near Gatwick Airport).
On entering the Temple, Ashwinbhai
explained the Statue of Gods and the design of the Mandir/Centre, HRH was very interested
in architecture of the building and forming an appreciation Ashwinbhai spearhead the whole project for celebrating the 5th anniversary including this visit by His Royal Highness.
Ashwinbhai in his message
said “Mandir have held several celebrations this year and continue to hold
more. The committee were very honoured to have stapna of Mahavir Swami Murti in
our Yesterday we were honoured to have HRH Duke of Gloucester come to visit our Temple and meet all the community members. It was a proud moment for all of us”. Please view the attached for a small report on the visit.
Press Statement
His Roy Highness the Duke of Gloucester accompanied by the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, Mrs Susan Pyper. Mrs Pat Arculus – Chairman, West Sussex County Council, Cllr Miss Chris Cheshire, DL – Mayor of Crawley and Mr Giles York, QPM – Chief Constable Sussex Police visited Apple Tree Centre on 14 October 2015.
Gurjar Hindu Union is celebrating its 5th Anniversary since building the prestigious Apple Tree Centre, Sanatan Mandir and Community Centre in Crawley.
The Hindus of Crawley were honoured and delighted with HRH visit. Chandubhai Nayee (Religious Chairman) said “this is our proud moment and an historic visit”.
HRH the Duke of Gloucester was escorted by Ashwin Soni & Kokilaben Patel to the Mandir, stopping to admire the ornate pink sand stone carvings of the Porch and wooden entrance doors
On entering the Temple, Mr Soni explained the Statue of Gods and the design of the Mandir/Centre, HRH was very interested in architecture of the building and forming an appreciation of the statues of all Hindu gods, goddess and animals.
Mrs Patel then presented: Rajeshkumar Dave - Temple Priest, who put a tilaka (mark of respect) on the forehead of HRH and recited a welcome prayer. Chandubhai Nayee placed a garland on HRH. Umesh Nayee briefly explained GHU history/current state. Dilip Limbachia explained activities carried out in the Centre. The following were also presented to HRH: Deven Patel, Hasmukh Mulji and Piyooshbhai Chotai – GHU Ambassador.
HRH the Duke of Gloucester was escorted to the Dhamacha Suite. Here he met the rest of the community including past officers, teachers, youth, Day Centre members and volunteers. The 60 members present found HRH very friendly, deeply interested in all aspects of GHU work and activities and very happy to allow several photographs to be taken.
Finally HRH the Duke of Gloucester was escorted to the reception area to view the donation board and explanation was given about how the funds for £3.6 million project were raised for the building from the community members. Finally we presented HRH a momento with a marble model of the Temple, a book of 108 Saints and GHU magazines.
End. For further information contact Ashwin Soni (ashel@hotmail.co.uk or 07833252551) Gurjar Hindu Union (GHU)
GHU represents the Indian Hindu community that originally came from the Gujarat State in India. Gurjar was the original name of the state of Gujarat. The members of GHU originate mainly from India and East Africa. GHU was formed in 1968 and it an old established minority ethnic led charitable organisation in Crawley. There are 1200 families or 5,000 members in GHU.
GHU is a volunteer led charity which has established itself as a well-run and sustainable organisation.
Through prudent financial management and funds raised from the community it serves, GHU first established a Small Temple and Community Centre in Spencer road. The vision GHU had was to build a purpose built Centre in Crawley. Thus in 2010 a very modern Santatan Mandir (Temple) and Community Centre (SMCC) was built by GHU at a cost of £3.6 million. The facility is fondly called Apple Tree Centre, being built on 2.9 acres land originally known as Apple Tree Farm
The Indian Community pledged in 1992 to build a Hindu Temple and Community Centre in Crawley at a major nine day-long sermons (katha) recited by revered Pujya Moribapu. The katha attracted up to 20,000 people to Crawley from all over the country. The katha was very popular and enabled GHU to become well known in the whole country. Whilst it was a major undertaking meticulous planning and organisation made it the best organised katha raising £250,000 for the Temple project.
History of GHU – The Journey
Since 1968, Gurjar Hindu Union has made tremendous progress in providing a solid foundation for the future of the Hindu community in Crawley and the South-East of England. The SMCC project has been a mammoth task which presented many challenges. They were all overcome and GHU made a tremendous achievements and realised the dreams of many Hindus in Crawley.
Sanatan Mandir and Community Centre
This temple replaces the Gurjar Hindu Union's building in West Green. Work at Apple Tree Farm, a 2.9 acre (1.2 hectares) site on the Ifield/Langley Green border, began in May 2008. Planning permission was temporarily withdrawn, but work restarted in 2009 and continued until May 2010, when the temple opened. It was registered for marriages in October 2012.
The Centre has a beautiful Hindu Temple with ornate pink sand stone structure outside and white marble inside. The Centre also has a very large hall with a capacity of 1000 known as Dhamacha Suite adjacent to the Temple. The Centre was given the name of apple Tree Centre. It has 250 car park facilities and excellent facility for religious and other actives.
SMCC was built by the local Community and several
other dedicated supporters. We are delighted that this unique and magnificent
temple and community centre which recites six deities |