New Hindu temple shows city's 'growing diversity'

Bea Swallow

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

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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