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SOUTHALL, U.K., September 4, 2003: British Home Secretary David Blunkett was welcomed with a garland of flowers when he visited Shree Ram Mandir in Southall, Middlesex on Thursday. The Shree Ram Mandir is one of UK’s oldest temples. Mr. Blunkett was given a tour of the Deities and listened to a traditional instrumental performance on sitar as well as a recitation of the scriptures. The Home Secretary praised local head teachers, religious leaders and worshippers for working together and creating the much-used resource center. The Shree Ram Mandir is used as a social, educational and religious base for locals of different faiths. As well as holding GCSE classes in Hindi (GCSE is a high school certification in a subject), it holds music and dance lessons, organizes health projects, wedding services, social activities for the elderly and provides a creche for local children. The founder member and trustee of the temple, Rabindra Patahak, said the temple provided people of all ages with a place to come and take part in cultural activities. Mahanta Shrestha, from Nepal added: “More than 200 people come here through these doors every day. This is the first minister we have ever seen here, and I hope it will be a milestone for us as a community.”

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