The Hindu community in Bath is facing a distressing situation as their beloved Shree Jagannatha Temple, the only Hindu temple in the city, is slated for demolition. The temple, currently housed in part of the former Culverhay School, was initially meant to be a temporary location until a permanent site could be arranged. However, the Bath and North East Somerset Council has decided to demolish the school buildings to make way for the construction of two new schools.
Paul Roper, the council’s cabinet member for economic and cultural sustainable development, acknowledged the sensitivities of the situation and stated that the council would engage with the temple over the plans. While most of the school buildings will be demolished in early 2025, the building housing the Hindu Temple will be retained until July 2025 to accommodate their relocation. Mr. Roper emphasized that the council is mindful of the temple’s needs and is not simply evicting them.
Despite the demolition plans, the council anticipates that part of the former school site may be available for alternative community uses, potentially including the Hindu Temple. However, no final decisions have been made yet regarding its new location.
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Ashish Rajhansha, a representative of the Hindu Temple, expressed the community’s distress, stating that the temple has been their home for about three years. He highlighted the significant time and effort needed to establish a temporary site and cautioned that failure to secure a new location promptly might force the temple to close for a period, which he described as “very painful” for the community.
As the only Hindu Temple in Bath and the sole temple dedicated to Lord Shree Jagannatha in Europe, the temple holds great cultural and religious significance. Ashish Rajhansha emphasized that the temple attracts visitors from around the world, serving as a hub for worship and cultural festivities, such as the annual Rath Yatra, where idols of Lord Jagannatha and his siblings are paraded through the streets.