Hinduism is known for having many gods and goddesses and separate temples dedicated to each of them. However, there are some major deities in the religion who are worshipped by most followers. Birmingham, which has a large Hindu population, has different temples dedicated to these deities.
From Birmingham to Oldbury to Rowley Regis, you will find several Hindu temples across the region for the followers. The temples also celebrate most of the major Hindu festivals like Diwali (a festival of lights), Janmashtami (birth of the god Krishna), Ramnavami (birth of Lord Ram), Dusshehra and others.
However, if you are not acquainted with Hinduism and were wondering what the different temples are for, here is a guide to which god or goddess is worshiped in the different temples in and around Birmingham. So, here are 11 of the Hindu temples in and around Birmingham and who is worshipped there:
1. Shree Geeta Bhavan, Handsworth
This is the first Hindu temple to have opened in the West Midlands. Located in a former church, it opened in 1969 and is on Heathfield Road. The gods Ram, Sita, Krishna, and Hanuman are worshipped here. They are all major deities in the religion. The name Shree Gita Bhawan honours of one of the sacred texts in Hinduism, the Bhagavad Gita. (Photo - Google Maps)
2. Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple of UK, Tividale
The massive Balaji temple in Tividale has several temples within its campus. The main temple is dedicated in the Vaishnava tradition to a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. There are also temples dedicated to Lord Ganesh, Lord Murugan, Goddess Shri Padmavathi, Shri Hanuman, Lord Shiva, Navgraha or nine celestial bodies, Lord Ayyapan, Shirdi Sai Baba, and Shri Vasavi. (Photo - Vivek Deshpande)
3. Shree Ram Mandir, Sparkbrook
This temple is dedicated to Lord Ram - who is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. (Photo - Google Maps)
4. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Hall Green
Swaminarayan, also known as Sahajanand Swami, was a yogi and ascetic. It is believed that he was a manifestation of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. He is a major deity and every year Hindus celebrate his birthday on Krishna Janmashtami according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar.