A cultural festival to inaugurate France's first traditional Hindu temple arrives in September.

From September 2 to 14, 2026, Bussy-Saint-Georges marks the opening of France’s first traditional Hindu temple with a major Indian Culture Festival, highlighted by a procession open to the public.

Indian culture will be in the spotlight in Bussy-Saint-Georges as the new season kicks off in September. To accompany the upcoming opening of France's first traditional Hindu mandir, the BAPS organization is preparing a Culture Festival from 2 to 14 September 2026. The event is expected to draw several thousand visitors to Seine-et-Marne and bring together participants from 38 nationalities, with the help of around 3,000 volunteers.

This grand celebration marks the inauguration of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir, built on the Esplanade des Religions et des Cultures in Bussy-Saint-Georges. Promoted as France’s first traditional Hindu temple, the new edifice is set to be much more than a place of worship. The project also includes a cultural, educational and civic space devoted to exchange, learning and dialogue between cultures.

The temple is led by BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha), an international Hindu organization that counts more than a million members worldwide. Selecting Bussy-Saint-Georges fits with the Esplanade of Religions and Cultures, where several religious communities already have places of worship.

Among the headline events announced, a large, all-ages cultural parade is planned for Sunday, September 13. The City describes it as an opportunity to showcase Indian traditions in a festive setting, centered on the values of diversity, sharing, and coming together. Two other cultural events will also take place in Paris on September 3 and 5, 2026:

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This inauguration is set to extend well beyond the temple’s doors. For almost two weeks, Bussy-Saint-Georges will immerse itself in Indian culture, giving Île-de-France residents the chance to discover the traditions linked to this new cultural and spiritual site in Seine-et-Marne.

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