In 1997 Scunthorpe Cultural Society was formed under the leadership and guidance of Dr Shambhu, Dr Yogesh Mankad, Dr Mono Bhadra, Dr Satish Shekhar and Dr Rajkumar. Though the idea of establishing a Hindu Mandir was mooted and considered by the founding members of the Scunthorpe Cultural Society reckoned there were insufficient families locally to proceed with such daunting project.

 

Locally in Scunthorpe there have been notable landmarks of Hindu festival and pujas –

• Navratri celebrations initiated and organised for more than 25 years single handedly by Mrs Kokila Patel (affectionately known to us as Kokilaben)

• Annual Kolu Puja organised by Dr Makani Poorva and Dr Makani Hemadri

• Pujas and kathas by Pandit Jitesh Bhatt organised by Drs Neerja and Satish Shekhar

 

 

Over the years the idea and longing for a Hindu Mandir in Scunthorpe has gathered momentum and Dr Sanjiv Nand rose to the challenge. Approximately 30 like-minded friends met at his house on 10th April 2022 (Ram Navami) and agreed to commit to resurrect the original 1997 idea of Hindu Mandir in Scunthorpe.

 

A WhatsApp Chat group (Scunthorpe Mandir) was organised by Dr Sanjiv Nand and the first formal meeting to discuss the aims and aspirations of the project was held on 14th May 2022 at Bottesford Pavilion Hall. At the meeting the following tentative decisions were made -

• Broad outlines of the Hindu Mandir project were agreed in principle

• Monthly puja meeting on every 3rd Sunday afternoon

• Each puja meeting sponsored by a family pro rata      

• Aarti collection would be saved for the Mandir fund

• Celebrate of Hindu festivals

• Donations for the Mandir fund would be requested from Hindu families locally

• Monthly Newsletter distributed through the Scunthorpe Mandir WhatsApp chat group

 

The first monthly puja meeting was organised and sponsored by Dr Ajay Dabra on 19th June 2022 at the Bottesford Pavilion Hall. We were lucky to have guidance and encouragement for the first puja from our Hull Hindu Mandir colleagues from Hull.

 

Project Group consisting of Dr Sanjiv Nand, Dr Ajay Dabra, Dr Akhilesh Karan (Treasurer) and Dr Sanjeev Jalihal was formed to steer the Scunthorpe Mandir project. Mr Shiv Nand, Solicitor from Gateley Legal, Nottingham helped to arrange setting up bank account suitable for a “small club”.

 

The response from local Hindu families was very encouraging. Attendances at the monthly puja increased and the Mandir funds kept growing. Consensus among the Puja attendees was we should register the Mandir as a Charitable Trust and once again Mr Shiv Nand helped us in preparing the documentation for the application to the Charity Commission.

 

Scunthorpe Mandir was registered as a Charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 12th February 2024 and the Project Group members agreed to be the founding Trustees of the Charity.

 

The Mandir project has progressed leaps and bounds since the first puja on 19th June 2022. The monthly meetings are now held at the Bottesford Village Hall – a spacious venue to accommodate increasing puja attendance and to celebrate Hindu festivals.

 

The Mandir Trust funds continue to accumulate, continued enthusiastic support for sponsoring the monthly puja, sponsoring fund-raising events such as Scunthorpe Park run, donations to celebrate family events and memories.

 

We have also established closed liaison with the ISKON Mandir at Leicester and their members enthusiastically support our events by attending the pujas, enacting Hindu religious stories, singing bhajans, dancing and access to their books and literature. Regular monthly Geeta Study Group – a discourse on the teachings of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta was organised in 2024 with one of the Priests (Prabhuji) from ISKON.

 

Scunthorpe Mandir website and PayPal Gift Aid went live at Mandir Diwali celebration on 3rd November 2024.