VOLUNTEERS from a Hindu temple in Ashton-under-Lyne have rolled up their sleeves to help spruce up their local neighbourhood.
Members of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, based on Lees Road, took to the streets on Sunday, April 12, collecting litter and helping to improve the surrounding area.
The clean-up formed part of the Great British Spring Clean, which sees communities across the country come together each year to tackle litter and protect local environments. The initiative is organised by Keep Britain Tidy, which has led similar efforts for decades.
Dozens of volunteers from the temple joined the effort, reflecting a wider commitment within the organisation to community service and environmental responsibility.
Mayur Patel, a lead community outreach volunteer at the temple, said: “His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the global spiritual leader of the BAPS Hindu fellowship and the inspirer of the Mandir, teaches us to respect and care for the environment and to serve our local communities as a part of our social responsibility.
“Seeing so many volunteers come together for such a worthy cause is a testimony of the community spirit between the temple and its neighbours, and demonstrates the transformative power and impact of collective action.
“We would also like to thank Keep Britain Tidy for its tremendous work in helping keep our country cleaner and greener for more than 70 years. We look forward to continuing to support their valuable community work.”
The temple, which serves as an important place of worship for the region’s Hindu community, regularly hosts a range of educational, spiritual and community-focused activities.