Students in Kolkata, India, smear each other with colours during Holi. British Hindus will celebrate the festival tomorrow

On June 14, 1970 Yogiji Maharaj prophesied to his incredulous followers that a vast traditional Hindu temple would rise up in London.

To imagine the first stone mandir outside India since Ankor Wat in Cambodia in the 12th century, and in a British capital at the time broiled by racism, stretched the faith of even the guru’s most devoted followers.

On August 20, 1995 Yogiji’s successor, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, opened Neasden temple in northwest London, having ridden through the streets on an elephant followed by hundreds of dancing adherents. Today it is a magnificent landmark on the skyline. Unlike much of the slightly dreary suburbia over which it towers, it is difficult to imagine that the turreted white-marble monolith won’t be there in another 1,000