Consul General in New York Angel Angelov visited BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, the largest Hindu temple in the USA (and the second largest in the world), symbolizing Indian culture and spirituality, and noted the existence of a strong connection between the temple and Bulgaria.

The visit was organized by the Association of Foreign Consuls in New York, representing the largest consular corps in the world (the Bulgarian Consul General is the vice president) and by the Consul General of India. Fourteen diplomats attended, as did several mayors and senior local government officials from the Robbinsville, New Jersey area, where the complex was built.

The reason for the visit was the celebration of the one-year anniversary of the inauguration of the Temple. The complex is situated on 74 hectares and incl. the main temple (Akshardham mandir), smaller temples, plaza, a research institute, a conference center etc.

The religious leader in the Temple, as well as the CEO of the complex, have emphasized that one of the most used materials in the construction of this architectural marvel is a Bulgarian limestone, imported directly from Bulgaria. It was shared that the choice was the result of very serious laboratory for a building material with the necessary endurance of the high temperature amplitudes in the area of ​​Robbinsville, New Jersey. The CEO has visited Bulgaria several times on the issue. The use of construction material from Bulgaria is also noted in the museum of the complex.

The guests received as a symbolic gift Nadachadi, which is very similar to the Bulgarian martenitsa and aims to drive away evil spirits and ward off negative energy.