Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India-France relations have reached new heights, describing the partnership as a special global strategic relationship built on longstanding cultural and political ties.
Addressing the inauguration virtually of a BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Paris, Modi said the temple could stand for centuries as a symbol of cooperation and opportunity between the two countries.
It is a matter of great joy that BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir is being inaugurated in Paris.@BAPS https://t.co/PaXRoM0mkv
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 6, 2026
He said India and France are expanding cooperation in technology, artificial intelligence, defence, space and climate action, while 2026 is being celebrated as the India-France Year of Innovation.
Modi highlighted the historical links between the two nations, including the sacrifices of Indian soldiers in France and the role of French scholars such as Romain Rolland in popularising Indian spiritual thought. He also referred to the influence of ‘The Mother’, Srila Prabhupada and the growing popularity of yoga in France.
Modi said the temple adds a new dimension to bilateral cultural ties. Many of its stones were carved in India, combining traditional Indian craftsmanship with modern French engineering.
He said the temple would enrich France’s diversity and strengthen cultural relations across Europe. The prime minister also noted that Swaminarayan temples serve as centres of service alongside devotion and said the Paris temple would undertake service projects.
Modi expressed hope that the temple would carry Indian cultural values and human values to people across Europe, adding that he would try to visit it in the future.
