Toegangspoort van vermoedelijk de Shri Swaminarayantempel in Ahmedabad before 1866

This photograph of what is thought to be the Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Ahmedabad was taken by Thomas Biggs. It shows the ornate gateway of the temple, built in the early 19th century. Biggs was one of many British photographers working in India during the colonial period. His work provides insight into the cultural dynamics of the time. The architecture blends traditional Indian craftsmanship with Western influences, reflecting the complex interplay between colonizer and colonized. The Shri Swaminarayan Sampraday, the sect that built the temple, was itself a product of social reform movements within Hinduism. Their temples served as centers of community life and philanthropy. A careful study of photographs like these, alongside other historical documents, allows us to understand the rich tapestry of social and religious life in 19th-century India.