Source: news.bbc.co.uk
UNITED KINGDOM, May 2010: Wembley’s newest looming landmark has opened it doors after 14 years of construction. It is the US$23 million Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir, an inclusive Hindu temple. It covers 2.4 acres on the Ealing Road and, at its highest point, is 66 ft tall.
There is none of the metal core most buildings have and, instead, it has been built using ancient techniques based on Hindu scriptures. The method dates back thousands of years and was used to construct the world famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Many of the temple’s component pieces have been hand carved in limestone in the tiny town of Sola – located in the Indian state of Gujarat – before being flown over and pieced together in the UK.
There were also 41 marble Deities made in India especially for the mandir. A ceremony called Pran Prathistha was held to “infuse the spirit of God into the statues” as part of the temple opening. A VIP opening was then held with donors, sponsors and local dignitaries in attendance. Ajay Jobanputra is governor of Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK (SVNUK), the charity which raised the funds to build the Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir. He hopes the temple will provide a place of worship for all Hindus and welcome those of other faiths.