The largest Hindu temple in the nation celebrated its opening week in a farming community in central New Jersey.
It took more than 12,500 volunteers from across the country over 12 years to build the Akshardham Mahamandir in Robbinsville, N.J. Now complete, it is also the second-largest Hindu temple in the world, NJ Advance Media reported.
Opening celebration ceremonies were held this week for the 87,975 square-foot temple, which stands at 191 feet tall.
Each day had a different theme related to Indian culture and Hindu values, including non-violence, women’s contributions, interfaith harmony, community, celebrating the joy of others, and spiritual legacy.
Volunteers from the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham North America, the Hindu complex where the temple is located, are hosting the inaugural events.
The festivities will conclude on Sunday with a grand dedication ceremony orchestrated by BAPS Spiritual Leader and Guru Mahant Swami Maharaj.
That ceremony will be broadcast live worldwide.
“The tri-state area has a large Hindu devotee population, so this site was selected to be conveniently accessible,” Darshan Patel, a BAPS volunteer and local media coordinator, told the outlet.
The temple is made of marble, granite, and limestone, which was brought in from Europe and hand-carved by Indian artisans.
It is replete with 10,000 statues and 151 carvings of ancient Indian musical instruments.
Mayor Adams and world leaders such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is Hindu, have sent words of congratulations for the new temple.
Robbinsville Mayor David Fried spoke at an assembly Thursday, thanking volunteers for their work.
“What you are teaching our youth is so important because the next generation needs to become part of our community, and that is something that you should be very proud of,” he said. “We are grateful and honored that you thought to choose our community and had the vision to turn this piece of land into something that is truly unbelievable.”
