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Largest Hindu temple opens in Britain
The Rs 57.3-crore Venkateswara temple is in the west central English town of Tividale, near Birmingham.
Europe's largest Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara has been thrown open to the public with a week-long festival during which priests will perform rituals to sanctify the shrine.
The Rs 57.3 crore temple, which opened on Wednesday, is in the west central English town of Tividale, near Birmingham. It is based on the famous Tirupati-Tirumala temple in India.
Fifteen Indian priests will perform rituals to sanctify the temple. The festival will end with the installation of the 3.6 metre statue of Lord Krishna.
The idea of the temple was conceived in the 1970s but it was not until 1987 that worshippers acquired the site. Scores of craftsmen from India worked on the temple.
"It's just marvellous and thanks must go to the people who have donated money and the all the work the volunteers have done.
The devotees have been very generous and it is a beautiful temple," devouts Nookaraju and his wife Jayakumar told the BBC.
Devotees hope that people of all faiths will be compelled to visit the largest temple in Europe.
"There is still work to be done but it is great to have this place, it enriches our culture."
