Berlin to Get Largest Hindu Temple in Europe Outside Britain

September 24, 2007

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Earth Times

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/112985.html

Europe's second biggest Hindu temple is to be built in a Berlin park, according to plans announced in the German capital on Monday. Construction work on the temple dedicated to the elephant-headed deity Ganesha is due to begin on October 28 at Hasenheide in the suburb of Neukoelln.

The local mayor, Heinz Buschkowsky, handed over a 73-year-lease for the site to the Sri Ganesh Hindu Temple committee on Monday.

The temple is expected to act as a place of worship and cultural meeting point for the 6,000 Hindus living in Berlin.

A 17-metre ornamental tower dominates the entrance to the complex, which will contain one large temple with seating capacity for more than 300 and four smaller temples.

There will also be a community centre, kitchen and storage rooms.

The building, costing 850,000 euros (1.12 million dollars), will be financed almost exclusively by donations, according to the temple trustees.