County's First Hindu Temple Opens

September 9, 2007

Author: ED MOORHOUSE

Source: MSNBC/PhillyBurbs.com

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20669470/

CINNAMINSON — A Hindu temple, the first in Burlington County, has opened on Garry Road here to serve the religion's growing number of followers in the area.

The Shree Swaminarayan Sampraday temple is the third Hindu center in New Jersey.

“There is a large community of Hindu people in this area, so we felt this was an important location for the temple,” said Arvind Patel, the president of the temple.

Navin Patel, no relation, a volunteer for the temple, said Swaminarayan Sampraday represents the purest form of the Hindu religion. The faith focuses on salvation through total devotion to a supreme god.

A colorful parade and religious ceremony attended by more than 500 people marked the grand opening of the temple last week, Navin Patel said.