Hindu temple to break ground in Minnesota in 2014

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

Canada: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…

A new Hindu temple will reportedly break ground next year in Rochester (Minnesota, USA).

As growth in the area Hindu community is causing shortage of space at the current site of Hindu Samaj Temple of Minnesota, it is planning to break ground in 2014 on a new and larger site, which will be built in three phases. The first phase, a multipurpose facility, will double the worship and community area. The land has already been bought and Tom Barbeau is the architect, reports suggest.

Meanwhile, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, applauded efforts of Temple leaders and area community to realize this Hindu temple complex.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this temple complex would focus in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

Current Temple, which registered as a non-profit organization in 2000 and purchased the present site in 2004, is open seven days a week. Various religious services by the priest can be performed inside the temple or another site in the area, including Upanayanam (thread ceremony) which costs $216 inside the premises and $324 outside. Vehicle Archana (worship) is also available.

Besides various poojas and other worship services, the current Temple also offers Ragamala-Bharatanatyam and yoga classes, Gita discussion, chanting, satsang, storytelling and library services. Chinninti Harikrishna Alvakonda is the Priest. Shanti Subramanian, Ajay Singh & Sumathi Dharani, Shyamala Bhat and Diganta Borgohain are President, Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Suresh Chari heads New Temple Committee.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

Rochester, whose tagline is “First Class City, First Class Service”, has been ranked in the top ten in the nation in Best Places to Live, Quality of Life, Best Cities for the Next Decade, Best Places to Grow Up, Best Cities for job seeking retirees and best city to retire; besides best golf market in the Midwest. Randy Staver is the City Council President of Rochester, which founded in 1854 and located on both banks of Zumbro River, is known for its Mayo Clinic and “corn water tower”.