TEMPLE GRANDUER: An artist’s impression of the new Hindu temple and community centre planned for Henderson.
A $5 million Hindu temple under construction in west Auckland is due for completion by mid year.
About 30 groups of people will gather at the site on Brick St in Henderson on January 24 and 25 for a 24-hour blessing ceremony.
Those taking part will take turns around the clock to celebrate the new Hindu precinct which will be known as the Waitakere Community Centre.
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The project is led by the Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust and president Pravin Kumar says the aim is to have a place where people can pray and learn about Indian culture, as well as creating a place where the community can congregate.
“Everybody has something to contribute. It’s just a matter of bringing them together and harnessing the positive energy that they have,” he says.
Kumar s looks forward to forward to seeing the temple finished but says the the journey to the final stages ohas been a long one.
Plans for the temple were first floated more than five years ago and construction didn’t start until July 2012.
Nine containers of marble resources have been shipped over from India, including pillars, two elephants and authentic Hindu artwork.
“I think this will be one of the biggest temples in New Zealand, even in the southern hemisphere,” Kumar says.
The Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust organised a 35 kilometre walk-a-thon in November to raise funds.