A Home for Ganesha: Construction Starts on Berlin's First Hindu Temple

Berlin's 6,000 Hindus are to finally get their own place of worship. Construction work begins Sunday on the temple, which will be the second-largest in Europe.

A model shows what the temple will look like when it is finished.

DPA

A model shows what the temple will look like when it is finished.

Among the many diverse religious groups in the German capital Berlin are around 6,000 Hindus. However, unlike the city's many Christians, Muslims and Buddhists, Berlin's Hindus have had no central place of worship -- until now.

Construction works starts Sunday on Berlin's first Hindu temple with a religious ritual and a ceremonial ground-breaking. The temple, which will be the second biggest in Europe after a temple in London and is only the second Hindu temple in Germany, is being built in a park in Berlin's Neukölln district. Local authorities are allowing the Hindu community to use a corner of the park rent-free until 2080.

The temple is being built by the Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple Committee and will be dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesha. The construction, which will cost €850,000 to build and is financed entirely by donations, will have a 17-meter-high ornamental tower decorated with sculptures. Stone masons are coming all the way from India specially to carry out the work.

dgs/dpa

Article...