வெலிங்பரோ(இங்கிலாந்து)வில் இந்து ஆலயம்

Work under way on £2m temple in Wellingborough

Published Date: 30 June 2008
By Staff Copy
A new £2m Hindu temple could be opened within 12 months.
Work has already started on the impressive domed building in the heart of Wellingborough, which will serve followers of the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism.

Community leaders believe the temple in Mill Road will allow volunteers to serve a growing community as 12,800 new homes are built in the town under the Core Spatial Strategy.

Eager to see how the new temple will benefit everyone, councillors could travel to the Neasden Temple in London to see how a similar building in Wellingborough might operate.

Castle ward member Shashi Dholakia, who has helped arrange a potential visit for later this year, said: "This is really bringing about community cohesion on a much larger scale.

"Wellingborough is expanding and this will be a focal point, being situated in a central part of the town. It will be really important once it's built."

Vice-chairman of Wellingborough Council's community committee Bob Patel said: "It is going to be just right for Wellingborough and wider Northamptonshire. People will be coming from as far as Daventry, Coventry and Northampton."

The old, house-based Hindu temple in Wellingborough has already been knocked down to make way for the more traditional structure.

After a planning application was approved last year work has started on constructing the outside shell of the temple, which will be made of marble imported from India.

The outside is set to be completed in six months' time and it is estimated that the inside of the building, which will contain prayer areas and rooms for community activities, will take another six months to complete.

The £2m building is being funded by the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir central organisation in London.

Community leaders are keen to stress it will not just benefit Hindus.

Cllr Patel said: "As far as the community is concerned fundraising and activities will be done for lots of different people."

It is hoped that a visit to the Neasden Temple will give councillors a better understanding of Hindu culture, which is a major influence in Wellingborough because of a high Hindu population.

A report for today's community committee meeting at Wellingborough Council said: "The trip is about strengthening understanding of the temple project."

Earlier this year the council was criticised by the Audit Commission for its poor understanding of diversity issues.