Hindu temple complex approved
in UK’s Northampton
Hindus
have welcomed the reported unanimous approval of about $18.5 million Hindu
temple and high-tech community complex by Northampton (East Midlands, United
Kingdom) Borough Council’s planning committee on May 29.
Called
“Northampton Kutumbh Centre” (wider family), besides a spectacular Hindu
temple, it also reportedly plans to include state-of-the-art and eco-friendly sports,
recreation and leisure, education, enterprise, arts and entertainment
facilities on about 4.3 acres; providing structure for events, exhibitions,
meetings, indoor and outdoor sports, clubs, crèche and nursery, housing complex
for seniors, elderly daycare, library, etc.; and using solar and geo-thermal
pump technology. It reportedly plans to include a cinema to exhibit Bollywood
films and will have facilities for
badminton, indoor cricket, five-a-side football, etc., sports; classes in yoga,
pilates, martial arts, gymnastics, reiki, dancing and music; health workshops; vegetable
gardens; etc. It will reportedly use green and organic material for roof to
attract wildlife habitation. Construction will reportedly be launched next year,
completing in 2014.
Meanwhile,
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, applauded
efforts of project leaders and Northampton and surrounding community to realize
this wonderful and all-inclusive 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 new temple complex would focus in this direction. He 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.
It
is being built by Indian Hindu Welfare Organisation, a voluntary charity organization
established in 1996 and focused on enriching the lives of Northampton’s Hindus
by meeting their social, cultural, welfare and health needs. Neelam Aggarwal is the Chairperson while Atul
Karavadra is the Treasurer.
Northampton,
about 67 miles north-west of London, is a large market town in England on the
River Nene. It has Britain's largest market square dating from 1235, its
Northampton Museum and Art Gallery has a world-class collection of historical
footwear, and Diana-Princess of Wales (1961-1997) is buried at Althorp. About
five percent of its population is of South Asian descent and it hosts University
of Northampton. Roger Conroy and Les Marriott are Mayor and Deputy Mayor
respectively of Northampton Borough Council.
Each
year Northampton has a public celebration of Diwali, which includes procession
around town center lead by dhol drums, workshops and performances in Market
Square, henna painting, sari-tying, etc.
Hinduism,
oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion
adherents.
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