Hindu temple celebrating completion

Eleven years after the Hindu Society of Minnesota picked out a cornfield near Maple Grove as the spot for its new home, one of the largest Hindu temples in North America celebrates its completion this weekend.

Crowds of up to 1,500 are expected each day of the three-day festival at the Minnesota Hindu Temple, which serves as a cultural and spiritual hub for about 30,000 Hindus in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota and the southern part of Manitoba.

"It's an historic occasion," said Byron Byraiah, a member of the society's board of trustees and manager of the construction project. "This center is very important to the Hindu community. For us, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

After years of dealing with everything from an attack by vandals to construction dust fouling up his computer, temple manager Narender Venkata is going to concentrate on enjoying himself this weekend.

"That all will be forgotten," he said. "This is about joy. Joy, joy, joy."

The festivities, which start Friday morning and continue through Sunday afternoon, include everything from religious rituals to a talent show.

There will be a concert on Friday, fireworks on Saturday and helicopter rides on Sunday.

"This is for everyone, not just Hindus," Venkata said.

Officially known as the Raja Gopuram Mahotsav (Celebrating the Divine Gateway), the celebration's focal point will be the just-completed 65-foot-high sculpted tower, the Raja Gopuram, that stands as an archway over the temple's main entrance.

The building, which houses 19 small temples as well as an auditorium, dining room, classrooms and office space, had its grand opening three years ago when five of the temples were ready. Just two months before that opening, in April 2006, vandals broke into the building, dismembered stone statues and punched holes in walls and windows. Two 19-year-olds eventually pleaded guilty to doing an estimated $200,000 damage. They were forgiven in an emotional ceremony at the temple.

Now, all 43,000 square feet of interior space is finished, the landscaping of the 20-acre site has been completed and the archway is ready to be dedicated.

Construction of the temple started in 2004, but the entire project took 11 years.

"When we started, there was no road, and the nearest water and sewer was three miles away," Byraiah said. "We had to bring in everything."

Originally budgeted at $8 million, the cost of the temple came in between $9 million and $10 million, officials said. It is the largest temple under a single roof in North America and the only one in the United States to represent all four of the major geographic regions of India.

"People drive from all over to get here," said Dakshina Murthy, a devotee and volunteer at the temple.

Although not all Hindus worship regularly at the center -- there are other temples in the Twin Cities, plus many Hindus have a temple area in their homes -- its opening is a matter of pride for everyone, Murthy said.

"We don't talk about belonging to a temple the way people talk about belonging to a church," he said. "In the Hindu tradition, everyone belongs to the temple, and the temple belongs to them."

Jeff Strickler • 612-673-7392

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IF YOU GO

WHAT: Events run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to fireworks at dark Saturday and 8 a.m. to mid-afternoon Sunday. For complete daily schedules, go to www.hindumandirmn.org.

WHERE: 10530 N. Troy Lane, Maple Grove. Directions: Take Interstate 94 west to Maple Grove Parkway (exit 213). Go left (south) to County Road 30/95th Avenue N. Go right (west) for 1.6 miles to County Road 101. Go right (north) to 101st Street N. Go right (east) half a mile to Troy Lane. Go left (north) on Troy, which dead-ends at the temple.

The biggest turnout is expected Sunday. Shuttle buses will be running from remote parking areas. Watch for signs.

EXTRAS: Lunch and dinner will be served. A global market also will be open. The final event on Sunday will be a raffle drawing for a Lexus.