Lord Venkateswara's temple in London

London, Aug 24 (UNI) The largest Hindu temple in Europe dedicated to Lord Venkateswara opened in Tividale, near Birmingham today.

The opening will be marked with a week-long festival during which 15 priests will perform rituals to sanctify the shrine. The festival will end with the installation of the 3.6 metre statue of Lord Krishna.

Based on the Tirupati temple, this new architectural beauty has cost Rs 57.3 crore. The idea of the temple was conceived in the 1970s but it was not until 1987 that worshippers acquired the site.

Scores of craftsmen from India worked on the temple.

''It's just marvellous and thanks must go to the people who have donated money and the all the work the volunteers have done. The devotees have been very generous and it is a beautiful temple,'' Nookaraju and his wife Jayakumar told the BBC.

Acharya Icanlyana Sundram said he is proud to work at the temple.

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