Largest Hindu Temple Inaugurated In New Jersey, Open To People From October 18

Good news for the people of the United States as BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, recognised as the largest Hindu temple in the US was unveiled on October 8. However, people can visit the temple from October 18.

In expressing his happiness over the temple's opening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a letter to BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, "It is an occasion of profound spiritual significance for the vast legion of devotees worldwide."

The temple comprises four different varieties of marble from Italy and limestone from Bulgaria. According to the Associated Press, the materials had an incredible journey, travelling from their origins to India and then reaching New Jersey crossing over 8,000 miles worldwide.

But once these materials were assembled, it turned out to be an extraordinary structure that gave shape to the biggest Hindu temple. The intricately carved pieces when put together like a colossal jigsaw puzzle, gave the creation of the monumental Hindu temple.

This wonderful architectural masterpiece is spread across an area of 126 acres. Endless efforts of the artisans and volunteers who invested approximately 4.7 million hours to meticulously hand-carve around two million cubic feet of stone made the structure look beautiful.

Adorning the temple walls are carvings of historical figures, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, as mentioned by Yogi Trivedi, a temple volunteer and a scholar of religion at Columbia University, stated NBC News.

According to Trivedi, the beautification of the temple would take everyone to India. "I wake up every morning and scratch my eyes thinking, 'Am I still in central New Jersey? It's like being transported to another world, specifically to India."

A PTI report states that the Akshardham temple, built by 12,500 volunteers from all over the world, began its construction in 2011.