The Hindu Society of Southern Indiana will celebrate the groundbreaking for its planned, new estimated $1.2 million temple on Goeller Boulevard on the west side of Columbus with a tent-covered, rain-or-shine event Aug. 3.
The gathering, for what is the Sri Ganesh Mandir, is open to the public with a free midday lunch. It is expected to include about 700 people of various faiths and community leaders including Mayor Jim Lienhoop, according to organizers.
The 8,000-square-foot structure on a two-acre site, with a local builder to be named within days, is expected to be completed by spring, Hindu leaders said. The work will represent phase one of a long-term, three-phase effort, they said.
The building, which will accommodate about 400 people, will be located next door to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus building. Organizers already have pledges or outright donations totaling about $400,000 of the cost, they said.
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The project will be just one element of what will become known as the Columbus Interfaith Campus, according to the Rev. Nic Cable, the local Unitarian minister. The campus will include the Unitarian building and body of believers.
“We have big dreams,” said T P Sasikumar, a visiting guru for the local Hindu Society.
He added that the Hindu community currently numbers about 2,000 people, including local families’ relatives visiting for the summer.
For now, the body of believers meets for services and activities in two places: in a house (accommodating 50 people) on Goeller Boulevard across from the Unitarian building, and in the Unitarian building itself.
The first local Hindu temple is the realization of dreams that began here with the first Hindu believers in Columbus about 50 years ago, according to Rajkumar Subramanian, the Hindu Society’s communications coordinator. Plus, it represents direct work on the issue since 2010, according to Ashish Paliwal, president-elect of the Hindu Society.
“But we decided to take smaller, baby steps (over time),” Paliwal said over the progression toward the new building.
Organizers mentioned that a slower, more deliberate approach to the project is better to ensure success.
“We want this to flourish,” Subramanian said.
The society purchased the property for the building in 2015.
Ideally, the temple is meant to serve as both a spiritual and cultural center, including everything from sacred services for followers to educational events on Indian culture for the public.
“Everyone has been very welcoming to us about this, and about details of their own construction projects to help us,” Paliwal said, referring to speaking with a range of leaders from local houses of worship.
Cable mentioned that the temple will represent more than just added spiritual and cultural diversity.
“We’re trying to move beyond tolerance and even beyond diversity toward inclusion, pluralism, equity, power and dynamics,” Cable said. “Those are things you work toward systematically. Having a built environment is definitely a sign of value.”
Cable added that in a city known for its architecture, it’s important that a building be attractive.
“But the real beauty is what will happen within,” he said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the groundbreaking” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
What: Groundbreaking for Hindu Society of Southern Indiana’s planned, new $1.2 million, 8,000-square-foot temple.
When: The schedule stretches from the puja prayer ritual at 8 a.m. to the actual groundbreaking at about 1 p.m. to a following free lunch
Where: Next door to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus building at 7850 Goeller Blvd. in Columbus.
Information: hssicolumbus.org
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