‘A dream come true’: Hindu community, Columbus leaders prepare for dedication of temple

Dedication of a new 299-seat Hindu temple in a heavily Lutheran Christian community such as Columbus is one newsworthy angle for Sri Ganesh Mandir, the $1.2 million, 10,000 square-foot structure at 7930 W. Goeller Road, next to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus.

But another angle is that most Hindus get to witness no more than once such consecration in their lifetime, according to Anuja Mazgaonkar, treasurer of the local Hindu Society of Southern Indiana expecting some 2,000 local and visiting Hindus to use the facility. More than 500 Hindu families currently reside in Bartholomew County, according to the society.

“In one way, I am a little nervous,” said Prasad Kondapi, president of the society’s board, referring to the responsibility that comes with such a structure. “But in another way, I am definitely excited.”

Sri Ganesh Mandir literally means a temple for Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu deity of wisdom, intelligence and the remover of obstacles. The temple’s introductory activities, unfolding from Friday through Sunday, coincide with the annual local Ganesh Festival, a religious and cultural celebration that attracts about 1,000 people on its busiest day at The Commons in d0wntown Columbus. It runs through Sept. 4.

One of the central temple events for the general public this weekend is the inauguration celebration and community open house from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Organizers say that gathering is expected to attract 1,000 people and community leaders including Mayor Jim Lienhoop, city council members, county officials, Cummins Inc. executives, local faith leaders, and others. When the Hindus broke ground on the project in August 2019, more than 1,000 people gathered on the property.

Hindu leaders say non-Hindus are welcome at the temple anytime.

“This is a dream come true,” Mazgaonkar said, repeating what local Hindus have said since the project began. “It’s a great sign of building for future generations.”

The Hindu community in Columbus has been practicing its faith for the last 20-plus years in smaller, temporary locations, including the Unitarian building. They have said for some time that temples in Indianapolis and Louisville remain inconvenient for a regular worship schedule.

Online, local Hindus have called the new temple “a sanctuary for self-discovery, spiritual renewal and learning.” Classrooms are located upstairs. Indianapolis-based Colvin Builders Inc. handled construction.

Hindu leaders marked what they called its “soft opening” in April, and the structure has been in use since then. But leaders say some of the upcoming ceremonies are designed to bring to life the faith’s multiple deities, including Ganesh, Shiva, the destroyer of evil, and Balaji, known as a protector.

Rajkumar Subramanian, communications director for the Hindu society, mentioned that, after years of work and planning “Now, you can feel the crescendo.”

Of all the building’s features, Kondapi mentioned that he is most drawn “to all the space available that allows us to bring together all different Hindus in this one single place so that everybody celebrates together.” The president said that is especially significant since, in India, Hindus in nearly every region have a different or distinct approach or style to their worship.

Kondapi and Mazgaonkar both mentioned that the temple also can become a place for spiritual and cultural diversity locally.

Some temple details are still to come. That includes what leaders call a temple vibrancy project meant to help educate the public, and especially, non-Hindus, on various aspects of the faith. That tool soon will include visual elements posted on the wall in the main worship space.

Those elements will feature illustrations with brief bursts of text explanation or background. For example, one of the elements to be posted is an illustration and background information on Ganesh.

Inauguration and open house

A public ceremony in a tent on the Hindu Society of Southern Indiana property at 7930 W. Goeller Road will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday with a variety of speakers. An open house will follow inside the temple. Information: sriganeshmandir.com/.