Johannesburg:
The largest Hindu temple and cultural complex in the Southern Hemisphere were unveiled in Johannesburg on Sunday with a score of worshipers attending a ceremony to mark the occasion.
Although less than two percent of South African people are identified as Hindus, it is the highest rearing religion among the Indian community of the country.
The crowd of worshipers came before dawn to participate in rituals, headed by Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanskar (BAPS) sect, Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of 92, who traveled from India for the occasion.
The BAPS wants the site to be a destination for “intercultural, inter-religious dialogue and exchange,” spokesperson Hemang Desai told AFP.
“It is a place for the gathering and communication, networking, but mostly prayers,” he said.
BAPS has described the temple on its Facebook page as “the largest Hindu cultural complex in the southern hemisphere”.
Prior to the inauguration, dozens of monks led the city travel procession in Johannesburg on Saturday, which featured devotional music by bands and dancers.
Desai said that the site was already selected on a large scale in Johannesburg as well as “a major influx of expat Hindus” from other parts of the country.
The temple will host a variety of courses in art, dance, language and faith in many languages ​​spoken by the community in South Africa, as well as the house bap charity.
(Tagstotranslet) Hindu Temple (T) Hindu Temple South Africa (T) South Africa Hindu Temple
