$2-million Hindu Temple Planned For New York

White Plains (New York, USA) will have its first Hindu Temple in the near future.

According to reports, its construction is scheduled to begin in July and total cost can go up to $2-million. Besides a sanctuary for worship, it also plans to include cultural and community center, day-care center, senior citizens program, library, conference facility and classrooms; and besides White Plains, it will also serve Hindus living in adjoining areas of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York states.

Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, applauded efforts of temple-project leaders and White Plains and surrounding area community to realize this wonderful Hindu temple.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this temple would focus in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

In the past, an area restaurant run by Jagdish and Monica Mitter offered venue for area Hindus to congregate or they went to Queens temple for worship needs. But beginning in May, temple leaders are planning to launch temple services under tents on the temple site. There are about 5,000 Hindu families in Westchester County in which White Plains is located and Jyotin Thaker is Temple Trustees President. A “Mata Ki Chowki” will be held on April one to raise funds.

Nicknamed “The Birthplace of the State of New York”, affluent White Plains, created in 1788, still has a house which was General George Washington’s headquarters in 1770s during American Revolutionary War. This “City in the Park” claims to offer urban amenities with suburban living. Prominent people associated with it include Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, boxer Boyd Melson, actress Shelley Hack, footballers Art Monk and Bob Hyland, basketball players Channing Frye and Danilo Gallinari, and actor James Whitmore