Four concrete towers with intricate designs -- three at left completed last fall and one at right under scaffolding -- have been created by artisans from India, giving the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana a more traditional temple look, shown on Sunday, March 15, 2015. The $10 million expansion to the temple that opened Feb. 2, 2006 at 3350 N. German Church Rd., Indianapolis, will have a five-day opening June 3-7. (AP Photo/The Indianapolis Star, Charlie Nye) NO SALES
The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A Hindu temple in Indianapolis is in the midst of a $10 million expansion.
The Indianapolis Star (http://indy.st/1xelSM3 ) reports the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana opened in 2006, giving a local home to worshippers who once went to temples in Chicago, Dayton, Ohio; or Louisville, Kentucky. But the Indianapolis temple has used a temporary space that doesn't resemble the elaborate temples found in India.
The expansion, set to be unveiled in June, includes construction of a worship hall with 17 shrines. It also adds a skylight surrounded by four carved towers that make the facility more closely resemble a temple. The current temporary worship hall will be used as a dining area.
"It's a sign that we're putting down roots in Indiana - permanent roots," temple board vice chair Arun Jain said.
The temple welcomes different Hinduism sects, which would normally have separate worship places in India. Jain said the temple wants to be all-inclusive and cater to all communities within Hinduism.
The added shrines give worshippers a chance to honor deities that are important in different parts of India.
"It's like 17 different temples all in one place," said Sathya M. Thulasiraman, project manager and temple volunteer.
About 1,000 devotees come to the temple on holidays, Jain said. He expects that number will quadruple with the renovations.
The expansion's unveiling will be celebrated over five days beginning June 3, with planned ceremonies including a blessing of the new towers and a dropping of flowers and holy water from helicopters.
Other Hindu temples in Indiana include ones in Avon, Fort Wayne, Lafayette and Merrillville.
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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com
Artisans from India sculpt concrete figures atop the main entrance inside the worship hall that will have multiple altars in the new temple being built at the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana, 3350 N. German Church Rd., Indianapolis, on Sunday, March 15, 2015. The only Hindu temple in the state is planning a five-day opening June 3-7. (AP Photo/The Indianapolis Star, Charlie Nye) NO SALES
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Three concrete towers with intricate designs created by artisans from India stand atop the new temple under construction being added onto the existing Hindu Temple of Central Indiana, 3350 N. German Church Rd., Indianapolis, on Sunday, March 15, 2015. They are reflected in a skylight that looks down into the worship hall that has multiple altars to Hindu deities. The only Hindu temple in the state is planning a five-day opening June 3-7. (AP Photo/The Indianapolis Star, Charlie Nye) NO SALES
The Associated Press
Devotees wave trays of oil candles, shining light to the deities in the altar to receive their blessings, during a service in the worship hall at the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana, 3350 N. German Church Rd., Indianapolis. A new temple is being built onto the existing building, and until the new sanctuary is finished, devotees continue to worship at the altar where all the deities are assembled together, shown on Sunday, March 15, 2015. There will be multiple altars in the new sanctuary, where each of the various deities will have its own. The only Hindu temple in the state is planning a five-day opening June 3-7. (AP Photo/The Indianapolis Star, Charlie Nye) NO SALES
The Associated Press