Construction to begin on Greenwood Sikh Temple

Greenwood, Indiana, US: Construction is expected to begin this fall on a new Sikh temple in central Indiana after several delays.

A Sikh congregation that has been worshipping in a modified house in Greenwood plans to break ground in September on an 11,000-square foot temple that is expected to cost about $1.7 million.

The Daily Journal reported (http://bit.ly/18nsHKU ) the group has proposed at least three site plans for the temple over the past five years. Greenwood senior planner Bill Peeples said the plans changed each time the group changed leadership and delayed the project.

The congregation has grown from about 200 members in 2007 to nearly 500 now. Members gather weekly for Sunday services in a nearly 4,800-square-foot house. Construction committee member Chanchal Singh says the house doesn’t always have enough space for worshippers in its main gathering area.

He said the congregation has had to use the home’s kitchen as an overflow area for people to stand in and that members of the temple have moved their weddings in Indianapolis because the house doesn’t have enough room.

The new temple will be big enough for weddings and will allow for growth for another decade, Singh said.

“Oh, this is good for us. We have been waiting for some time to make things nicer, more spacious, more comfortable,” he said.

Singh said temple members hope to have architectural designs finished this month. The project still requires city and state approval.

Architect David Julian said the temple’s design will resemble Sikh temples in India and will include domes and minarets.

Once the temple opens, the congregation will use the house on the property for some gatherings and as a home for the temple’s priest, Singh said.

Singh said the congregation plans to raise part of the costs in donations and pay for the rest with a bank loan.

Source: Sacbee.com