Hindu temple opens in Ohio with elaborate rituals

Powell, Ohio (Aug. 7, 2015) — Sri Venkateswara Temple of Central Ohio was formally launched with four-days of ancient rituals and celebrations last weekend in the city of Powell.

The grand opening ceremonies included Utsava Murthy Prana Prathishthapanam and Sri Venkateswara Kalyanotsavam celebrations. It also included various poojas, homams, viniyogams, agnipratishtha, kumbha-abhishekam and others.

Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism based in Reno, Nev., said Friday that the efforts of Temple leaders and area community for realizing this Hindu temple should be commended.

“It is important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this new Temple would help in this direction,” Zed said. “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.”

This is the temporary location of the Powell temple. It will be open daily with management in the process of acquiring land in nearby Galena to be the home for a permanent temple location, reports suggest. Ramakrishna Garu serves as the temple priest.

Temple leaders include Ravishankar Kuruganti, Shiva Pattisapu, Nat Rammohan and Anantha Padmanabhan as the president, vice president, treasurer and secretary, respectively, and for the Temple Executive Committee.

 

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents. There are about three million Hindus in the United States.