Black Country Temple Ceremony In UK

Source: news.bbc.co.uk
Wednesday, September 08, 2010

UNITED KINGDOM : Thousands of people from across the world have visited a Hindu Temple in the Black Country for a special ceremony. They came to the Shri Venkateswara (Balaji )Temple in Tividale for the consecration and installation of the Shiva Lingam, the sacred symbol of the Hindu Deity Lord Shiva.

Dr. Kandiah Somasundarrajah, one of the Founding Trustees of the Temple, told BBC WM that nearly 15,000 people had visited Tividale over the four days between Thursday, 19 August and Sunday, 22 August 2010. He said visitors had come from places including Europe, Malaysia, India and Australia.

Dr. Rajah said that it was a “very significant” ceremony for the Hindu community and the Balaji Temple which is the largest Hindu Temple of South Indian architecture in Europe. He explained how the shape of the stone Shiva Lingam, brought from Gangothri (the highest stretch of the River Ganges in the Himalayas), had been formed by water running over it naturally over hundreds of years.