CHATHAM: Chatham, a relatively small town in Illinois near the capital Springfield may soon blossom into a “pilgrim” center for hundreds of families living in and around this town besides other parts of Illinois with a proposed multimillion dollar Hindu temple soon turning out to be a reality, thanks to concerted efforts by community leaders over the past decade.
Gopal Reddy, chairman of the board for the Hindu Temple of Greater Springfield (HTGS) that oversees the project exuded confidence talking to this paper that a new 8,500 square-foot temple should get completed over the next two years. The new temple will be northwest of its present site which is a converted church on the western edge of Chatham. The groundbreaking ceremony is slated for April 21.
It will be a dream coming true, said Reddy, adding that essentially though it is Mahalaxmi temple but when done it will house deities highly worshiped and revered by members of Indian community like Balaji, Ganesh, Shiva Parvati, Radha Krishna, Ram Parivar, Hanuman ji, Jalaram Bapa, Sai Baba Mahavir swami and others.
The exterior of the temple will have a classic Indian design that will differentiate it from other Hindu temples in Bloomington, Champaign, Peoria and Carbondale, added Reddy who also serves as chairman of the fundraising committee for the temple.
The temple management plans celebrating festivals like Diwali, Holi, Ram Navami, Shivratri which would attract visitors from the region and areas around Chatham including 250 students at the nearby University. It will serve as a great meeting place for the people as they will come to pray and socialize.
This facility will also be a great present to the second generation of Indians here who would get to familiarize the culture and festivities of age old Indian civilization. “When you hear a priest reciting Mantras in Sanskrit one gets instantly transformed back to India,” said Gopal Reddy adding “it should help the kids and grandkids realize our culture, religion and our lifestyles At least we’re exposing it to them. They can have first hand feel of it. Where is the option otherwise?”
In 2007, a deal was struck to acquire the former Judson Baptist Church in Chatham and additional nine acres in 2008.The group, which had briefly held services at the India Association of Greater Springfield on North Peoria Road, moved in after a six-month renovation. It conducts worship services everyday with customary rituals, celebrates Hindu festivals, organizes cultural events, runs language and religious education classes, holds study circles and discourses, undertakes religious activities and community service projects, etc.
The mission of HTGS, a non-profit organization established 2007, includes preserving and promoting the Hindu Religion, culture and philosophy”. Gopal Reddy and Kamal Chopra are Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively of the Governing Board of Trustees while Raghu Raghuraman and Suchitra Puthanpurayil are President and Secretary respectively of the Executive Committee.
Ramesh Soparawala
India Post News Service
