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Temple Completion Project |
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Bharatiya
Temple of Lansing |
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With the grace of God Almighty and the
support of the community, the construction phase of the Temple Completion
Project of the Bharatiya Temple of Lansing got underway on the auspicious day
of Ganesh Chaturthi, September 15, 2007 with a Bhoomi Puja (ground-breaking
ceremony). This was the culmination of five years of discussions,
consensus-building, and fund-raising efforts led by a succession of Boards of
Trustees of the Temple. The project is designed to meet the
growing needs of the Indian community in mid-Michigan. These needs were
discussed and the plans refined with community input between 2002 and 2005.
In Fall 2005, the scope of the project was finalized and the engineering plan
was drawn up by the architectural firm of Wright Associates Architects of
East Lansing. In summer 2006, the first phase of the project – the
installation and consecration of the Navagraha Devatas in their own sanctum –
was completed, raising substantial monies for the remainder of the project.
Fund raising efforts continued vigorously in 2007, with over a third of the
total project cost being raised by early September. Efforts to raise the remaining
cost are continuing. The project involves the addition of about
4,300 sq. ft. of floor area on the first floor and 4,300 sq. ft. of area in
the basement. Thus the present first-floor area of about 5,500 sq. ft. will
be nearly doubled (see proposed layout).
In addition, the foundation will be laid for the east Gopuram to be built at
a later time. The estimated project cost is around $867,000. Construction
updates will be posted periodically at this site, to report on the
progress of the Your generous support is essential for
covering the balance of the project cost. We appeal to you to donate whatever
amount you can. Please consider signing a Pledge Card or a Grand Benefactor Pledge Form
to provide your support; the latter option allows you to reserve a granite
plaque, with engraving of your choice, in either the Navagraha area or the
Yagnashala area. The expected completion date of the
project is Summer 2008. When the tenth anniversary of the consecration of our deities
is celebrated in Summer 2008, we
will be able to also celebrate having completed a temple that meets all our
needs.
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