photo credit: Hiya Patel
Just imagine almost 1.4 cubic feet of marble, which is slightly bigger than a refrigerator. This was how much marble was used in the construction of the BAPS Akshardham Temple, in Robbinsville, New Jersey.
This temple has been in the works for quite some time, and the final opening date is set for October. Thousands of volunteers from around the world came together to help with the construction of this temple.
The Akshardham Temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan, a 19th-Century spiritual leader, and the founder of the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism. The name “Akshardham” stands for eternal home, according to the BAPS website.
In the Hinduism religion, temples are seen as sacred places of worship, and a place where one can connect with God and their culture. This temple is the third Akshardham temple, the other two being in New Delhi, India and Gandhinagar, India. The Robbinsville temple is known for its intricate structure and heavy use of marble.
“In Hindu tradition, the temple is seen as a sacred place of worship, a place where one can connect with the divine and gain spiritual insight, and it is also considered a source of inspiration for those who are interested in learning about Hindu culture and tradition,” Youth Coordinator for the Temple Sajni Patel said.
The temple has only come this far because of its volunteers and the community that came together to help bring this temple to life.
“This Akshardham consists of a community of volunteers of all age ranges, professions, life goals and walks of life. There are high school students, college students, graduate school students, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, accountants, parents, teachers and the list goes on,” a volunteer from Columbus, Ohio Sakshi Patel said.
Akshardham Temple has taken a few years to be fully constructed and is looking to open next month. The building has taken so long because every carving is hand carved, and every job is done by hand, with the help of volunteers from around the world. Each carving has a meaning behind it and is carved with Italian Carrara marble, Indian pink stone and Limestone. There was an estimate of 1.4 million cubic feet of stone used, and the whole complex is 250 acres, according to Sajni.
Binne Patel, a volunteer from Scranton, Pennsylvania, who helped with the construction of the temple said, “I met a lot of individuals in Akshardham from a variety of backgrounds. The construction of this building has involved people from all around the world.”
“Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, NJ isn’t just a place for Hindus to come to offer their prayers and worship. In fact, what makes this place so special is the fact that everyone is welcome to feel connected to spirituality no matter their faith or religion,” Sakshi said.
Several students from the Olentangy district have also helped with the development of this temple, including junior Hiya Patel, along two Berlin students including junior Purva Shelat and sophomore Pari Dalsaniya.
Akshardham Temple is a must-visit spot, whether someone’s there for the culture, or just to visit. It has majestic marble carvings and a very great atmosphere and community.
According to Binnie, “One should make it a goal to visit here at least once in their lifetime to truly say that they have witnessed heaven on earth.”
So, make sure the next time you visit Robbinsville, New Jersey, that you stop by. It’s only around an hour and half away from New York City.
