Foundation stone of the Iskcon temple in Patna.
Patna, June 27: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) temple, coming up at Budh Marg in Patna, will open to public in 2013. Earlier, the temple construction was supposed to get over by 2012 end but because of drainage problems, the deadline had to be extended, said Nagmani Kumar, the spokesperson of Iskcon temple management in Patna.“The contract for construction of the temple has been given to Simplex Construction Company and we are hopeful the temple will be completed by 2013,” he said.
The temple premises, being built at a cost of Rs 51 crore, will comprise a mediation centre, a restaurant, a community kitchen and other facilities besides the main structure.
It will not only be the biggest temple in Patna but also the first state-of-the-art architecture in the entire Bihar and Jharkhand region, said Krishna Kripadas, president, Iskcon Patna region. Kripadas further said earlier the estimated cost for construction of the temple was fixed at Rs 21 crore but later when the expenditure rose, the new cost was fixed at Rs 51 crore.
In 2007, chief minister Nitish Kumar, along with deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, had laid the foundation stone of the temple.
“The temple will have 84 pillars which will be decorated with pictures of Lord Krishna and Radha. The premises will have a central dome and three darbar halls where deities will be placed. In the main darbar, idols of Lord Krishna and Radha will be placed. In the darbar next to the temple, idols of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityanand Mahaprabhu will be placed.
“The third darbar will be Ram Darbar, having idols of Lord Ram and other deities,” said Nagmani. He further said the Iskcon temple will also have a community kitchen called “food for life”.
For general people, there will also be a restaurant — Govinda — where 56 food items will be served.
Nagmani said: “The restaurant will provide unlimited food for a cost of Rs 300.” The temple management authorities have been engaged in various philanthropic activities such as providing food to poor people.
Nagmani said: “When the Kosi flood wreaked havoc in 2008, the temple management authorities organised various community kitchens in flood-affected areas, providing foods to people affected in the floods.” The temple will also have an ayurvedic research centre. Here, ayurvedic doctors will not only conduct research work but also treat patients at the ayurvedic hospital.
The temple will also have a gurukul and book distribution centre where books on spiritualism will be distributed among the people associated with Iskcon. The gurukul will also highlight the past glory of Bihar through pictures and information related to ancient historical sites in the state.Iskcon, meanwhile, will organise a Rath Yatra Mahotsav in the state capital next Saturday. The event is expected to draw an overwhelming response from more than 10,000 people, said Nagmani. Rath Yatra Mahotsav, 2011, aimed at encouraging spirit of togetherness and unity, will also have Odissi performances by troupes from Russia and Ukraine. The Iskcon temple management is also expecting several foreign disciples to take part in the Rath Yatra this year.
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