First Hindu Temple in Northwest Arkansas Opens in Bentonville
By: Liz Hogan
Updated: July 29, 2012
Northwest Arkansas' first Hindu temple opened Sunday in Bentonville.
The Hindu Association of Northwest Arkansas built the temple with help from the community, and celebrated the grand opening with traditional Hindu rituals and cultural activities.
The association purchased the land in 2009 and construction on the temple began last fall.
Members began commemorating the historic event friday.
"For two days we had rituals preparing ourselves for entry into the new temple and this morning we entered the new temple for the first time with a Puja, our religious ritual, at the front door of the temple and then we started processing all the deities into the temple." said Niru Raghavan, president of the Hindu Association of NWA.
Around 1,000 people came out to see the new temple and help celebrate the occasion.
The Hindu Association of Northwest Arkansas built the temple with help from the community, and celebrated the grand opening with traditional Hindu rituals and cultural activities.
The association purchased the land in 2009 and construction on the temple began last fall.
Members began commemorating the historic event friday.
"For two days we had rituals preparing ourselves for entry into the new temple and this morning we entered the new temple for the first time with a Puja, our religious ritual, at the front door of the temple and then we started processing all the deities into the temple." said Niru Raghavan, president of the Hindu Association of NWA.
Around 1,000 people came out to see the new temple and help celebrate the occasion.
