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Community Corner

Hindu Temple a Cultural Hit

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, the largest Hiundu temple in the U.S., is a top visitor draw to Lilburn.

Chances are you've at least seen the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple.

Right around the corner from your house, the ornate, multi-spired temple off Lawrenceville Highway in Lilburn is one of the most beautiful cultural and architectural attractions in metro Atlanta.

Adorned with hand carvings throughout, it is the largest Hindu temple outside of India. An array of colorful flood lights accentuate its beauty at night.

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The Mandir — the name for a Hindu place of worship and prayer — is open to guided tours, a treat for those who want to see the building and learn more about the Hindu faith.

"We are very fortunate to have this located in our lovely town," said Lilburn resident Michael Rumpf. "It has brought a greater understanding of the Hindu culture to many who might have never had the chance to see such a site as this grand Mandir."

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The Mandir is open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and sacred shrines within are open daily 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Guided tours are available every day except Sunday.

Click here for visitor information or to book a tour group. Tour groups must be booked in advance.

Individuals and families do not need to book, but should ask if there is a guide available.

Rumpf described his visit this way:

"When I went to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Temple my boss and I were honored guests," he said. "The priest brought us up on stage and presented us with flower garlands as a symbol of welcome.  The congregation then prayed for those that had just passed and for those that have lost a loved one. 

"They fed us traditional Indian food and gave us a tour.  We went into the temple where the priest prayed for us and placed a red dot on our foreheads for a centered mind. I could not understand everything that was being said, but I know it was good."

The Mandir, constructed of three types of stone (Turkish Limestone, Italian marble, and Indian pink sandstone), was constructed in 17 months and opened in 2007. More than 34,000 individual pieces were carved by hand in India, shipped to the USA and assembled in Lilburn like a giant 3-D puzzle.

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