Radha Krishna Temple Construction Begins

NAPERVILLE, IL -- A project to build a new Hindu temple in Naperville begun on Sunday. The groundbreaking of the project on McDowell Road east of Route 59.

The event lasted from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at what will be the site of the Radha Krishna Temple, and featured snacks, henna tattooing, face painting, finger painting, yoga and more. It was at the groundbreaking ceremony when they laid the foundation stones, known to the Hindi as Silanyasa.

According to the event Facebook page, which says over 350 people attended the event, the new temple will have a commercial kitchen serving vegan and vegetarian cuisine, a community hall, health and wellness sessions, a gift shop and congregational outreach programs.

Dr. Anuja Gupta, a member of the planning committee for the Radha Krishna Temple, said "this temple will offer so much to the Naperville community," according to the Naperville Sun. She wore traditional clothing to the groundbreaking, among hundreds of others.

Gupta said the temple will have "teaching spiritual text to kids, health and fitness sessions, classical music and dance, and language lessons." The temple will offer religious services, but is also focusing heavily on community and the wellness of Naperville.

Sacikumar Das, a society member working on the temple, said the project is expected to take two years at a price of $2 million to $4 million, according to the Sun. They are raising money through personal donations, banks and have about 50 to 75 families that make a monthly pledge.

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