30,000 devotees throng renovated “glass temple” in Malaysia
October 26th, 2009 - 3:22 pm ICT by ANIKuala Lumpur, October 26 (ANI): Reports indicate that more than 30,000 devotees thronged the Arulmigu Sri Raja Kaliamman Temple, better known as the “glass temple”, at its opening after renovation in Johor, Malaysia.
According to a report in the Star, the huge turnout at its opening caused a traffic congestion near Jalan Tebrau between 10am and noon.
With more than 90 percent of the structure made of glass, the temple has undergone a massive renovation worth more than 2 million RM.
Temple president S. Sinathambhy said that he was grateful to the individuals who had contributed towards the temple’s building.
He had previously said that he conceptualized the design while riding in a motorized taxi (tuk tuk), during a trip to Bangkok and saw something shimmering in the distance.
He then asked the driver to take him “towards the light” and was taken to a Buddhist temple that had a piece of glasswork at its entrance.
Sinathambhy said that he expanded on the idea to build a temple that would be fully embellished with colored glass.
The 300,000 pieces of glasses on the temple consist of six colours, namely blue, red, yellow, green, purple and white.
MIC state chairman Datuk K.S. Balakrishnan, who was present at opening of the temple, said that he had urged the state tourism board to include the temple as a major tourist attraction.
“The state government has agreed to allocate RM 30,000 yearly for its upkeep,” he said. “As promised, the state will donate RM 400,000 for the temple’s renovation and other works,” he added.
So far, the state government has contributed RM 100,000 towards the building of the temple. (ANI)
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