08-02-2008, 02:00 AM
http://ws.gmnews.com/news/2007/0124/Front_Page/023.html
Hindu temple proposed for Route 27 site
SOUTH BRUNSWICK - The township might be the home of the only temple for a particular sect of Hinduism in all of New Jersey, if the Zoning Board approves.
An application presented Jan. 11 was filed by Bharat Sevashram Sangha of North America Inc., which currently maintains a house in Kendall Park for use in religious practices. The project, if approved, would entail the construction of a 6,904-square-foot temple on Route 27.
According to the applicant's attorney, Rosalind Westlake, the temple will have a main floor for religious services, a mezzanine above that would have classrooms, and a 5,000-square-foot basement with a kitchen and bathrooms. The entire site would occupy a little less than 2 acres.
"This application will be a tremendous benefit to South Brunswick Township," said Westlake.
If approved, it would be the first of its kind to serve this particular sect in the state. According to Ramendra Nandi, a trustee with Bharat Sevashram, there are other centers in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, with a central base of operations in Calcutta, India.
Nandi said that the building would mostly be used for religious services and that those services usually draw only about five to 10 people during the week and about 20 to 25 people during the weekend. He said that the current space is inadequate due to large festival days, which the sect has about eight or nine of each year. These, Nandi said, would draw about 100 to 120 people. With the current facilities, they needed to rent outdoor pavilions for those events.
The board spent much time trying to pin down exactly how many people could be expected if the temple were built, especially given that it would be the only temple for that particular sect in the state.
"I'm just trying to get an understanding of what the future could hold here," said board member James Allen.
Nandi said that the building isn't so much of a church as one might think of in a Judeo-Christian tradition, but more of a base of operations. While people do come to the temple, visitors are not its overriding purpose. For example, Nandi said he does not anticipate it being used for weddings or funerals. It would be more like a monastery that would be maintained by the two monks currently living in the present facility, with occasional visiting monks.
When open, however, it was noted that some of the classrooms would be used for activities like teaching Sanskrit (which the scriptures are written in), yoga and meditation. Nandi said that people from Bharat Sevashram Sangha currently travel elsewhere to teach. He said he expects there to be 10 to 12 people at the temple at different times.
"A building of that size is going to be a lot of noise," said Silviu Nedelcu, who lives near the site where the proposed temple would be built.
Nandi said that he can hardly hear any noise when he comes to services, and that during festivals all they really do is sing hymns. As for the classes?
"Meditation and yoga, it does not produce much sound," said Nandi.
No decision was made on the application. Board Chairman Martin Hammer said that the matter would be continued Jan. 25.
Hindu temple proposed for Route 27 site
SOUTH BRUNSWICK - The township might be the home of the only temple for a particular sect of Hinduism in all of New Jersey, if the Zoning Board approves.
An application presented Jan. 11 was filed by Bharat Sevashram Sangha of North America Inc., which currently maintains a house in Kendall Park for use in religious practices. The project, if approved, would entail the construction of a 6,904-square-foot temple on Route 27.
According to the applicant's attorney, Rosalind Westlake, the temple will have a main floor for religious services, a mezzanine above that would have classrooms, and a 5,000-square-foot basement with a kitchen and bathrooms. The entire site would occupy a little less than 2 acres.
"This application will be a tremendous benefit to South Brunswick Township," said Westlake.
If approved, it would be the first of its kind to serve this particular sect in the state. According to Ramendra Nandi, a trustee with Bharat Sevashram, there are other centers in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, with a central base of operations in Calcutta, India.
Nandi said that the building would mostly be used for religious services and that those services usually draw only about five to 10 people during the week and about 20 to 25 people during the weekend. He said that the current space is inadequate due to large festival days, which the sect has about eight or nine of each year. These, Nandi said, would draw about 100 to 120 people. With the current facilities, they needed to rent outdoor pavilions for those events.
The board spent much time trying to pin down exactly how many people could be expected if the temple were built, especially given that it would be the only temple for that particular sect in the state.
"I'm just trying to get an understanding of what the future could hold here," said board member James Allen.
Nandi said that the building isn't so much of a church as one might think of in a Judeo-Christian tradition, but more of a base of operations. While people do come to the temple, visitors are not its overriding purpose. For example, Nandi said he does not anticipate it being used for weddings or funerals. It would be more like a monastery that would be maintained by the two monks currently living in the present facility, with occasional visiting monks.
When open, however, it was noted that some of the classrooms would be used for activities like teaching Sanskrit (which the scriptures are written in), yoga and meditation. Nandi said that people from Bharat Sevashram Sangha currently travel elsewhere to teach. He said he expects there to be 10 to 12 people at the temple at different times.
"A building of that size is going to be a lot of noise," said Silviu Nedelcu, who lives near the site where the proposed temple would be built.
Nandi said that he can hardly hear any noise when he comes to services, and that during festivals all they really do is sing hymns. As for the classes?
"Meditation and yoga, it does not produce much sound," said Nandi.
No decision was made on the application. Board Chairman Martin Hammer said that the matter would be continued Jan. 25.