A Little Bit of Mumbai in Neukölln

By Til Biermann, originally published by B.Z. Die Stimme Berlins in the German language, translated into the English language with Google Translate.

On the edge of Hasenheide near Hermannplatz there is a little bit of Mumbai in Neukölln. Planned since 2004 and built over years with donations, an 18-meter-high Hindu temple now towers into the sky.

“We actually wanted to build higher, but when the permit was given , Tempelhof Airport was still there ,” recalls former welding technician Vilwanathan Krishnamurthy (72), one of around 30,000 Indians in Berlin who is guiding us through the site.

As more and more Indian professionals and students (many of the students also work as Wolt, Lieferando and Flink drivers) come to the city following an agreement with the Indian government, the religious site is becoming more and more relevant.

“In this way, these young men and women can also celebrate their rituals and festivals and tell their parents back home that they do not need to worry because they can practice their religion here,” says Krishnamurthy.

The inauguration has been postponed many times, but it is finally due to take place at the end of the year. Krishnamurthy explains why it is taking a little longer now: “The wooden carved temple doors and other deities are to be shipped in August. Because the Suez Canal is not navigable for our cargo ship due to the Houthi attacks in Yemen, it is now going around the Cape of Good Hope and will therefore be at sea for an extra month and a half.”

Behind the two new buildings there is a hall in which puja rituals (worship) are already held every day from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to purify the soul. And everyone is welcome here, whether Hindu, from another faith or atheist.

This article was originally published by B.Z. Die Stimme Berlins and is partially reproduced here without the permission of the author, who is not affiliated with this website or its views.