After years of planning and construction, Chattanooga’s Hindu community has a new space to worship and gather.
The congregation of Sanatan Mandir of Chattanooga will formally open its new 25,000-square-foot temple and community center this weekend with a special ribbon cutting ceremony Sunday afternoon with Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly.
The community raised $6.5 million to build the new temple on eight acres off Hickory Valley Road. For three decades, the area’s Hindu community worshiped and gathered at their temple on Bonny Oaks Drive, a building that previously served as Baptist church and school.
Nichelle Patel, public relations director for Sanatan Mandir, said the new space will be inclusive to Hindus who practice different forms of the religion, emphasizing different deities, for example.
“All those churches can come together,” Patel said. “That’s what ‘sanatan’ means. Sanatan means all-inclusive. Everyone is welcome.”