The Early Years…

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, community leaders and various groups in the area held several meetings to discuss the creation of a place to promote our religious and cultural heritage. In January 1992, a formal meeting was held to gather ideas for constructing “a place of our own that we all can be proud of.”

In April 1998, Mr. Nand Todi took the first step and formed a non-profit organization under the name Bharatiya Temple Inc. for the specific purpose of constructing a temple in this area. Bharatiya Temple Inc. (BTI) was granted federal tax-exempt status in January 1999. As word of BTI spread, individuals with similar interests in strengthening the community through the creation of a cultural and religious center joined BTI. The core group finalized a project that included both a temple and a cultural center.

Then Came the Hard Work…

On September 12, 1999, the first General Body meeting for BTI was held to approve the project. On October 5, 1999, Montgomery Township’s Zoning Board conducted the first hearing on the project and unanimously approved the application for BTI.

The first meeting of the BTI Board of Trustees was held on October 11, 1999. The trustees elected a seven-member Board of Directors and approved the initial set of BTI bylaws. During the first year after the Board of Trustees was formed, financial momentum increased significantly, with assets growing from $400K to $900K.

In November 1999, with the generous pledging of a 6.2-acre parcel of land at 1612 County Line Road by the Todi family, the project entered its next phase. Initial plans named Sri Laxmi-Narayan as the main deities and also included Sri Ram Parivar, Sri Ganesh, Sri Shiva Parivar, Sri Radha-Krishna, Durga Mata, Sri Venkateshwara (Balaji), and Mahavir Swami.

Modest Beginnings…

Recognizing the need to publicize the project, the Board unanimously decided in March 2000 to renovate an existing farmhouse on the property for temporary worship. An attractive altar was created with images of popularly worshipped gods and goddesses.

On June 18, 2000, a formal inaugural ceremony was performed, with Vedic mantras filling the air. The event was attended by over 700 people, and the Bharatiya Temple was ritually sanctified. An initial program committee was formed, organizing Saturday and Sunday activities that helped attract more devotees and volunteers.

Weekend activities soon expanded in both diversity and attendance. Regular events included bhajans, Satyanarayana Puja, Suprabhatam and Vishnu Sahasranamam chanting, Amritvani, and pravachans, along with major festivals such as Shivaratri, Janmashtami, Samvatsari-Pratikraman, Ram Navami, and Deepavali. The temple also hosted special observances, including gatherings following the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

Sense of Urgency for a Larger Temple…

The small space could no longer accommodate the growing number of devotees. The need for a large, multi-deity temple became urgent, prompting a series of successful fundraisers.

On March 25, 2000, a fundraiser was held at the Church of St. Sophia in Jeffersonville. Another project presentation and fundraiser followed on March 25, 2001, where architectural plans were presented for the first time. A subsequent fundraising dinner was held at the Highpoint Club, during which BTI’s architect, Mr. Shashi Patel—who has designed over 50 temples across the U.S. and Canada—presented the plans to an audience of nearly 300 people.

Temple Construction Begins…

The construction committee worked diligently with the architect to refine the size and scope of the project. Bid packages for construction and site development were mailed to contractors on April 6, 2002.

On April 22, 2002, the Board of Supervisors of Montgomery Township unanimously approved the final site development plans. Construction began in July 2002, and the first phase was completed by the end of September 2004.

Four years of activities and celebrations culminated in a grand opening ceremony during the weekend of October 22–24, 2004. Approximately 3,500 visitors attended the three-day celebration. The special guest, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, delivered a discourse on Indian temples and culture. County and Township officials also attended. The celebrations featured elaborate Hindu and Jain rituals, cultural programs, Raas-Garba, and Maha Prasad.

On October 29, 2006, the BTI Board of Directors and Board of Trustees unanimously approved the conceptual design of the Bharatiya Temple. The Indianization elements were designed in consultation with Padma Shri Muthiah Sthapati of Chennai, India.

The Indianization project was planned in two phases. Phase I included the installation of life-size marble moortis and ornate altar decorations. Phase II included the construction of a grand Rajagopuram, a large Shikhar for Sri Laxmi Narayan, Sri Radha Krishna, and Sri Ram Parivar, along with six additional Shikhars for other deities, as well as Indian-style windows, doors, and exterior wall cladding.

Pran Prathistha: Infusing Spiritual Life into the Temple…

In May and June 2009, the temple celebrated the Pran Prathistha Mahotsav for Hindu moortis from May 21–25 and Jain moortis from June 5–8. This once-in-a-lifetime event brought the temple to life with grand religious and cultural celebrations.

Shortly thereafter, the Board of Directors and Trustees approved Phase II construction. Fundraising continued, and materials such as shikhars and window claddings were ordered from India, arriving beginning in 2014.

And Finally, the Kumbhabhishekam Ceremonies…

In 2016, the Phase II project was completed with the installation of magnificent shikhars and an imposing Rajagopuram. This achievement culminated in a grand Kumbhabhishekam celebration in June 2016.

Over a seven-day period, 18 priests—14 of whom were invited from temples across the U.S.—performed sacred rituals according to Hindu and Jain scriptures, sanctifying the temple and blessing thousands of devotees.

Today, the BTI/BCC community is proud to be part of an authentic Indian temple where Hindus and Jains can engage in religious, spiritual, and cultural activities, or simply sit and meditate in peace.

Looking to the Future…

Devotees have offered valuable suggestions for future growth, with two priorities standing out: the construction of a new cafeteria and additional classrooms for Bharatiya Vidyalaya. Temple management is actively exploring fundraising options to bring these ideas to fruition.

The Bharatiya Temple and Cultural Center needs your continued support. Please get involved, volunteer, and donate to this great cause.

Hari Om