A new Hare Krishna temple is being constructed in Catonsville (Maryland), which is expected to be ready within two years.

This new two-storey 12,000 square-foot temple with a dome on top, besides the sanctuary with deities of Sri Sri Radha Krishna installed on the altar; will also include an extensive library, classrooms, greenhouse, water-fountains, elaborate garden and a vegetarian restaurant; and will be five times the size of existing facility; reports suggest.

Currently, concrete laying ground preparations and ground excavation work, which started earlier this month, is reportedly in progress. Bhumi Puja was held on May two and all the permits have been reportedly granted.

Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, applauded efforts of temple leaders and area community for realizing this Krishna temple complex.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this new temple would help in this direction.

The existing New Kulina Gram Dham was personally blessed by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of International Society for Krishna Consciousness, in 1976. Formerly it was an old age home, reportedly built in 1900. Every day, it opens at 04-30 am with Mangal Arati and closes with Shayana Arati and conducts six Aratis daily. It celebrates various festivals, including Diwali, and provides “freshly prepared home-style 100% vegetarian meals”. Dr. Neeraj Verma (Nila Madhava Das) is the temple president.