Latest news with #ChandraCheruvu
ITV News
22-04-2025
- General
- ITV News
Celebrations as the first Indian Hindu temple in Stoke-on-Trent officially opens
Stoke-on-Trent's first Indian Hindu temple officially opens today. The temple, or Mandir, is on the site of the Hindu Community Centre on Bold Street in the Hanley area of the city. Dr Chandra Cheruvu, chair of Hindu Cultural Society in Stoke-on-Trent said it's been a dream for the community to have a temple, ever since Indian Hindus moved to the Staffordshire area approximately 50 years ago. "Fortunately, for the last few years, it took eight years to come to this stage, we bought the building in 2016, and there's been a lot of hard work. "You can see the beautiful domes and structures, all been made in India and brought here. And it's basically to bring all cultures and people together. Committee members of the society said they raised the money in one week, after the site was available for auction, all from donations from members of the congregation. The domes and structures in the temple were made in India and shipped to the UK. Across the weekend, prayers have taken place ahead of the official opening. It's hoped the temple will also be an events space for people to celebrate birthdays and weddings, and facilitate up to 1,000 people. Leaders and members from the local Sikh Gurdwara, Muslim mosques and Christian churches have been invited for the official opening ceremony. Young members of the congregation have praised the site as a place to go closer to home, rather than travelling further afield to Birmingham or Manchester.
BBC News
18-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
First Hindu temple in Staffordshire set to open in Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire's first Hindu temple is due to open this weekend in Chandra Cheruvu, chair of Hindu Cultural Society in Stoke-on-Trent, which has been in the city since 1995, said it was important for the local Hindu community to have somewhere to come days of celebrations for the opening will take place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday."It took time to build up all the structures, the beautiful domes and structures, and getting the idols from India," Dr Cheruvu said. "We've got the marble idols, we've got the bronze idols, and we have the granite idols - all of them come from India."The new temple will open on Bold street, off Keelings Road in Hanley, and Dr Cheruvu said having a temple in the city would make it easier for those who would otherwise have to travel to Manchester or Birmingham for prayers."Locally, having your own temple, it is an opportunity, 70-year-old and 80-year-old people can come and meet their own community members, talk to them and speak the same language," he said. Hindus in Stoke-on-Trent previously had to use community halls, but could now celebrate festivals with catering facilities for up to 1,000 people available in the building."You've got so many festivals in India, and it's an opportunity to congregate to celebrate each of the festivals," Dr Chevuru said."It is a cultural centre, you can bring the culture together and we want to share it with everybody."Leaders from the local Christian churches, Muslim mosques and Sikh Gurdwara had all been invited to attend the inauguration ceremony, he said."Faith is all about 'together'. That's why we don't call Hinduism a religion, Hinduism is a belief of being together, it's a way of life, accepting other religions and respecting your own culture." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
