Latest news with #NitinDoshi
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
First Jain temple in Australia to be built with marble from Rajasthan
Australia is set to welcome its first Jain temple, currently under construction in Melbourne, using 1,500 tonnes of marble sourced from Makrana in Rajasthan, India. Spearheaded by the Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh, the temple represents nearly two decades of dedication by the city's small but determined Jain community. Estimated to cost between $15 to $18 million, the temple is expected to be completed by next year. The project is entirely community-funded, with over $12 million already raised through donations and fundraising. Beyond religious importance, the temple also symbolises cultural preservation and architectural craftsmanship. Jain community to donate $18 million for the first Jain temple The temple is the dream project of the Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh (MSJS), whose members are funding the entire construction themselves. "We have not approached anybody for financial help," said Nitin Doshi, MSJS president. So far, 200 families have contributed $3 million to purchase land, followed by additional funds raised for construction. Their goal is to reach $18 million purely through community support. A small but determined Jain population Melbourne's Jain population numbers around 750, mostly made up of first-generation Indian immigrants. Many originally came as students and chose to settle permanently in Australia. Despite their small size, the community has taken on this ambitious initiative to create a spiritual and cultural hub for future generations. Makrana marble and traditional craftsmanship The temple is being built with marble sourced from Makrana, the same region that supplied marble for the Taj Mahal. Craftsmen in Rajasthan have prepared and assembled 5,000 intricately carved pieces, which were then disassembled, numbered, and shipped to Australia for reassembly—like solving a massive, sacred jigsaw puzzle. Construction without steel, in line with Jain principles In adherence to Jain religious guidelines, steel is not used in the construction. Instead, the structure is supported by glass fibre and concrete. Structural consultant Shwetal Shah explained that this method ensures both strength and spiritual compliance, respecting the purity principles of Jain architecture. Completion expected next year The Jain temple is scheduled to be completed by next year, marking a historic moment for the community. With continued fundraising and volunteer effort, the temple aims to stand not only as a religious space but also as a lasting symbol of Indian heritage in Australia.
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Jain temple to be built in Australia at a cost of $18 million with marble shipped from Rajasthan
A Jain temple being constructed in Melbourne, Australia with marble shipped from Rajasthan will represent the culmination of two decades of hard work when it is completed. According to a report in ABC News, the temple project is being spearheaded by the Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh, a small group that wants Victoria to get its first Jain temple by next year. 'It was our wish and will that we build this community centre and temple with our own money,' Nitin Doshi, president of Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh (MSJS). 'We have not approached anybody for financial help.' The cost of constructing a temple in Australia with marble shipped from Rajasthan is not insignificant. According to Doshi, the temple project could cost anywhere between $15 to $18 million. Over the last decade, families associated with MSJS have raised $12 million to fund the construction. "We raised $3 million from 200 families," Mr Doshi said. This $3 million was used to purchase land for the temple and accompanying community centre. The group then raised another $5.8 million through donations and fundraising events. They still need a few millions more to complete the construction and are hoping to raise the money through community support and more fundraising. The Jain community in Melbourne is a small one - made up of about 750 people, most of them first-generation immigrants from India. "Many Jains came here as students, got their [permanent resident visa], and decided to make Melbourne their home,' Doshi explained. For such a small community, raising money for a temple is a hefty financial commitment, but Doshi says, 'However small we are, our vision is not small. Our dream is not small.' The Jain temple is being constructed using 1,500 tonnes of marble shipped from Makrana in Rajasthan. The shipping of marble is no mean task. Each of the 5,000 marble pieces that will be used in the temple have been crafted and assembled in Rajasthan. This has been done to ensure they fit perfectly. After being assembled, the pieces are disassembled, numbered and sent to Melbourne. "Once we knew it worked, we brought it here and put it back together like a jigsaw puzzle," said Shwetal Shah, structural consultant. Shah also explained to ABC News that no steel can be used in the construction as it goes against Jain religious teachings. Instead, glass fibre is being used to reinforce a concrete frame. The community hopes to complete fundraising and construction by next year.
ABC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Jain community raises millions to build marble temple in Melbourne
At an eye-catching construction site in Melbourne's south-east, ornately carved marble blocks, like the ones used in the Taj Mahal, are being assembled "like a jigsaw puzzle". By the end of next year, it's hoped the pieces will come together, and finally make real the Victorian Jain community's long-awaited dream of having their own temple. Jainism is an ancient Indian religion grounded in non-violence and personal spiritual development. Nitin Doshi, president of Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh (MSJS), said while Victoria's Jain community was relatively small, over the past decade they had managed to fundraise most of the money needed for the project. "It was our wish and will that we build this community centre and temple with our own money," he said. "We have not approached anybody for financial help." In 2007, a small group of Jain families who gathered for religious activities formed the MSJS. One of the association's main aims is to create a place of worship for religious and cultural activities. "We wanted this and future generations to remain in touch with the religion and preach and practice the principles of Jainism over here in Melbourne," Mr Doshi said. To build Victoria's first Jain temple, Mr Doshi estimated they would need between $15 and $18 million. For the community of about 750 people, mostly first-generation migrants, the financial commitment is significant. "Everybody is in the settling stage," Mr Doshi said. "Many Jains came here as students, got their [permanent resident visa], and decided to make Melbourne their home." Despite these challenges, the community showed remarkable determination, and raised $12 million for the project over 10 years. In 2016-17, MSJS visited 275 families to share their plans and seek funding support. "We raised $3 million from 200 families," Mr Doshi said. That money was used to purchase the land for the temple and community centre. A ceremony marking the temple's construction brought in another $3.8 million in donations, while a later event to welcome deity statues from India raised $2 million, according to Mr Doshi. The community is still a few million short of the budget they need to finish building the temple. They plan to fundraise the remaining amount through upcoming events and continued community support. Building a traditional Jain temple in Australia presents unique challenges. Shwetal Shah, the project's structural consultant and a member of the Jain community, explained that under Jain religious values no steel can be used in the temple. He had to come up with a way to make sure the construction of the temple complied with Australian building codes and religious guidelines. Instead of steel, glass fibre has been used to reinforce a concrete frame that supports the temple's marble blocks. "We designed the structure and proved it was possible that concrete could sustain the load with the glass reinforcement," he said. The temple is being constructed using 1,500 tonnes of marble shipped from Makrana in Rajasthan, India, the same marble used in the Taj Mahal. Each of the 5,000 marble pieces that will be used in the temple has been crafted and assembled in Rajasthan to ensure the perfect fit, then numbered before being disassembled for shipping. "Once we knew it worked, we brought it here and put it back together like a jigsaw puzzle," Mr Shah said. Beyond financial contributions, the community has shown spiritual commitment to the project through daily fasting. Since August 2015, one member of Melbourne's Jain community has been fasting every day, Mr Doshi said. More than 3,500 fasts have occurred and they're set to continue until the temple's completion. The practice, known as Upvas, follows a rotating schedule that has grown from a small group to about 140 members. Vikram Jain, an accountant in his 40s, who joined the fasting roster along with his wife and son, explained the project's significance. Younger community members have also been fasting. Shanya Shah, a 20-year-old student studying a Bachelor of Health Science, began fasting when she was just 10 years old. "We believe this collective spiritual energy helps overcome obstacles along the way and allows smooth progression of building our [temple]," she said. The community hopes to complete the temple by late 2026, concluding a nearly two-decade journey. For Ms Shah, this historic project is meaningful and humbling. "It fills me with a deep sense of fulfilment, gratitude and pride, to be part of something," she said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because this [temple] is being built for the first time on Melbourne soil."
