Keys for Oxfordshire's first Hindu temple handed over

The keys to a county's first Hindu temple have been passed over during celebrations for Holi.

Members of Oxford Hindu Temple and Community Centre Project (OHTCCP) received the keys to the site at Court Place Farm, in Marston, from Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown.

Dr Gian Gopal, founding chairman of OHTCCP, said it was the "beginning of the end of chapter one".

Plans for the development of the site were given the go-ahead in July.

Dr Gopal said chapter one would "end when we do the first spiritual prayers" in the building, and that chapter two "begins with how we share it with the community over the next 20 years".

The group had been campaigning to find a suitable site for a temple for 16 years.

Kanta Gopal, campaigner and wife of Dr Gopal, said: "It still feels like a dream, actually, because we've been campaigning for so long - so it's a tremendously huge step forward for the Hindu community."

Fellow campaigner Mark Bhagwandin said he felt "completely ecstatic".

"This entire community, over 7,000 Hindus in Oxfordshire, has been waiting for this day, when we could have a building of our own, and we are excited to see what we can actually do, and how this is going to look as a first Hindu temple in the entire county."

The plans to turn the changing rooms at the derelict sports pavilion into a Hindu temple will see two halls created in the building, one as a place of worship, and the second as a place for community gatherings.

The keys were handed over during celebrations for the Hindu festival of Holi - which is the festival of colours, love, and spring.

Mr Bhagwandin said: "It celebrates the coming of spring and new beginnings - this is a new beginning for us."

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