Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Monday Sunday declared the opening of a Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto.

"Located in the country's most ethnically diverse city (of Toronto), the facility stands as a testament to Canada [Images] and India's proud traditions of pluralism. On behalf of the Government of Canada it gives me great pleasure to declare the BAPS Swaminarayan Complex officially open," said Harper. 

The temple complex also has the Museum of Hindu civilisation.  Harper noted that while the temple will provide an additional place of worship for local Hindus, the museum will provide visitors to appreciate how the spiritually diverse, multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic heritage of Indo-Canadians has contributed to the fields of arts, architecture, science, democracy, education, and pluralism. 

He called the temple an "awe-inspiring work of architectural brilliance (that) will serve as a source of pride for not just Indo-Canadians, but indeed all Canadians."

According to the temple literature, 1,800 craftsmen were engaged for 18 months, sculpting 24,000 pieces which were later transported to the temple site in suburban Etobicoke, North-West of Toronto, and assembled together.

The complex is built on the Vedic science, and the temple architects and craftsmen claim it is built to last 1,000 years and 40 generations.  Its longevity is assured as there's no use of steel, no screws or nails, no wood, just the stones, cement, and marble.

Text and Photograph: Ajit Jain in Toronto