In a remarkable development, India is in the process of unveiling the Vedic Planetarium, which is poised to be the largest Vedic temple globally, significantly outpacing the size of St Peter”s Basilica. Although still under construction, the temple has already captured attention with its impressive scale and design.
The visionary behind the Hare Krishna movement, Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, famously stated, “Men doubt what they cannot see.” This sentiment resonates as I find myself in Kalna, located less than 80 kilometers from the founder”s birthplace. Despite my inability to see the source of our guide”s concern, the excitement is palpable with the rhythmic sounds of brass manjira and drums filling the air, accompanied by the enthusiastic chants of “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.” Indeed, the fervor of Prabhupada”s followers remains vibrant.
Today marks the celebration of Holi, an Indian festival characterized by the joyful throwing of colored powders. While our guide hastily leads us away from a splendid Hindu temple to a more sheltered spot, I pause to capture the lively procession of devotees, only to find myself joyfully covered in pink and green gulal.
This area, situated along the Hooghly River, which is a tributary of the sacred Ganges, serves as the headquarters for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). The site is now also home to the Temple of Vedic Planetarium (TOVP), which boasts a footprint of 65,000 square meters, making it the largest Vedic temple in existence. For context, St Peter”s Basilica has a footprint of 21,095 square meters.
The first phase of this monumental project is expected to open ceremoniously in early 2025, with the entire structure slated for completion by the end of 2026. My journey is part of a 10-day cruise through Kolkata and the Lower Ganges, where we explore villages along the river, witnessing the rich cultural traditions and artisan practices in small communities.
Upon arriving in Mayapur, we are greeted by the sight of the nearly completed temple, which features a 54-meter steel dome adorned in a striking eggshell blue, reminiscent of St Peter”s Basilica, standing out against the surrounding landscape. The audacity of constructing such an impressive edifice in the rural setting of West Bengal is truly awe-inspiring.
This ambitious project has received support from Alfred Ford, the great-great-grandson of Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company. A devotee of the Krishna movement since 1975, Ford was inspired by a conversation with Prabhupada about the dream of building a grand temple in Mayapur, the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a significant figure within the tradition. Although Prabhupada passed away shortly after, Ford and his wife Sharmila have continued to champion the dream, contributing significant funds to the project, which has an estimated cost exceeding USD 100 million.
The Vedic Planetarium is envisioned to harmonize spirituality with science, offering a venue for exhibitions and conferences alongside its worship functions. The number of ISKCON devotees worldwide is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands, with around 800 temples in India and numerous others across Europe and Australia.
During our visit over the Holi weekend, Mayapur is bustling with initiates and families enjoying the festive atmosphere, where they indulge in food, flowers, and shopping. The temple complex resembles a spiritual fairground, inviting visitors to worship and experience the vibrant community.
As the construction of Prabhupada”s dream temple nears completion, it is poised to become a prominent attraction, drawing in curious visitors for years to come.
For those interested in visiting, APT”s 10-Day Kolkata and Lower Ganges Cruise begins at USD 7,295 per person. Flights to Kolkata are available through Singapore Airlines, which operates daily services via Singapore.
The writer participated in this journey as a guest of APT and received assistance from Singapore Airlines.
