Monday October 26, 2009
More than 30,000 throng “glass temple” in Johor
By DESIREE TRESA GASPER
JOHOR BARU: More than 30,000 devotees thronged the Arulmigu Sri Raja Kaliamman Temple better known as the “glass temple” here for its opening.
With more than 90% of the structure made of glass, the temple has undergone a massive renovation worth more than RM2mil.
The huge turnout yesterday caused a traffic congestion near Jalan Tebrau here between 10am and noon.
Shining temple: Devotees visiting the temple. Temple president S. Sinathambhy said he was grateful to the individuals who had contributed towards the temple’s building.
He had previously said that he conceptualised the design while riding in a motorised taxi (tuk tuk), during a trip to Bangkok and saw something shimmering in the distance.
He then asked the driver to take him “towards the light” and was taken to a Buddhist temple that had a piece of glasswork at its entrance.
Sinathambhy said he expanded on the idea to build a temple that would be fully embellished with coloured glass.
The 300,000 pieces of glasses on the temple consist of six colours, namely blue, red, yellow, green, purple and white.
MIC state chairman Datuk K.S. Balakrishnan, who was present at the event yesterday, said he had urged the state tourism board to include the temple as a major tourist attraction.
“The state government has agreed to allocate RM30,000 yearly for its upkeep,” he said.
The upper section of the Arulmigu Temple adorned with deities. “As promised, the state will donate RM400,000 for the temple’s renovation and other works.”
So far, the state government has contributed RM100,000 towards the building of the temple.
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