This story first appeared in The American Bazaar
NESSP acquired the land for $1.14 million.
The New England Shirdi Sai Parivaar (NESSP), which is nearing the completion of North America’s largest Sai temple this summer, has raised $25,235 on its GoFundMe campaign, as of April 19.
The nationwide campaign was announced 4th April 2016 to raise $500,000 and within days it has received an overwhelming response from Sai devotees.
The two-story, 40,000-square-foot temple is being built on a 28-acre site in Groton, MA. The temple currently operates out of a 7,200-square-foot rented facility in Chelmsford and will relocate to the new facility when it is completed this year.
NESSP acquired the land for $1.14 million and plans to spend an additional $10 million to complete the new complex. As of now, the temple has raised over $7.5 million and currently, aims to raise $500,000 for the completion of Phase 1 and the grand opening.
The first phase of construction of the temple complex includes a temple building, a kitchen, a big dining hall and few community rooms. The second phase will include three residential units for priests and a 500-seat auditorium. When completed, the new temple will be largest Sai Temple in North America.
The temple will be open to everyone and people can hold weddings and other community and cultural events. The temple complex will provide a great venue for poojas, learning, and weddings where havens in open can be held and barat (wedding party) can come with horses and full festivities like in India.
NESSP has brought in Reading, MA-based NM Construction Corp, as a general contractor and the project architect is Braintree, MA-based BD Nayak Architects. Both have extensive experience in building religious institutions in New England.
NESSP receives overwhelming response from Sai devotees for its GoFundMe campaign