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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, January 2004: A replica of the famed Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh is being built in an Indian township in South Africa. The Transvaal Andhra Sabha saw a 27-year-old dream reach fruition when the foundation-laying ceremony of its temple took place in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg. Founded in 1976, the members of the small but dedicated community from the South African provinces of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North-West and Limpopo Provinces have been raising funds for the temple. Roy Naidoo, who has been taking care of the temple project, said an Indian architect put together the plans. “We took those plans, modified them a bit for local conditions and are looking forward to having a temple similar to the famous one in Tirupati, which is reputed to collect the most religious funds from visitors in the world after the Vatican.” There will be the main Venkateswara temple as well as a smaller Hanuman temple to complement it. Discussions have already been initiated with representatives in India for the 11 deities that are to be installed in the temples.

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