GERMANY, June 2011 (wdr.de): The annual Amman temple festival attracts Hindus from all over Germany to Hamm-Uentrop. It is now one of the largest Hindu worship centers in Europe.
The temple is the life work of Tamil priest, Sri Paskaran. The 48-year-old, who was educated in Sri Lanka and South India as a priest, arrived in Germany in 1985 as a civil war refugee from Sri Lanka.
The Tamil temple festival in Hamm has been celebrated since 1993. In the early years the temple was located on the premises of an old bowling alley. In 1997, as attendance increased, the temple was moved into the industrial area of Hamm-Uentrop. And in 2000 the foundation stone was laid for the Sri Kamadchi-Ampal temple.
The temple festival is celebrated for ten days. Men roll across the grounds in an act of penance and Kavadi dancers, with their heavy arches, lead a procession to the temple.
A well done slide show is available at source.