A temple, a vision, a family.
Why we are building a Hindu temple in Belgium – and what we hope it will mean for our community, our neighbours, and the country we now call home.
Vision statement
Our vision is to build, in Belgium, a Hindu temple that is open to all. A sacred place rooted in the ancient traditions of Hindu dharma, and at the same time a modern civic space – useful every day, welcoming to neighbours of every faith and none, and built in harmony with the Belgian land and people. A place that the Hindu families of Belgium can call home, and that all Belgians can feel proud of.
Four Vedas
Hinduism & four Vedas : The Rig Veda,
The Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda
Temple & Gods
In Hinduism There Is Countless Number
of Gods, Lord & Temples In The World
Principles
An ancient Sanskrit principle, drawn from the Maha Upanishad: the world is one family. This is the spirit in which our temple will be built and run. Every visitor, regardless of background, faith or origin, will be welcomed as family. Our festivals will be open to neighbours. Our classes will be open to anyone curious. Our doors will not be a wall between communities – they will be a bridge.
A temple in the Hindu tradition is not only a building used for ritual on holy days. It is a living centre of the community – for prayer, yes, but also for learning, music, dialogue, service to the poor, and the simple pleasure of meeting one another. Our temple will follow this tradition. It will offer daily prayer and weekly rituals, but also classes, community meals, language and music lessons, wellness programmes, and a hall for cultural events. Used well, every day of the week.
We are Belgian residents and Belgian citizens. We chose this country, or were born into it, and we are committed to building here in a way that respects everything we love about Belgium: its sense of civic responsibility, its attention to sustainability, its respect for neighbours, its rule of law. Our temple will be net-zero by design, fully compliant with the Vlaams Bouwbesluit, and operated as a transparent vzw with a published budget and a single designated liaison for the commune that hosts us.
Distinctions
Our temple will be
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Open to all. To Hindus of every tradition. To people of other faiths. To people of no faith at all.
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A place of worship. A traditional sanctum (Garbhagriha), prayer hall, and the rituals our community has practised for thousands of years.
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A place of learning. Yoga, meditation, Sanskrit, classical and devotional music, dance, language classes, and lectures on Indian philosophy - open to anyone curious.
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A place of service. Annadanam (free community meals), charity drives, blood donation campaigns, support for newcomers, and active partnerships with Belgian charities.
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Sustainable. Net-zero in design, BREEAM-Belgium aligned, with solar energy, rainwater harvesting, eco-materials, and biodiversity-friendly landscaping.
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Transparent. A registered Belgian vzw, governed by a public board, with published bylaws, annual reports and a designated liaison for the commune.
Our temple will not be
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A private enclave. We are building for our whole community, and we are building in partnership with the commune that hosts us.
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A burden on public funds. The project is 100% community-funded, through donations and fundraising. We do not request public money for construction or operation.
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A platform for politics or division. Our temple is a place of dharma and dialogue. We do not host political activity, and we welcome neighbours of every persuasion.
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Reserved for one tradition or one language. Our community is plural - South Indian and North Indian, Tamil and Hindi and Marathi and Bangla and Sanskrit and Dutch and English - and our temple will reflect that.
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Transparent. A registered Belgian vzw, governed by a public board, with published bylaws, annual reports and a designated liaison for the commune.
“A temple is not only a place to pray – it is a place to learn, serve, connect, and grow together as one community.”