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The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.
- Bahá’ullah
The youngest of
the world’s independent religions, the Bahá’í faith came into existence only
about a century ago. Founded by Bahá’ullah(literally "The Glory of God"),
the faith rests on the tenet that all humanity is one- and that peace, unity and mutual
goodwill should be the basis of religion. And a symbol of this global commonwealth is the
fact that all the Bahá’í houses of worship are open to people of all faiths. |
The Bahá’í
faith has seven houses of worship, scattered across the continents, and the newest- as
well as one of the best known- is the Bahá’í House of Worship in Delhi.
Like all the other
Bahá’í houses of worship, the one in Delhi- which is popularly known as the Lotus
Temple- is nine-sided and is topped by a central dome. The Lotus Temple was built in the
1980s and is among India’s most spectacular contemporary buildings. A dazzling white
structure, the temple stands in the form of a 27-petalled lotus, its petals arranged in
groups of three along the nine sides of the edifice. Each petal is crafted from white
concrete and clad with fine white Greek marble.
The building
towers to a height of 34 mt, and is surrounded by green lawns and nine pools of water,
occupying a total of 26.6 acres. An ethereal, lovely and delicate structure,
notwithstanding its size.
The House of
Worship has no idols, religious pictures, or other outward symbols of religion. It does
not have any clergy, and there are no sermons or ceremonies inside the Temple. However,
short prayer services are held, in which verses of the holy scriptures of the Bahá'í
Faith and other religions are recited or chanted. At present the temple is basically a
quiet and peaceful place for worship; plans are afoot, however, to expand it into a centre
for humanitarian and social services in the future. All that is expected of those who
visit it is a will to communicate with the Creator.
Recently an Information Centre has been added to the House
of Worship. It provides a self explanatory panel tour with audiovisual facilities,
furthermore provides richly detailed information about the history of the Bahá'í Faith,
the different Bahá'í temples around the world, the construction of the temple in New
Delhi, as well as the social and economic development projects which the Bahá'ís are
involved in.
When to go
The best time to visit Delhi is between October and March, when the weather is very
pleasant. During the peak of winter in January, however, pollution causes a thick fog to
envelop the city. Summers are searing hot and dry, so avoid the city at this time- or come
prepared.
The Bahá’í
House of Worship remains closed on Mondays; the rest of the week, it’s open from 9 am
to 7 pm during the summer, and from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm during the winter. On all days,
15-minute prayer sessions are held at 10 am, noon, 3 pm and 5 pm.
Getting
There
The gateway to India, Delhi is served by two airports to the southwest of the centre. The
Indira Gandhi International Airport -Terminal II receives all the international flights,
while the domestic airport, Indira Gandhi Terminal I, has flights arriving from
destinations within India. Delhi’s three railway stations- New Delhi Station, Old
Delhi Station and the quieter Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station have a host of trains
connecting the capital to almost anywhere in India.
Buses from across
northern India arrive at Delhi’s three ISBTs (Interstate Bus Terminals), near
Kashmiri Gate, at Anand Vihar and at Sarai Kale Khan.
Once you’re
in Delhi, taxis, hired cars, buses and autorickshaws are among the options for getting
around.
Accommodation
Delhi has a wide range of accommodation, from luxurious Indian and international chains,
first-class hotels and moderately priced guesthouses to economy youth hostels and lodges.
Hotels in and around central Connaught Place cover all price ranges, while nearby
Paharganj is lined with budget hotels and lodges. A lot noisier and more congested than
Connaught Place, but it can be a great money-saver, although the accommodation may not
always be as clean as you’d like it to be.
Most of the large
luxury hotels are in South Delhi, with room charges upwards of $200 per night. For a
decent room in the mid range category, try any of the guesthouses that have sprung up in
residential colonies like Sundar Nagar and West End.
Further
information about the Bahá’í House of Worship can be obtained from the temple at
Bahapur, Kalkaji, New Delhi (Tel:011- 26444029). |
