The largest Hindu temple in North America is now in Cary.
Crowds gathered to celebrate the tower’s completion on Monday, a historic day when the Indian community celebrates Diwali, a holiday known as the Festival of Lights.
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Gov. Roy Cooper and House Speaker Tim Moore were there for the unveiling.
The multi-million dollar development showcases the growth of the Indian community in the Triangle for years to come.
One member of the temple told WRAL News the idea to expand the temple started out as just that, but it quickly grew into what was unveiled Monday.
The gateway tower at the Sri Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina stands at 87 feet. The temple is located at 121 Balaji Place, off Chapel Hill Road near Morrisville and Park West Village.
Crews broke ground in 2020, carefully crafting each tower to tell a story of Indian mythology.
“We wanted to donate brick by brick," the crew told WRAL News. "We wanted to dedicate it to the community and we wanted to build it brick by brick.”
The expansion comes at a time when the Triangle’s Indian population is growing.
According to the North Carolina census, 51,000 Indian Americans are in Wake County. The same census showed that 46% of Morrisville's population is made up of Indian Americans.
That is one of the reasons there has been a push for a direct flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to India.
The United Kingdom also has its first prime minister of Indian descent.