NESSP launches fundraising campaign for the completion of North America’s largest Sai temple

The two-story, 40,000-square-foot temple is being built on a 28-acre site in Groton, MA.

The New England Shirdi Sai Parivaar (NESSP), which is nearing the completion of North America’s largest Sai temple this summer, on Tuesday announced the launch of its final nationwide campaign to raise $500,000.

“We are very excited that we are nearing the completion of this giant project, and we would like to thank our donors from around the country,” NESSP President Mahender Singh said. “We have received an overwhelming response from Sai devotees from across North America. Now, we have launched our final fundraising campaign before the completion of the temple this summer.”

The two-story, 40,000-square-foot temple is being built on a 28-acre site in Groton, MA. The temple currently operates out of 7,200-square-foot rented facility in Chelmsford, MA, and will relocate to the new facility when it is completed this year.

NESSP acquired the land for $1.14 million and is spending an additional $10 million to build the new complex.  As of now, the temple has raised over $7.5 million and, when completed, the new temple will be the largest Sai Temple in North America.

Founded in 2006, NESSP is a non-profitable organization. Its mission is to promote the philosophy of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba and to accordingly support religious, spiritual, cultural and charitable activities.

The first phase of construction of the temple complex includes a temple building, a kitchen, a big dining hall and few community rooms. The second phase will include three residential units for priests and a 500-seat auditorium.

The temple will be open to everyone. People can hold weddings, and other community and cultural events. The temple complex will provide a great venue for poojas, learning, and weddings where havans in open can be held and baraat (wedding party) can come with horses and full festivities like in India.

NESSP has brought in Reading, MA-based NM Construction Corp. as a general contractor. The project architect is Braintree, MA-based BD Nayak Architects. Both have extensive experience in building religious institutions in New England.

For more details on how to donate, visit www.BostonSaiTemple.org .