Sri-Kamadchi-Ampal-Tempel, Hindu temple in Hamm, Germany
The Sri Kamadchi Ampal Temple is a Hindu house of worship in Hamm, built by Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka. The building stands near the Datteln-Hamm Canal and features a tall entrance tower covered with colorful deity sculptures.
Construction started in March 2000, funded by donations from Tamil refugees who fled Sri Lanka. Tamil craftsmen traveled from India to carve the religious figures and reliefs according to traditional methods.
The name honors the goddess Kamakshi, whose worship traveled from southern India to this industrial city. Devotees arrive daily for prayer, bringing flowers, coconuts and incense as offerings inside the decorated halls.
The location in an industrial district may surprise at first, but signage guides visitors from the canal to the grounds. A visit outside prayer times is often quieter and allows a relaxed walk through the seven shrines inside.
The structure is the largest Tamil Hindu temple in Europe and draws worshippers from many countries. The architecture follows the rules laid out in the sacred texts called Agamas, which craftsmen from Kanchipuram in southern India brought with them.
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