Wellington region's biggest Sikh temple to open soon in Naenae

According to Stuff "

Sikh community member Malkiat Singh Manak, left, and project manager Satish Saini standing outside their new temple in Naenae, which was once a New World supermarket. 

Where the aisles once stood, people will now pray as the old Naenae New World supermarket is transformed into the largest Sikh temple in the lower North Island. 

The 980-square-metre building was bought in August last year from Foodstuffs, which ran the New World store until 2014. 

Wellington Sikh Society treasurer Kulbir Singh said location, location, location was behind the purchase of the Vogel St Property.

Inside the refurbished supermarket. Where the aisles once stood, people will now pray. 

"The first thing was the space, which is bigger than the site where we are in Porirua. The second thing is parking: over here we don't have any parking.

"We are going to have around 70 spaces at the new location. The third thing is it is closer to the railway station."

The ornate new building includes a large room where people will gather for prayers, a separate room for communal eating, along with a special room where the Sikh holy book will be stored.

The Naenae New World before it closed in 2014.

The temple's priest, along with his family, will also live in the building. 

The Sikh community in Wellington has about 300 members. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world, with approximately 25 million followers. 

"We only have one meeting a week, on Sundays," Singh said. "We can expect 200 to 300 people. We provide a meal to everyone who comes." 

The property was bought for about $720,000, and Singh expected the renovations to cost the same.

The temple's bright gold domes were imported from India. The largest weighs about a ton and was imported in eight different parts.  

The building had been earthquake-strengthened, and refurbishments are expected to be finished in August. 

"We are expecting to be all done by the end of next month. It is supposed to be finished by now, but it's construction work so it has been delayed," Singh said. 

Project manager Satish Saini​ said: "It took three months to design. It is a lifetime opportunity." 

The renovations were paid from donations given by the wider Sikh community.

Anyone was welcome to come along to the temple, as long as they respected Sikh practices of taking off their shoes and wearing a head covering, he said.