"A dream come true:" Hindu Temple of Wisconsin celebrates much needed expansion

PEWAUKEE -- A day of celebration. The Hindu Temple of Wisconsin has expanded, and it's been years in the making.

The culmination of five days of work that members of the Hindu Temple of Wisconsin have been waiting for, for 12 years.

"Every 12 years, we have a ceremony where the whole temple is consecrated again," said Anoop Dhingra.

Part of that is physical growth. There was an 8,000 square-foot expansion built to the temple and repairs were made.

"The nicest thing is the way people volunteer. They pitch in," said Dhingra.

The temple needed to get bigger as the congregation did since the doors opened in 2001.

"You could see the community relating to each other and getting together, and we found a place for worship and that in itself is a great accomplishment," said Dr. Singh, devotee of the church.

Among the faces celebrating that accomplishment, Governor Scott Walker.

"It's really my honor on behalf of all the people of Wisconsin to be able to be here and celebrate with the Hindu community here in the state of Wisconsin," said Walker.

To celebrate with the generations that started it all, and with those that will soon be taking the reigns.

"It's so wonderful to see so many children here today," said Walker.

"The new members have come out and they are doing a better job than we expected, and it's a dream come true," said Dr. Singh.

The temple welcomes all faiths. They do tours as part of their community outreach. They've also hosted blood, food and clothing drives.