Piyush Goyal prays at Berlin's Dravidian-style Shri Ganesha temple, hails the Hindu community for keeping heritage alive abroad
The temple stop closed a two-day trade visit to Germany that also took in Siemens Healthineers, Volkswagen and the Fraunhofer institutes.
- ANI
- The Tribune (ANI)
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited the Shri Ganesha Hindu Temple in Berlin on Saturday during an official visit to Germany, ANI reported. In a post on X, Goyal called it "a truly divine & spiritually enriching experience".
He said the temple, built in the Dravidian architectural style, stands as a testament to the devotion and collective efforts of Berlin's Hindu community in preserving their cultural and spiritual heritage far from home. Goyal said he offered prayers and sought Gaṇeśa's blessings for the well-being, peace and prosperity of the people of India and Germany, and for stronger bonds of friendship between the two nations.
The visit came as Goyal concluded a two-day official trip to Germany, according to a Commerce Ministry statement cited by ANI. On 23 October he held talks with Levin Holle, economic and financial policy adviser and G7/G20 sherpa at the German Federal Chancellery.
He also met Siemens Healthineers chief executive Bernd Montag, Bertelsmann board member Carsten Coesfeld and Volkswagen AG finance chief Holger Peters. Goyal held a roundtable with heads of Fraunhofer Institutes on microelectronics, power electronics, logistics, smart manufacturing and battery technologies.
He also met members of the Indian diaspora in Berlin, along with Indian researchers and students in Germany. Members of an accompanying Indian business delegation took part in sectoral roundtables with German industry associations, the ministry said.
Key data
Two-day visit to Germany, 23 and 24 Oct. Temple built in the Dravidian style. Meetings with leaders of Siemens Healthineers, Bertelsmann and Volkswagen, and a Fraunhofer roundtable.
Why it matters
When a senior minister on a trade trip makes time for a diaspora-built temple, it signals that these mandirs are now part of how India presents itself abroad. For Berlin's Hindus, it is public recognition of a temple raised by their own effort.
GK: did you know?
The Dravidian temple style is marked by a pyramidal vimāna over the sanctum and tall gopuram gateways; its great early example, the Bṛhadīśvara temple at Thanjavur, was completed around 1010 CE under Rājarāja Cōḷa I.
