Preparations for Temple inauguration accelerate
BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — In just three weeks, the people of Battambang will celebrate the dedication of their local Baha'i House of Worship. New video footage captures recent progress and highlights the beauty of the Temple.
The final step in the construction will be the placement of a calligraphic rendering of the invocation "O Glory of the All-Glorious," referred to as the Greatest Name, within the Temple's dome, planned to occur next week.
The dedication, which will take place on 1 September 2017, will be marked by a two-day conference bringing together over 2,000 people from Battambang, as well as every other region of Cambodia. A number of Cambodian dignitaries will attend, as well as invited representatives of Baha'i communities in Southeast Asia.
The Temple is a frequent topic of conversation among the local population. Even before its completion, it has galvanized action towards the betterment of the community and brought together neighbors in prayer and fellowship.
In a letter dated 18 December 2014, the Universal House of Justice explained that a Baha'i House of Worship is a "collective centre of society to promote cordial affection" and "stands as a universal place of worship open to all the inhabitants of a locality irrespective of their religious affiliation, background, ethnicity, or gender and a haven for the deepest contemplation on spiritual reality and foundational questions of life, including individual and collective responsibility for the betterment of society."