NORMAL - If fundraising efforts succeed, a Hindu temple could be standing in Bloomington-Normal by 2010.

A group of local Hindus formed the nonprofit Hindu Temple of Bloomington-Normal in 2006, with the intention of "creating a space of their own," said Dr. Samir Shah of Bloomington.

"It will raise the awareness of Hindus in the community," as well, he said.

As of this week, about 400 members are on the group's e-mail list, and the association is a quarter of the way toward its $1 million goal for the project.

A site could be purchased by December, and then the group will explore building possibilities, said Shah, who leads the building committee.

He expects construction to take about a year.

The group intended to have a site purchased by now, but affordable sites haven't worked in terms of zoning rules, said Ramesh Choudhari of Normal. The group hopes to buy a 5-acre site, and create a 3,500 to 5,000 square-feet building.

The loosely formed Hindu association has been meeting for years in local families' living rooms for about 35 years, he said.

"Back when we started it only was about five or six families," he said, noting sometimes they'd travel to Chicago and later Peoria, to attend the nearest Hindu temples.

But the Indian community has grown over the last decade - it's now numbered at 5,500 - and living rooms no longer provide adequate space, Shah said.

Since January, the group has met monthly for religious events in rented space at One Normal Plaza. On Sunday the group celebrated Lord Krishna, one of the faith's many "faces of God."

Non-Hindus are welcome to attend the services, he said.

Shah said having a physical structure will help Hindus foster their spiritual pursuits.

"It gives some sort of regularity and permanence. It's a place to get together, teach children, and learn about our culture, religion and philosophies," added Choudhari.

The temple also will allow Americans of Hindu descent the ability to maintain a link with their homeland.

"For the Hindus born and raised here, having a temple will expose them to our traditional culture," Shah said.

Hinduism is one of the world's five largest religions, and it's the most common in India.

And Shah thinks it will be a great addition to the already diverse Twin Cities. "For non-Hindus, it will help them learn about a different religion," he said.

Brian Hatcher, who teaches Hindu Religious Tradition at Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, called the plan "a wonderful addition to the religious landscape" of the Twin Cities.

"In America, we pride ourselves in the heritage of a melting pot. … A Hindu temple marks the arrival in our community of this group," he said.

He said the temple's construction will bring recognition that Hindus are our neighbors, that they are grounded here and are a part of the tapestry of our community.

Hatcher, who wrote "Bourgeois Hinduism, or the Faith of the Modern Vedantists," published by Oxford University Press, has studied the changes of modern Hinduism.

He said that for Hindus in largely non-Hindu countries, temples represent more that a religious meeting place.

"Really, in Canada, the U.S., and U.K., they've also become community centers, as well," he said.

Fall fundraising efforts are widespread, Shah said. The group has organized a $10,000 raffle for Nov. 15, yoga classes and other events.

"Really a lot of activities are going on, and people are just donating the money collected toward the temple," said Shah.

To learn more about the association, visit online at www.ourhindutemple.org.