90-foot-high bronze statue of god Hanuman in Texas (Photo: PTI)

Houston: A 90 foot high Bronze Murti of the god Hanuman was unveiled near Houston, Texas. The statue is called the Statue of the Union and is the highest Hanuman Murti outside India, the tallest in Texas, and the third tallest statue in the United States.

The statue symbolizes “a new milestone in America’s cultural and spiritual landscape” and has become a landmark in Texas.

The Statue of Union is the third tallest statue in the United States – after the Statue of Liberty in New York (151 feet) and Pegasus and Dragon in Hallandale Beach, Florida (110 feet), PTI reported.

The murti was unveiled at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land during a grand Prana Prathishta Mahotsavam ceremony from August 15 to 18. It symbolizes “selflessness, devotion and unity,” organizers said, adding that the murti was so named to “honor Hanuman’s pivotal role in the reunion of Lord Ram and Sita.”

“This impressive structure is the result of the visionary efforts of His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, a Padma Bhushan awardee and renowned Vedic scholar, who conceived the project as a spiritual epicenter for North America,” said a statement from the organizers quoted by PTI.

The celebrations began on August 15, coinciding with India’s Independence Day. The main festivities took place on August 18 with the grand Pran Prathistha ceremony.

“The rituals, led by Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji and supervised by a host of Vedic priests and scholars, were an impressive demonstration of devotion and spirituality,” the statement said.

According to PTI, the ceremony included showering flowers on the murti from a helicopter, sprinkling holy water and placing a 22-metre-long garland around Hanuman’s neck while thousands of devotees chanted the names of gods Ram and Hanuman in unison.

The statue is not only a symbol of Hanuman’s indomitable spirit but also a new milestone in the cultural and spiritual landscape of America, organizers said. It embodies the principles of devotion, strength and unity for all, they added.

(With inputs from PTI)