Houston, a 90-foot-tall bronze murti of the god Hanuman unveiled near here, symbolizing “a new milestone in the cultural and spiritual landscape of America,” is the newest landmark in Texas visible for miles and the third-tallest sculpture in the U.S. One of the tallest statues in the world, the Statue of Union, as it has been named, has other distinctions as well: It is the tallest Hanuman murti outside India, the tallest in Texas and the third-tallest statue in the United States, surpassed only by the Statue of Liberty in New York (151 feet) and Pegasus and Dragon in Hallandale Beach, Florida (110 feet), organizers said.

The Hanuman Murti “Statue of Unity”, unveiled during a grand Prana Prathishta Mahotsavam ceremony from August 15 to 18 at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, about 35 kilometres from here, symbolises “selflessness, devotion and unity”, organisers said, adding that the Murti was named to “honour 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 award winner and renowned Vedic scholar, who conceived the project as a spiritual epicenter for North America,” the organizers said in a statement.

The celebrations began on August 15, coinciding with India’s Independence Day, and culminated in the grand Pran Prathistha ceremony on August 18. “The rituals, led by Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji and supervised by a host of Vedic priests and scholars, were a striking display of devotion and spirituality,” the statement said.

During the ceremony, the murti was showered with flowers from a helicopter, holy water was sprinkled and a 22-meter-long garland was placed around Hanuman’s neck while thousands of devotees chanted the names of Shri 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, embodying the principles of devotion, strength and unity for all who come to witness its majesty, organizers added.