In the 1990s, an interreligious society was established in the canton of Zürich to support the foundation of a centre for spiritual and cultural care of Tamil people in Switzerland, as well as to preserve and maintain the Tamil culture of the approximatively 35,000 (around 20,000 in the canton of Zürich) Tamil people of Sri Lankan origin living in Switzerland. So, the Sri Sivasubramaniar Temple in Adliswil and the Arulmiku Sivan Temple in Glattbrugg were founded in 1994 as a non-profit foundation.[1] While some 5,000 Indian Hindus in Switzerland founded their own cultural associations, but not a temple, the Tamil Hindus opened 19 houses of worship since the 1990s.
Location
The temple was established in a pre-existing warehouse at the industry quarter between Glattbrugg and Seebach (Zürich). The Temple is located at Industriestrasse 34, 8152 Glattbrugg.[2]
Cultural and religious life
Poojas are celebrated twice per day,[3] and the temple festivals attract up to 4,000 devotees and visitors.[4]
Tempel interior
The Neumarkt Theatre developed a play which was performed in March 2018 in the midst of the altars and columns of the Glattbrugg Shiva Temple. Members from different religious communities – Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Orthodox, Free Churchers and also atheists – formed the Chor der gläubigen Bürger (englisch: Choir of Believing Citizens).[5]
