India: Why do elected officials of a secular state inaugurate places of worhip in their official capacity ?

[The head of state should steer clear of laying foundations of religious places of worship, they can do in their private capacity, but in India there is no one questioning such practices by top officials of a secular state ...]

Times of India

Prez lays foundation of world’s tallest Krishna temple
TNN & Agencies | Nov 16, 2014, 10.27 PM IST

Agra: The holy town of Vrindavan should strive to become the world centre for spiritual enlightenment, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Sunday after performing the "ananta shesha sthapana" puja for the construction of the world's tallest Shri Krishna temple here.

The "Chandrodaya Mandir", an architectural marvel seeking to restore the glory and the times of Lord Shri Krishna, is planned to be three-times the height of the 72.5m Qutub Minar in Delhi.

Mukherjee praised the temple architect and congratulated the authorities of ISKCON who are building the shrine. UP governor Ram Naik and BJP MP from Mathura and yesteryear actor Hema Malini were also present.

"I am glad to know that Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh have taken various initiatives towards making Vrindavan a hub of religious tourism. The present project adds a new dimension to these initiatives and shall hopefully generate positive spin-offs both for local society and the economy," Mukherjee said.

He hoped that 'Vrindavan' strives to become a world renowned centre for spiritual enlightenment, from where the message of divinity and peace resonates across all humanity.

Mukherjee said as the country is undergoing a change from being a developing to a developed economy, there will be immense pressures on our socio-economic and moral fabric."It is, therefore, imperative that we reconnect to our spiritual dimensions. There can be no better way of doing this than spreading the Bhagvad Gita's message of universal love and humanity.

The Chandrodaya Temple site is strategically located on Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg, which was formerly called Chhatikara road. The temple has main access to Vrindavan on the Delhi-Agra highway.

The skyscraper temple project will be spread across 5 acres, surrounded by the recreated forests of Braj, conceived by the devotees of ISKCON-Bengaluru.

The temple will be 210 meters or 700 ft in height (70 storeys). A capsule elevator will takes visitors from the ground level to the 700-foot tall viewing gallery giving an immersive 3D sound and light experience of the different planetary systems described in the Vedic literatures.

The temple authorities have also planned to create forests of Vrindavan around the temple based on descriptions in the Srimad Bhagavatam. A sprawling 26 acres will consist of the 12 forests (dvadashakanana) of Braj.

There will be a Krishna Lila theme park whose main attractions will include themed story telling areas, musical fountains, lawn and water features, a Yamuna creek for boating experience, a Braj heritage village and a goshala to recreate the atmosphere of Vrindavan of Lord Krishna. Krishna Heritage museum, Bhagvad Gita Expo, lecture halls and a centre for Krishna heritage studies.