Neighbours challenge noise from Finland’s first standalone Hindu temple

Neighbours of a Hindu temple in Sipoo, Uusimaa, have complained about noise from religious ceremonies, Yle reports. Environmental authorities say the noise level and duration have not exceeded legal limits, so the municipality does not plan to restrict the temple’s activities.

The temple in Paippinen has operated for five years. Its ceremonies include ringing bells, drums, an Indian flute and sounds from processions involving about 100 people.

One neighbour filed a complaint through a law firm last autumn, and 15 detached-house residents have expressed support for it. Their lawyer, Juha Saarimäki of law firm Fenno, said that was a relatively large number in the circumstances.

“Nobody has anything against the Hindu religion, but rather where and how the activities are carried out in an open rural environment, where the sounds travel far,” Saarimäki said.

Neighbour Leif Schmidt said he had counted 51 events since May. The gatherings can last up to three hours, he said.

Residents say the noise makes it unpleasant to sit outside during summer evenings. They have also complained about the large number of cars parked at the edge of the fields.

The temple was established by Nirojan Sivananthan, who is originally from Sri Lanka. He moved to Finland about 10 years ago and said he wanted a temple dedicated to Shiva, one of the main Hindu deities.

Sivananthan searched for a suitable location in Sipoo, Kerava, Vantaa and nearby areas before finding the property in Paippinen. He bought the plot intending to build a temple on one side and a home on the other, but the second half became a parking area for visitors. He lives in Vantaa.

Before the temple was built, Hindu worship in Finland took place in spaces inside other buildings, including homes. The Sipoo temple is the country’s first separate Hindu temple and has become popular.

The temple’s association holds prayer services weekly and an annual festival lasting 14 days. Gatherings usually take place on Fridays, although there are other events as well. Because the temple building is small, some religious activities take place outdoors and in the surrounding fields.

Sivananthan said the temple has changed the sound of its ceremonies following the complaints. Organisers now use one drum and one bamboo flute, rather than the larger number of instruments used at similar ceremonies in some other countries. The largest bell is no longer rung, and the ringing times have been shortened.

Environmental monitoring authorities instructed the operator to carry out measurements or otherwise establish the noise levels reliably. According to Sipoo’s environmental authorities, the noise level and its duration did not exceed the limits set by law.