BANGALORE, Dec. 31: The Rs 16 crore International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple and cultural centre being built in the city will be ready by August end, ISKCON project director and Bangalore president Madhu Pandit Das said here today.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Das said that a temple and cultural centre being built over seven acres on Hare Krishna hill near West of Chord road, will include a Kalakshetra, Vedic library, multi-media theatre and Samskar hall. The temple will also have the capacity to feed 2,000 pilgrims every day, he said.

"The funds for the mega project have been raised entirely in Bangalore. This was mainly due to the broad-based support of the people," he clarified.

The completion of the building is to coincide with the birth centenary celebrations of the ISKCON founder A.C. Bhativedanta Swami Prabhupada. Mr Das said that as part of the centennial celebrations a student spiritual rejuvenation programme will be launched, along with a host of other spiritual programmes.

He said that high school students from the city will be invited to participate in a socially- organised Sankirtan yoga seminar, where they will be introduced to the value of vedic culture. The programme has been evolved by the educational services wing of ISKCON.

Mr Das said that ISKCON temples will be opened in some other districts, to carry the message of Krishna consciousness.

Earlier, inaugurating the global Prabhapada centennial program former chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde said that material progress should not be the sole objective in an individual's life. "That is why developed countries now have this craze for spiritual solace, through which man can find peace," he pointed out.

Describing Prabhupada as a true yogi, Mr Hegde said a man's life was complete only if he had performed Jnana, Bhakti and Karma yoga.