Theravada Dhamma Society of Iowa celebrates grand opening of new temple Sunday
T-R PHOTOS BY ROBERT MAHARRY A view from inside the new Theravada Dhamma Society of Iowa (TDSI) temple just outside of Marshalltown. A grand opening event was held to celebrate its completion on Sunday afternoon.
TDSI President Ashin Tikkha and translator Win Soe pose for a photo during the temple grand opening event on Sunday.
Live music and dancing got the crowd on its feet Sunday afternoon.
T-R PHOTOS BY ROBERT MAHARRY A view from inside the new Theravada Dhamma Society of Iowa (TDSI) temple just outside of Marshalltown. A grand opening event was held to celebrate its completion on Sunday afternoon.
TDSI President Ashin Tikkha and translator Win Soe pose for a photo during the temple grand opening event on Sunday.
Live music and dancing got the crowd on its feet Sunday afternoon.
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Buddhists from across the Midwest converged at the Theravada Dhamma Society of Iowa's (TDSI's) headquarters just east of Marshalltown off of Highway 30 to celebrate the completion of a new temple completed on the property this year.
TDSI members are primarily refugees from Burma and come from several ethnic groups such as the Karen, Karenni, Hakha Chin and Burmese people. The event on Sunday offered attendees the chance to pray and meditate inside the new temple, visit various vendors selling a wide range of products, try Burmese cuisine and drinks, and dance to live music that even included covers of songs like the Bob Dylan classic "Blowin' in the Wind."
Speaking through translator Win Soe, TDSI President Ashin Tikkha said the new temple was made possible entirely by private donations from members -- each person gave $5,000. Plans began to take shape three years ago, and the construction was completed in 2026.
Looking forward, Tikkha hopes to welcome the larger Marshalltown community -- not just Buddhists and/or members of ethnic groups from Burma -- to visit the property located at 2942 240th St. He also has a plan for a new, even larger statue of Buddha, so keep an eye out for it in the future.