The Lotus Temple is a Baháʼí House of Worship located in New Delhi, India. It was completed in December 1986.

“Strive that your actions day by day may be beautiful prayers.” Abdu’l-Bahá

A tenet of the Baha’i faith is that the place of worship shall be open to all regardless of religion. Indeed, you can chant not only the sacred writings of the Baha’i faith in the House of Worship, but also, interestingly, the sacred books of any other faiths. No instruments nor non-sacred texts are permitted, neither are rituals or ceremonies, sermons, altars or icons.

Another Baha’i belief is that a House of Worship needs to be 9 sided. The Lotus Flower is arranged in groups in three groups of three petals to make 9 sides. It can handle as much as 2500 people and is surrounded by 9 pools.
The marble was shipped from Greece where it was quarried from the same mountain that gave the marble for the Parthenon a long time ago.

Go to Lotus House of Worship to learn more about the Lotus Flower and the Baha’i faith.

By the original uploader Nikkul at English Wikipedia. –

“The third set of nine petals, called the ‘inner leaves’, appear to be partly closed. Only the tips open out, somewhat like a partly opened bud. This portion, which rises above the rest, forms the main structure housing the prayer hall. Near the top where the leaves separate out, nine radial beams provide the necessary lateral support. Since the lotus is open at the top, a glass and steel roof at the level of the radial beams provides protection from rain and facilitates the entry of natural light into the prayer hall.” According to https://bahaihouseofworship.in/