The largest Cambodian temple in Minnesota is about to unveil what temple officials are billing as the largest entry gate at a Cambodian temple in the world.

Leaders of the Watt Munisotaram have spent six years raising money and more than $1 million to build a Great Gate at the entrance to the temple’s 40-acre property in Hampton, a half-hour south of the Twin Cities.

Construction of most of the watt — which includes an outdoor shrine, a meditation space and a sacred assembly area — wrapped up in 2007. 

But temple officials still wanted to build the Great Gate to welcome visitors. In Buddhist tradition, the gate marks the passage between the secular and sacred world.

Vicheth Chum, vice president of the Minnesota Cambodian Buddhist Society, said the gate incorporates symbols of the temple’s philosophy. It also marks a place of peace and education. In Cambodia, many temples housed schools, he said. 

“At the temple, you only have one gate where we come and go together,” said Samnang Kong, president of youth, art and culture at the watt. “When we go through the gate, that means welcome and you get into a place for learning.”

Kong and Chum said the design is based on temples in Cambodia, including Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear. The watt sponsored two temple artists from Cambodia to create the gate’s intricate design of flowers, dragons, lions and other symbols.

More than 100 monks from all over the world will take part in a ceremony celebrating the 37th year of the watt and the unveiling of the gate. Chum said it’s a rare opportunity to participate in a ceremony like this in the U.S.

“Some people might never have a chance to celebrate something like this in their lifetime,” he said.

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