The Hindu community of Sugar Land has significant cause for revelry with the recent unveiling of a monumental 90-foot Hanuman statue, making it the third-largest statue in the country. The towering "Statue of Union", located at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple, symbolizes unity and community strength. According to Houston Public Media, the copper-colored edifice is the divine result of contributions from local Hindus and devotees nationwide.

While this auspicious occasion was mostly met with enthusiasm, not all the attention garnered has been positive. A group from the Awakening Gen Church, approximately 25-strong, initiated a demonstration near the statue, which they referred to as a "demon god" in a social media video. This move sparked tensions, with church leader Rev. Greg Gervais stating in an interview with Houston Chronicle, "We were there as a ministry to pray for the salvation of the people in Sugar Land," and denying the congregation was there to protest, nevertheless the activities of the group, including approaching temple visitors with their evangelism, have caused unease within the Hindu community.

But the temple leadership remains undeterred, focusing on the positive representation and virtues of the god Hanuman. "Hanuman is someone who values merit and is a good citizen, ready to risk his life for the sake of his country; those are the values we seek to foster in this community," stated Dr. Vijay Sreenarasimhaiah, a member of the temple's board, in an article by the Houston Chronicle.

Despite the height and weight of the statue carrying symbolic significance, the process of erecting it was not without its challenges, particularly due to the geographical location within the hurricane belt. However, the statue withstood Hurricane Beryl without incident, as detailed in interviews with temple officials in both the Houston Chronicle and Houston Public Media. The structure was put together by Hindu temple sculptors, known as stapathis, and brought to the United States in pieces.

Controversies aside, the Statue of Union becomes a potent symbol of multicultural harmony in the United States. Gadiraju, the temple's president, expressed the inclusive spirit of the statue, stating, "It is really Hanuman's blessings to the public or to all the devotees," as reported by Houston Public Media.