AUCKLAND, NZ: A $5 million Shri Ram Mandir and a community complex in Henderson, about 13 kilometers from Auckland, currently under construction is expected to be ready in the next few months.
A project of Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust, a registered charity, whose objectives include enhancing “cross-cultural understanding”; this three-level complex with a reported capacity of about 1,000 persons aims to address the spiritual, social, and cultural needs of the community.
Besides a sanctuary on the top floor, it will also include a community center and place for youth activities. In addition to being involved in community/social service and advancing Hinduism, it also aims to promote harmony among diverse communities.
In addition to offering worship services, Shri Ram Mandir also plans to organize cultural activities, festivals, events, community gatherings, educational projects, services for seniors, social welfare and community service programs, camps and spiritual-philosophical-recreational-cultural activities for youth, classes/seminars/discourses/lectures on Hinduism, and establish a library.
Its Bhoomi Pooja was held on July 21, 2012, although the idea of the temple was initially launched much earlier. Marble and Hindu artifacts have been imported from India for this temple, which is claimed to be the biggest temple in New Zealand when completed.
Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust (SRMCT) was established in September 2011, among others, to build a community centre and a place of worship for people of Hindu religion in West Auckland, New Zealand. This also happens to be the first community initiative for a community center of its type in West Auckland for the benefit of general public and community at large.
While providing a place of worship for all Hindus, it also pledges to promote and enhance community well-being through community service, education and other necessary services to the community to address its various needs. It is also aimed to partner with existing government services and other community institutions to address the general needs of the community and enhance diversity, multiculturalism and cross-cultural understanding.
Pravin Kumar, a businessman and community activist, is President of the Trust; Salendra Kumar is the Treasurer; while other trustees include Giyannendra Prasad and Shiu Charan.
An “Akhand Hanuman Chalisa Paath” is being held on January 24 and 25, where a “specially blessed oil” will also be available to the devotees.
Henderson is a major suburb of Auckland, the most populous and largest urban area in New Zealand.
Welcoming the efforts of the temple trustees and area community for realizing this Hindu temple complex, Rajan Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this new temple would help in this direction.
India Post News Service
