Australia’s biggest Durga Hindu temple opens

New building of Sri Durga Temple, claimed to be Australia’s biggest Durga temple, will open with fireworks on November 30 after seven days of ceremonies in Rockbank near Melbourne.

 

Its construction reportedly started about five years back. Pre-opening ceremonies, called Pran Pratishtha Program, from November 24 to 30, include Shobha Yatra, Kailash Yatra, poojas, mantra jaaps, havans, kathas, pravachans, ahuti and bhajan-kirtan; and free food will be available for the visitors everyday starting 11 am.

 

Meanwhile, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, commended efforts of temple leaders and area community for realizing this Hindu temple complex.

 

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that 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. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

 

Besides worship services, Sri Durga Temple reportedly also undertakes various charitable activities like clothing-medicine-food donations and blood donation camps; organizes events, discussions, chanting and meditation sessions and free yoga and Hindi classes; coordinates pilgrimages; helps India-descent senior citizens and students; supports local schools; etc.

 

It opens daily and conducts aarti everyday and kirtan on Sundays. Kulwant Joshi, Gautam Prabhakar, Rajinder Sharma and Hari Julka are President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary respectively.

 

Durga, highly revered Hindu Goddess, is considered savior of the world from evil. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

 

Rockbank, in City of Melton, about 29 kilometers from Melbourne downtown, is host to Victoria's Annual Olive Festival. Land in Rockbank contains many large volcanic rocks and Rockbank Post Office opened in 1862.