[ Global News ] First-of-its-kind Hindu temple to open in Atlantic Canada

The article from Global News discusses the opening of the first-ever South India-style Hindu temple in Atlantic Canada, specifically in the Halifax area. The Atlantic Hindu Society (AHS) has been working towards this grand opening for years, including choosing the space, fundraising, and contracting out the construction work.

The project was initiated around seven years ago by Shaiju Ellickal, one of the five directors on the board of the AHS. About 300 members of Halifax’s Hindu community gathered at the future temple site in Spryfield to celebrate the ancient wedding of the Hindu god Shiva and his goddess wife, Parvati. This spiritual marriage is one of about 15 annual events that help fundraise for the temple.

The society co-director, Venkat Amarnath, expressed surprise at the amount of support they received, stating that they are almost at their fundraising goal, having achieved 90% of it. The temple’s grand opening is set for October, when idols of the Hindu deities will arrive from India. These statues, ranging from two to six feet tall, will be carved in black stone and will mark the completion of the temple.

In the meantime, the society plans to set up a temporary temple in about a month, while construction continues. Many Indian Nova Scotians, like AHS volunteer Lavanya Rajagopalan, have waited decades for a temple to be built in the municipality. For volunteers like Rajagopalan, the hard work of establishing the temple is more than worth it.

Source: Conversation with Copilot
First-of-its-kind Hindu temple to open in Atlantic Canada.
https://globalnews.ca/news/10585215/hindu-temple-atlantic-canada/