The oldest and the first purpose built Hindu temple in New Zealand, Bharatiya Mandir recently celebrated 31 years of its completion and opening the doors for public. In 1986, few likeminded people led by well known businessman and philanthropist Roshan Nauhria thought of having a dedicated place of worship for the believers of Hindu faith whose numbers were growing in New Zealand. There was no place then where Hindus could go to and pay their obeisances or pray to the God they believed in. It took 7 long years to materialise that dream and after overcoming countless hurdles and several hiccups, the doors of Bharatiya Mandir were finally opened for public in month of June 1993. Ever since in the last weekend of month of June every year Bharatiya Mandir celebrates its anniversary or ‘Patotsav’ to rejuvenate and purify the divine energies into the installed deities at the Mandir.
Patotsav is a very pious occasion for any Hindu Mandir and its celebrated following all Vedic traditions and rituals to regenerate positive energies in and around a religious place. It’s a sacred and pious occasion and many devotees take part in the three-day festivities normally happening from a Friday to Sunday. This year the annual Patotsav was celebrated from Friday June 21 to Sunday June 23 with lots of joy and fervour. The three-day festivities culminated on Sunday with Patotsav Yagna and change of Mandir Dhwaja (ceremonial flag) at the top of main Mandir dome. Maha prasad or the food was served on all the three days to devotees coming to Mandir.
Bharatiya Mandir Bal Vikas children and some invited groups performed dance, drama and songs on the second day on Saturday cultural evening program to a great delight of attendees. Many devotees were present to encourage the young performers and thunderously clapped after every impeccable performance by them.
Bharatiya Mandir, 31 years later is more than a religious place, it’s now a community hub for all migrants who move to New Zealand and look for comfort of their own community people. Today approx. 3000 people visit Bharatiya Mandir every week, people find Mandir as a meeting point for them, and many people come just to get solace here. Today, Bharatiya Mandir is playing the role of a great community place for the people of Indian community who feel here at home, thousands of miles away from their home country.
-Yugal Parashar