The Manawatu Hindu Society (MHS) has achieved a major milestone by opening the first Hindu temple in Palmerston North (19 Purdie Place, Milson).  The opening ceremony was held on 12 October 2024 and over 500 devotees joined to celebrate this historic moment.  This is the first Hindu temple in the wider Manawatu-Wanganui region in New Zealand.

The Hindu community has been growing steadily in the Manawatu-Wanganui region over the past two decades.  There are over 2,500 people in the region who affiliate themselves with the Hindu religion.  Along with the Hindus who are born and brought up locally, especially the younger ones, there are migrants from India, Fiji, Nepal, Bhutan, Middle East, and many other countries across the world.  These Hindus have been asking for a temple to fulfil their religious and spiritual needs, and to celebrate festivals like Diwali, Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc.

In the past, several attempts have been made to create arrangements in personal residences or by hiring community halls.  Whilst these attempts have been successful to a certain extent, it has been an ongoing struggle to cater to the needs of the wider community for various reasons, including size, flexibility, and availability.  As a result, the community either missed the celebrations or the events needed to be capped.  This highlighted the desperate need for a temple along with a community place that would fulfil not only the religious and spiritual needs but the cultural and social needs as well.In early 2019, the Manawatu Hindu Society (MHS) was established with a vision to build a Hindu temple and community centre.  The Society’s aim has been to promote Hindu culture and religion by providing a platform to perform religious functions and celebrate festivals.  The Society also wants to develop a place where the Hindu community could come together to learn and understand their culture, traditions, and value.  The aim is to also establish a place of learning with language classes like Hindi and Sanskrit, religious classes, music classes, dance, yoga, meditation, etc.

For the past five and a half years, the Society has been actively engaged in fundraising and increasing its membership base.  It has been regularly organising various religious festivals.  It has also actively participated in events like Festival of Cultures and Diwali that have become an integral part of the wider Palmerston North community.

In late 2023, the Society bought a small property with its own funds and a bank mortgage.  Over the following months, it worked tirelessly with a group of local builders and community members to renovate the property and transform it into a small temple and community centre.

The first Hindu temple in Palmerston North and the wider Manawatu-Wanganui region is a testament to the perseverance, resilience, and vision of the Manawatu Hindu Society for the local Hindu community.  The Society is actively seeking financial support to pay for its mortgage and build a strong financial base.  It is also looking for volunteers and new members to help with the day-to-day functioning of the temple and community centre and to grow the facilities.

For more information or to pledge your support, please visit www.manawatuhindusociety.org.nz or contact at contact@manawatuhindusociety.org.nz.  If you would like to call, please contact Bipan Bansal, Treasure/Vice-President (+64 21 250 1133, Auckland) or Jitender Singh, President (+64 21 923 400, Palmerston North).

By Bipan Bansal