Sikhs Celebrate Temple Reopening
“This Gurudwara is one of the first few to be built outside India.”
Monday 01 April 2019 | 09:00
Leaders and members of the Sikh faith at the reopening of the Samabula Gurudwara on March 31, 2019 . Photo: Shohail Khan
Devotees of the Sikh faith came out in numbers yesterday to celebrate the reopening of the Samabula Gurudwara (temple) after a massive facelift.
The reopening also featured a multi-faith gathering.
Head Priest of Samabula Sikh Temple Preetam Singh Shokar said five newly-installed domes from Amritsar, Punjab, the home of the faith, added a new touch to the temple.
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“The Samabula Gurudwara Sahib, established in 1923, has successfully attained the status of national heritage in Suva, Fiji,” he said.
“This Gurudwara is one of the first few to be built outside India.”
Mr Shokar said the first launch of the renovation plan was done in 2017.
“Our Sikh community gathered and we involved a lot of interfaith and multi-faith communities,” he said.
“During the launch there was budget presented.
We actually maintained that budget. The budget came to $750,000 FJD.
In the beginning stages we only thought of minor renovations, but an idea came to raise the architecture to the standard of the Gilded Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.”
The Gilded Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is the holiest gurdwara (religious complex) of the Sikh religion. It’s at the end of a causeway, surrounded by the sacred Amrit Sarovar tank (lake), where pilgrims bathe.
He added that they are also trying to involve themselves in all issues Fiji is facing.
“We are not only wanting to have religious events but also look at hosting seminars, presentations and get people from Fiji involved,” said Mr Shokar.
Edited by Epineri Vula
