SRI NAVASAKTHI VINAYAGAR TEMPLE CONSECRATED

Consecratio of Hindu temple. Two weeks ago on Sunday 20th January, hundreds of people, mostly Hindus, came to Victoria to witness the consecration of the Navasakthi Temple. The temple built in 1992 was under renovation for the past three years. According to Hindu tradition the temple had to be refurbished after twelve years. The Sri Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple is on Quincy Street and is quick becoming the most popular landmark in that part of Victoria.

The temple stands majestically at sixteen metres with a five storey Rajagogom, meaning tower. The hall of Yazhi Pillars behind the Gopuran is a decorated holy place.

The consecration of the temple was carried out by no less than 18 Hindu priests flown in from India especially for the occasion. The Hindu priests consecrating the temple from the top, washed the temple and offered flowers by releasing petals causing the believers to scramble for the flowers as it neared the ground below. The renovation of the temple has cost seven million rupees it is now changed from three to five floors.

Apart of the hundreds of Hindus, many ordinary Seychellois were invited to attend the ceremony, the guest readily removed their shoes in keeping with tradition and toured the inside of the temple before and after the ceremony.

The ceremony was without doubt a spectacle of colours and ambience attended by the Vice-President of Mauritius, H.E. Angini Veeriah Chettiar; Vice-president Joseph Belmont amongst other dignitaries. The temple is now regarded as another added attraction for visitors. Two visitors from France who happen to be there commented that “they love the ambience”, they took photographs and accepted gifts of food and calendars from Hindus.

Hindu procession.