Fiji Sanatan Society of Alberta

Fiji Sanatan Society of Alberta

Temple front entrance, 2013
General information
Address 12629 69 St NW, Edmonton, AB
Town or city Edmonton, Alberta
Country Canada
Construction started 1983
Completed 1984

The Fiji Sanatan Society of Alberta, also known as Vishnu Mandir in Edmonton, Canada is a modern-style Hindu temple that was built by some of the very first Fijian Hindu immigrants in Edmonton in 1984. Hindus have been living in Canada for over a century, especially in Edmonton. Fijian Hindus began to settle in Edmonton in larger proportions starting in the 1960s and 1970s. They conducted prayers and meditated in individual households via groups they formed in the community. Talks of the need of a temple started in 1983 by four major Hindu Bhakti groups in Edmonton at the time, Shree Sanatan Dharam Ramayan Society, Edmonton Geeta Ramayan Congregation, Edmonton Vedic Congregation and later joined by Edmonton Prem Society, the group founded the Sanatan Board and raised funds to buy a property for the temple.[1] It became the first Fijian Hindu cultural society in all of Canada, and till date is the largest. It started as a small place of worship in the Balwin residential area, constructed out of an old Church building. Since then it has been renovated 2 times, first adding a basement, then in 2006 expanded further making it the second largest Hindu temple in Edmonton.[2][3]

Mandir and Daily Rituals

The Mandir is open for prayers Monday for Shiva Pooja, Tuesdays for Hanuman Pooja, and Fridays for Maha Lakshmi Pooja, along with many festivals practised in the Hindu faith. The Temples has approximately 600 followers, as different ones attend during the prayers of different deities. Most festivals that are celebrated are common among Fiji Hindus, for example Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, Kavadi Pooja, Krishna Janmashtami, Navratri, Deepavali, Venkateswar Pooja, and Maha Shiva Ratri. The idols of the temple are of Lord Vishnu & Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Rama Darbar, Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani, Lord Tirupati Bala, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Durga, Goddess Saraswati, and Lord Shiva.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.vishnumandiredmonton.com/history/
  2. ↑ Dobrota, Alex (3 April 2009). "Canadian Hindu temple weaves itself into Toronto's tapestry". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Temple Festivals Calendar Hindu Temple Collections Hindu Temples outside of India Hindu Temples in Canada
  4. ↑ Laderman, Gary (2003). "ISKCON". Religion and American Cultures: An Encyclopedia of Traditions, Diversity, and Popular Expressions. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1-57607-238-X.

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