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In
July 1976, Gian Chand Shastri came to Mr. Guru Dutt Jhagra’s house in Victoria to perform his son’s Mundan Ceremony.
Later that day, Gian Chand Shastri encouraged all those present to consider creating a Hindu Temple in Victoria.
Thus was born, the idea behind today’s Victoria Hindu Parishad. With
the support of his family, Mr. Jhagra started asking Hindus they knew to join in this new endeavor.
The Victoria Hindu population started performing Kirtans and Poojas at individual homes.
This practice continued for a few years.
As the membership and interest level grew, the Victoria Hindu Parishad was officially registered on January 14th,
1979. Festivals
and prayer sessions were held in various rented church halls on Tennyson Avenue, Carey Road and Tyndal Avenue.
But the search for a permanent place of Hindu worship was still very much a consideration for the new
organization. Soon,
enough money was raised to purchase the Anglican Church at 1934
Cultra Avenue in Central Saanich.
The building was in rough shape and needed much renovations and alterations.
After months of renovations performed by Parishad members, it is one of the nicest buildings in the area.
New lights, an improved prayer hall, landscaping, renovated dining and kitchen areas and presence of Pandit Mr.
Parmod Kumar, have made this building a comforting and peaceful place of Hindu worship in the Greater Victoria area. Mr.
Jhagra donated the current Murthis to the Temple.
The Murthi Sthapana was performed on August 25, 1999.
The Temple stands today due to the many donations of time and money by faithful benefactors. Many
more additions and improvements to the Temple are planned in the future.
Past
Presidents of the Victoria Hindu Parishad have been: Mr. Guru Dutt Jhagra, Mr. Arvind Thakore, Dr. Hari M Srivastava,
Dr. Raj Prasad, Dr. C Singla, Dr. CP Singh, Mr. Surinder Sharma, Mr. Gopal Ghai, Mr. Gurudutt Jhagra and Dr. Prasad Chintalapati.
The current 2007 President is Mr. Satish Palta. The Temple is open every day (Monday to Sunday) from 8.00 AM to 11.30 AM and 5.30 PM to 8.00 PM. Daily Aarti is performed at 8.00 AM in the morning and 7.00 PM in the evening. Shri Hanuman Chalisa is performed every Tuesday at 7.00 PM. We invite all to come celebrate Hinduism in this beautiful place of worship. Wish to visit the temple in other hours, Please check with any board member, or Pandit Ji before coming to the temple. |
Send mail to webmaster@victoriahindutemple.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
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