Dr Fiona Martin MP, the Member for Reid, is delighted to announce that the Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple in Homebush West will receive $19,058 through the Morrison Government’s Stronger Communities Programme.
“The Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple only opened last year, yet it is already serving hundreds of devotees from Reid and the rest of Western Sydney.” Dr Martin stated.
“I am a proud advocate for the temple’s community, having seen the way it brings people together through a shared faith, tradition and culture. The devotees have been incredibly welcoming very time I have visited.”
The funds will be used for upgrades to kitchen amenities, which will allow the temple to prepare Prasad, an offering of food, that will be served to devotees. Funds will also be used to purchase electronic monitors to display up-to-date information inside the temple in Tamil and English and other languages as necessary.
Mr. Thivakaran Ragunatha Sarma, a community leader at the temple, is grateful for the Federal grant to improve the temple’s facilities.
“It is a common Hindu tradition to serve food to devotees as an act of virtue and charity,” Mr. Ragunatha Sarma said.
“An upgrade to our kitchen will mean we can serve the large community of devotees that come through our doors.”
Earlier this month, Dr Martin attended the temple’s inaugural Chariot Parade, an annual festival known as Ratha Jatra. The colourful event comprised of service offerings in the temple, a public street procession and traditional music. “There were hundreds of devotees at the chariot parade, so I can understand why upgrades to the building’s amenities are so necessary,” Dr Martin stated.
Last year, the temple received $135,000 of Federal funding for an upgrade to its security system through the Morrison Government’s Safer Communities Grant Program.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh and it is one of the largest Hindu Temples in Sydney. A number of cultural events, religious discussions and music recitals have taken place at the temple since it opened to the public in January 2019.
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