The Toronto Star
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, November 13, 2004: After Canada changed its immigration policies in the 1980’s to favor professionals and entrepreneurs, many hailing from Gujarat now call Canada home. As with all immigrants in a new land, the community has been striving diligently to keep their religion, values and heritage alive. For Hindus, the temple is traditionally the hub of activity and the source of energy that permeates the culture. So a congregation of 5,000 East Indians, all with roots in India’s Gujarat province, purchased 7 hectares in North-West Toronto near Highway 427 and Finch Avenue West and built the Shree Swaminarayam Hindu Mandir Complex. The doors to the complex opened officially last summer and by the year 2007 the cost of the project is expected to reach 22 million. The news release says, “The complex includes an 8,000-square-metre centre with a cavernous auditorium that can hold 4,000 people, a gymnasium, restaurant-sized kitchen, a temporary shrine and parking for 500 cars. The location was chosen for its proximity to major transportation routes – and to Pearson International Airport, so that devotees on layovers can drop in to say a prayer between flights.” Purushottam Chotalia and his wife Daksha travel over 120 miles round trip each Sunday to worship. Chotalia, an insurance agent, says, “Spiritually it uplifts us. It also helps us as parents to instill Hindu religious values in our children. Those values include respect for parents and other elders, striving for higher education, giving back to the community and observing a strict vegetarian diet.” Chandrakant Sachdev, one of 5 volunteer trustees who run the temple, says, “It’s a magnificent building, but the activities going on inside are more important. Members are encouraged to tithe 10 per cent of their income to the mandir, though many gladly give more. People give from their hearts. The temple project has been funded entirely through local donations. There have been significant gifts, but you won’t see the names of the largest donors displayed anywhere – our faith puts a premium on modesty.” Built using the Haveli-style architecture from the 15th century Mughal Empire, the mandir features ornately carved wood throughout the structure. The news release explains, “A total of 32 carpenters in India spent two years using hammer and chisel to carve images of peacocks, elephants and lotus flowers into several tons of imported Burmese teakwood. Each animal figure is symbolic: the elephant represents strength, while the peacock is the national bird of India. The completed carvings, protected with a special finish to withstand ultraviolet rays and Canadian winters, were shipped to the Toronto site and assembled piece by piece.” Around 300 people volunteer at the mandir to keep everything running smoothly while a resident priest from Mumbai performs five puja services daily. Most Sundays at least 1,000 people come to worship. Affiliated with the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) that was founded in India around 200 years ago, the article explains, “The faith has pushed for social reforms in India, supported equal education rights for women and called for an end to the caste and dowry systems. Today, BAPS also engages in humanitarian work, including building hospitals and schools and providing flood and earthquake relief.” Besides the Toronto Mandir, BAPS has also built temples in Chicago, Houston, and London, England.