www.hindutemple.nl
HOLLAND, June 2012: The Sri Varatharaja Selva Vinayagar Temple in Den Helder, North Holland began their annual 10 days of pujas before the chariot festival to be held on the 24th of June. The flags were hoisted to mark the start of the festivities. Like many countries in Europe, the Netherlands (Holland) have a community of Sri Lankans who have made it their home since fleeing from Jaffna (northern Sri Lanka) about 25 years ago.
When they first came over, a group of them started to work together to find a suitable place for worship. Initially they rented a small room with the help of the local authorities. They placed some photos of Deities and with small icons they started to meet for prayers. It became a place to find a little peace, as prayers and being together helped them to cope. The weekly satsangs, singing devotional songs , observing special days kept them focussed together as they held on to their religious beliefs and tradition and their cuisine. For the majority of these people it was difficult, as they were thrown into a western culture, they had to learn the Dutch language and to re-train for new jobs. The Netherlands authorities have been most helpful in helping them settle down in their new environment.
In the nineties they rented a larger ground floor room, and brought some larger Deities. They commenced pujas on Fridays and observed the special festivals. With help from Sri Lankans in England and abroad, local Sri Lankans living in Netherlands, and the support of the local authority they managed to purchase a plot of land and built the present Vinayagar Temple, nine years ago. Last year they began working on the Rajagopuram, the local contractors have completed their construction phase. Beginning of this month fifteen silpis have come over from India to do the main creative work.