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AUSTRALIA, July 20, 2014 (Indian Sun): Sankat Mochan Samiti (SMS) celebrated the opening of Sankat Mochan Kendra (SMK), on June 15. This is the first North Indian Hindu temple, social welfare kendra and Indian cultural education institution of its kind in Australia. The SMK will cater not only to the Hindu population but also other communities interested in Hinduism. More than 1,000 devotees attended the inaugural function of SMK located at 1289A North Road, Huntingdale, 3166

The ceremony began with a prayer to Lord Ganesh, after which the Vastu Puja and Navagraha Puja were performed. The most overwhelming ceremony, which took place for the first time in the history of Australia, was when 11,000 ahutis (offerings of sacred mixture of grains, ghee and aromatic perfumes) were offered to the Gods and the maha Gayatri mantra performed. Five stations were carefully placed with all the precautions of fire safety, as Havan Kunds, with eight devotees at every station. It was a powerful ceremony with divine vibrations keeping the full of spiritual energy. The volunteers made sure that every one who wanted to participate in the mantra ahutis could do so as several of them had traveled long distances to be part of it.