A WA chapter of Hindu Council of Australia has been established on 12th March 2018.
First program will be to welcome HH Mahant Swami of BAPS by all Hindu Organisations. HCA WA chapter will lead this program to establish relation with other Hindu Organisations in WA.
Second Program will be celebration of International Yoga Day.
WA Chapter – recent Activities
UNITED BHARAT EVENT, PERTH
UNITED BHARAT EVENT, PERTH
(an information SESSION on revocation of Article 370 of Indian Constitution)
On September 14, 2019 United Bharat Event was organised by Hindu Swayemsevak Sangh (HSS) in active collaboration with other Sangh affiliated organisations such as, Hindu Council of Australia (HCA), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Samskruthi Group as well as other Indian organisations in WA such as Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP), Federation of Indian Associations of Western Australia (FOIWA), Voice of Dogra WA (VODWA) and Kashmiri Pandit Cultural Society of WA (KPCAWA).
The event was held within the premises of Indian Society for Western Australia in Willetton, Perth and attended by more than 125 people. The key speakers for the event included Mr Amol Bhargava – Vice President of HCA Perth, Mr Rakesh Bhan – President KPCAWA, Ms Sonal Bhushan – Coordinator VODWA, Mr Nitin Vashist – Former member of ISWA and India business council and Mr Sherry Sufi – Academician and expert on regional geopolitical issues.
The speakers shared historical facts leading up to the inclusion of Article 370 in the Indian constitution and then discussed its failures resulting in alienation of the Jammu and Kashmir population from mainstream India. They explained that Article 370 was always intended as a temporary and transient provision in the Indian Constitution. Hence, India has full right to review its continuance in the future. The speakers explained how Article 370 along with Article 35A created a discriminatory regime, against weaker sections of society, women and other minority groups. Speakers from the Dogra community and Kashmiri Pandit community gave account of how vested interests took advantage of these provisions and displaced their people from their own homes. Issue of terrorism was also addressed stating that misguided youth trained across the border in the garb of religion has altered the secular and peace loving sufi culture of the region. They also highlighted how the provisions of the Article 370 impacted private sector investment in Jammu and Kashmir thus affecting state’s economic growth and hence the jobs for local people. With the abrogation of Article 370 the fundamental rights available to all citizens of India will now be extended to the people of Jammu and Kashmir hence uniting the country into one constitutional fabric and ensuring a faster economic development within the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions.
After the speaker’s presentation, representatives of ten different organisations came to podium and lent their support to the decision of the Indian Government. We also received some insightful questions from the audience. Overall the event was highly successful in delivery accurate information on the genesis and consequences of Article 370 and highlighting how the regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will benefit with its abrogation.
Perth Jalaram Temple Update
We are delighted to write to you about our temple and community centre project.
With the blessings of Pujya Shree Jalaram Bapa, Shree Jalaram Mandal WA (Inc) of Perth, Western Australia (herein after referred to as SJMWA), is honored to let you know that we have already acquired land on which we will be embarking to construct a temple and community centre by mid-2019 and aiming to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Jalaram Jayanti 2020 at the new Mandir.
The temple will predominantly be a Jalaram Bapa Mandir. The project, however, is also intended to cater for the religious needs of our wider Perth Hindu Community. The temple will have other Murtis alongside that of Bapa, which murtis will include Shree Ganesh, Ram Parivar, Radha-Krishna, Shiv-Parvati, Shivling, Hanumanji and Amba Maa. In addition, the temple building design will be combined to facilitate as a community centre and for this purpose the development will comprise of modern facilities including a well-equipped commercial kitchen, community hall, classrooms and a performance stage to promote cultural activities. Please see below the artist’s impression of what the temple and community centre will look like.
SJMWA have already received the building permit / approval from the City Of Wanneroo for the construction of this, our very first Jalaram Mandir and Community Centre in Perth, Western Australia.
With the building permit in place, it means that we can now proceed to begin construction and progress towards realizing our Dream of our much awaited Mandir.
The building contractor tendering process is well in progress and with blessings from you all, we will be commencing construction soon.
With the blessings of Bapa we have been fortunate enough to raise substantial liquid funding from several devotees, which funds have been contributed to us in the form of donations and interest free loans. The interest free loans are repayable as soon as possible. The project, however, still requires further funding as detailed below.
Our total funding requirement for the project is approximately AUD $3,100,000.00.
Our total collection to date is AUD $2,930,000.00. However, this sum includes the interest free loan of AUD $680,000.00. While our immediate liquidity requirements to fully fund the project bringing it to its completion is AUD $170,000.00, we also have to collect a further AUD $680,000.00 to honorably repay the interest free loan accorded to us at the earliest. Our total requirement for funding is therefore approximately AUD $850,000.00.
At this stage, we have pleasure in detailing some of the following milestones that have been achieved to date:
- The purchase price of the land of AUD $ 1,100,000.00 has been fully paid and your Mandal (SJMWA) are the proud owners of this parcel of land. A big thank you goes to you all;
- Building permit received to allow us to commence construction;
- We have secured interest free loans of AUD $680,000.00; and
- The approach to our sponsorships program to raise funding is detailed below together with its achievements to date which include:
- Major sponsorships funding the land acquisition, various parts of the building including the main hall, dining hall, kitchen, mezzanine floor, car parking and murti pratishtha;
- Our ‘500@50for5’ subscription program, an affordable proposition. By subscribing to this program the devotee is contributing $50.00 per month for 5 years, which equates to $3,000.00 (over 5 years) without feeling the strain of laying out all the money at once. Those adopting this option will have the benefit of standing a chance to perform the highest honor of opening the doors to the Mandir with their family’s name plaque placed at the entrance in recognition of your participation. Every $50.00 subscription will go into the draw. At this stage we already have 119 participants in this program. We continue to encourage our devotees to join this program. Please click on the link to download the brochure Download Brochure
- One off donations, an opportunity which should not be missed. While all donations are appreciated, donations over $2,000.00 will be acknowledged with a name plaque to be placed on a prominent wall of the Mandir and Community Centre.
- $2,000.00 to $10,000.00 – Bronze Category.
- $10,001.00 to $50,000.00 – Silver Category.
- $50,001 and over – Gold Category.
In addition to contributing towards the temple and community centre through any of the processes detailed above you can also choose to have the honor and privilege of sponsoring the following:
- Yajman for foundation stone laying ceremony (Bhumi Poojan); and
- Various equipment & appliances for the Mandir and Community Centre (very many reasonable opportunities available).
- By credit card:
- Direct Bank transfer:
Bank: Commonwealth Bank Australia
Address: 201 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW 2000.
Account Number: 12313943
BSB Number: 066000
Swift Code: CTBAAU2S
Once ready, the facility will be available for hire for various functions at a nominal charge as long as the functions will fall within the guidelines of the Mandal’s policies.
For all donations & sponsorship enquiries please contact Vinesh Lakhani.
For more information please visit our website: www.jalarambapa.com.
Thanking you & may BAPA always shower his blessings upon you all.
Kind Regards
Vinesh Lakhani
Chairman & Temple Project Coordinator
On behalf of : The Trustees & the Managing Committee of Shree Jalaram Mandal WA (Inc.)
(T) + 61 405 323 571
(E) chairman@jalarambapa.com.
Hindu Council writes to Archbishop of Perth about Nose Stud
Hindu Council of Australia writes to the Principal of Aranmore Catholic College and Archbishop Perth to recognize Nose Piercing and Bindi as acceptable Hindu religious symbols in Catholic schools.
Hindu Council has expressed its willingness to work with the school and others to resolve the issue resulting from ignorance i.e. lack of knowledge about Hindu icons. It is ready to work with Catholic organizations to help Catholic schools to become more friendly to non-christian students of Hindu faith studying in their schools.
