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Devi Mandir Celebrates 20 Years |
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Written by Administrator
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October, 13 2009 |
 Satya Sanatan Dharma Cultural Sabha of Canada, home of the Devi Mandir in Pickering, has reached a significant milestone in its history, as it celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
Celebrations will commence with a five nights’ Maha Gyaan Yagya from Monday, October 19, 2009 to Friday, October 23, 2009, from 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. nightly, and culminate with a cultural event (which will include Diwali celebrations) on the grounds of the Mandir on Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 5.30 to 9.00 p.m.
The Organization was formed through the vision of eight families who wanted to maintain their traditions and culture in their new homeland. Services were initially held at the Westhill Collegiate Institute on Morningside Avenue in Scarborough. The current property was purchased in 1989, and services were held in the building on that property until 1998, when the current building, with its iconic design and white-washed finish, was completed.
The current building was designed by the present Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Vishnu Sookar, who says that “the essential qualities that are key to our vision are: sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom and charity.”
In recent years, the Organization has become the benchmark for other Mandirs in the GTA. It has an effective governance structure, with an elected Board of eleven Directors, each of whom is responsible for one area of its operations. The structure has worked so effectively that the Organization does not have any paid employees, except for its spiritual leader. Its weekly television program (Geetangali TV), which airs on Saturday mornings at 8:30 a.m., reaches a wide audience in Canada, the US and the Caribbean. The Organization participates in many outreach programs, which has led to two civic awards from the City of Pickering and to its spiritual leader being recognized as a Police chaplain by the Durham Regional Police Services Board. All new police recruits in the Region of Durham attend an orientation session at the Devi Mandir. Financial information is reported in a transparent manner. The annual audited financial statements are posted on the website and monthly financial results are presented to the congregation. Dance, music, bal vikaas and yoga classes are all part of the weekly schedule at the Mandir. The Organization’s commitment to the environment through its recycling program has led to its recognition by Faith and the Common Good, an organization that is involved with the Greening of Sacred Spaces.
Amar Binda, President of the Devi Mandir has always been an advocate for the youth of the organization. “It is important that the youth of our community feel at home when they come to the Devi Mandir”. DM Youth, which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, awards an annual scholarship of $1,000 to a post secondary education student. It has its own website which has a global online community, and hosts discussion forums.
“It is our responsibility, together with all other faith groups, to help to make our community safe and a great place to live,” Vishnu adds. “By doing a great job for others, you heal yourself at the same time. A dose of joy is a spiritual cure and it transcends all barriers.”
On a go forward basis, the Organization, which is a member of the Hindu Federation, an umbrella organization of Hindu temples in Canada, seeks to fulfill the spiritual and cultural needs of the growing Hindu population in the Durham region and to work with other faith groups to deal with common issues.
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