Foundation stone laid for new tower for Hindu temple-Construction work to start in two weeks’ time |08 March 2005

This follows the laying of the foundation stone on Sunday for the new 16-metre high tower (Rajagopuram), which will be built in front of the existing Sri Navasakthi Vinayagar temple.

It was the Mayor of Victoria Florence Benstrong and Indian High Commissioner Arun Kumar Goel who had the honour of laying the foundation stone, after the devotees had asked for permission from Lord Sri Navasakthi Vinayagar.

Present at the ceremony were hundreds of Hindu devotees living here.

The 16-metre tall tower, designed by architect Shri Ganapati and his team from Chennnai, Taamil Nadu, India, will cost R2 million and is expected to be ready by March next year.

The Hindu temple, with Lord Sri Navasakthi Vinayagar as the main deity, was built in May 1992 and according to Hindu customs, a temple must be fully renovated after 12 years in existence, and the function of Kumbabishekam (consecration) be performed.

The highlight of this renovation work will be the construction of this new tower in front of the existing temple, replacing the current single-tier tower.

According to the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam, an average of 25 tourists visit the temple everyday and, with the construction of the new five-tier Rajagopuram, it is expected that more tourists would visit the edifice.

“It is expected to be a very interesting monument and will be one of the most attractive parts of Victoria in the near future,” a Kovil Sangam spokesperson said.