Members of the Hindu Society of Manitoba are eagerly awaiting the reopening of the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre on Ellice Avenue following months of renovations.
The temple had substantive work done to its exterior and specific interior areas, including the foyer and basement, which comprise the kitchen, dining area, library and other ancillary spaces. Work began last fall and it is expected to reopen this spring.
Renovations committee chair Rao Atmuri says talks about upgrading the building began years ago, with preliminary work taking place during the pandemic.
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Renovation work included the exterior.
“The main reason for the renovations is accessibility. We did not have this need before for our community. But today, we have many senior members with limited mobility and more needs,” Atmuri says.
“There are tremendous emotions involved in this project,” he says, adding the renovations committee was a dedicated team of community members that visited the temple daily to oversee the approximately $1.7-million project.
Sentiments run deep at the West End place of worship.
Society president Kirit Thakrar recently described the building as “the Mother Temple…because it is the HSM’s first temple and the oldest temple in Winnipeg, when community members go there, they see and feel something. They have a close connection there.”
That’s a feeling echoed by Atmuri, who says vibrancy and positivity abound at the temple.
Hindu festivals and other religious activities are celebrated with grandeur and large turnouts. Programming has changed from Sunday-only service during its early days to now being open to devotees during weekdays and weeknights to accommodate the growing community population, needs and interests.
The temple offers newcomers and international students a safe and comfortable space to connect with members from similar community and culture. The Hindu Temple, or Mandir, has been a beloved home for so many devotees and is open to all. It adds much character and charm to Winnipeg’s West End.
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From left to right: Kirit Thakrar, president of the Hindu Society of Manitoba and renovations committee member (maroon sweater); Rao Atmuri, renovations committee chair (beige jacket); Prem Sanggar, renovations committee member (black jacket); Surinder Goyal, renovations committee member (grey jacket).
The building, at 854 Ellice Ave., was built in 1950 and was originally home to the Liberty Church. The Hindu society purchased the building in 1979 and held a grand opening later that year on the auspicious evening of Diwali. With the temple being acquired from a previous religious site, it is a blessed and holy place.
Structurally, the building has undergone a few renovations, with major work taking place in 1984 and also during the 1990s in the kitchen and downstairs area. The new renovations mark major physical upgrades by maximizing every inch of its space to be more accessible, environment-friendly and safe.
I recently toured the temple and was awestruck how the space has been transformed. From the first steps into the foyer to the basement, the building appears rejuvenated.
On my visit, I paused to reflect upon my childhood and teenage years at the temple. Whether participating in religious plays, taking singing and Hindi classes or attending regular Sunday service, it was an opportunity to learn about Hindu culture and religion and connect to the community.
During my adult years, the temple has been a space to be introspective and at peace. Having my father and mother serve as former president and chair of the Hindu society respectively, my family has a meaningful connection to this temple and has embraced a way to give back.
“The time and efforts of senior members of the HSM have brought us where we are today,” Thakrar says.
He adds the vision of those senior members formed the foundation, decades later, to build the organization’s second, larger Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre at 999 St. Anne’s Road, which opened in 2005.
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The temple had substantive work done to the basement, which comprise the kitchen, dining area, library and other ancillary spaces.
“They saw something down the road. We are seeing the fruits of their time and efforts bearing right now for the community,” Thakrar says.
As it approaches 45 years of existence, the Hindu society has reached an important juncture as they look ahead towards a new era. The Hindu community experienced several losses in the last few years, with many senior members having passed away. While these members will not see the renovated temple, their devotion and love for a place dear to them resonates through their leadership and vision.
As an Indian proverb conveys, “blessed is he who plants trees under whose shade he will never sit.” These senior members have left behind a cherished gift of hope and humanity for the Hindu community and Winnipeg for years to come.
Romona Goomansingh, PhD is an educator, freelance writer and author in Winnipeg.
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