The Sydney Shri Durga Temple commonly known as Sydney Durga Temple is a Hindu Temple located at 21–23 Rose Crescent, Regents Park NSW 2143, in Sydney. The temple is run by the Shri Durgadevi Devasthanam, a non-profit religious organisation. The temple is dedicated to the goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathy who are its three main deities and the temple celebrated its first Maha Kumbabhishekam on 7 May 2017.
The Shri Durgadevi Devasthanam
In October 2002, The Sri Durgadevi Devasthanam was established to maintain the Hindu religion and culture in Sydney. The main objectives of the Devasthanam are to worship Goddess Durga, to promote Hinduism and to help disadvantaged people. The organisation aims to impart religious, educational and cultural values of Hinduism to its community and future generations.
History of the temple
When the temple first started, they performed Pooja in Homebush High School on a weekly basis, every Friday. The Sri Durgadevi Devasthanam Sydney Inc, was registered as a Charity Organisation.
In 2005, the Shri Durgadevi Devasthanam paid a deposit of $2.05 million to secure the land of one acre at 21 Rose Crescent, Regents Park. The Foundation Ceremony was performed in August 2006. Following the construction of the Temporary Prayer Hall, in late 2006, the three deities were moved to the Temple land, with a momentous inauguration ceremony.
The second stage of construction commenced in August 2009 which was building a Wedding Hall/Auditorium and an Educational Hall. The Auditorium cost came up to $1.85 million and the hall has a height elevation of 6 metres. It was completed in 2010 and it stands as the first Hindu community hall within a Temple Complex in Australia.
The temple complex consists of 3 levels: the basement level consists of the wedding hall & educational hall, the ground level consists of the entrance and the main carpark, and the final level consists of the main temple sitting above the carpark. The completed temple celebrated its first Maha Kumbabishekam (Consecration Ceremony) on 7 May 2017 and it marked the first day the new temple complex was opened to the public as a place of worship.
First consecration ceremony
The first Maha Kumbabhishekam (Consecration Ceremony) at Sydney Durga Temple took place on 7 May 2017. The Rajagopura Maha Kumbabishekam started at 10:00 am, followed by the kumbabishekams for the shrines in the temple. The Kumbabishekam was witnessed by approximately 5000 devotees and was a majestic milestone for the temple and its dedicated committee members.
The Yaagasaalai Prayers commenced on 30 April 2017 for 8 days with a Special Pooja conducted until 7 May. The Ashta Banthana Marunthu Thaila Kappu (devotees apply oil) commenced on 5 May 2017 to 7 May 2017.
The Mandalabishegam was held for 45 consecutive days, after the Maha Kumbabishekam, starting on 8 May 2017 and concluding on 21 June 2017.
Temple deities
The main deities of the temple are Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswathy. The following deities also have shrines in the temple: Lord Ganesha (Vinayagar), Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Lord Murugan, Goddess Visalaatshi and Nandhi. The temple will also have a ceremonial flag pole (kodi maram), a pedestal for sacrificial offerings (balipeetam), and shrines (sannidhi) for the Ashta Lakshmi, Navagraham and Bairavar.
Facilities
Wedding hall
The Sydney Durga Temple Wedding Hall is an 800 seating capacity auditorium that hosts cultural performances, weddings, functions, conferences, musical and dance performances, celebrations and the temple's annual fundraising dinner. The Devasthanam constructed the Auditorium having spent more than a million dollars on the building. The auditorium provides projectors, chairs and tables, table swags, plates, lighting, backdrops and more. The temple provides facilities such as a Men's and Women's restrooms, two rooms located at the sides of the stage, a small kitchenette, a sound room and two big rooms often used as dressing rooms for the bride. Bookings, packages and deals can be made by calling the temple. This is the first Hindu community hall to be within a Temple Complex in Australia
Educational hall
Adjacent to the Durga Auditorium is a smaller Educational Hall. It can fit 400 people in a theatre style that can & has been used for functions, dinners, weddings, celebrations and more. It uses the same facilities as the Wedding Hall and similarly bookings, packages and deals can be made by calling the temple.
Festivals and events
Annual festival (Maasi Magam Theertha Utsavam)