The inauguration of the first Hindu temple in Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island (PEI), is being celebrated by devotees. The Hindu Temple of PEI opened its doors this month and has been attracting several community members, highlighting the demand for a place of worship in a province with a population of only 1,80,000.
Krishna Thakur, an academic from the University of Prince Edward Island and president of the Hindu Society of PEI, expressed his amazement at the temple’s opening. He said there was a void that the temple had now filled.
Located in the town of Cornwall which is part of the capital region, the temple has drawn devotees from not only the capital Charlottetown but also neighbouring Stratford and Cornwall too. Thakur, originally from Janakpur in Nepal, estimated the Hindu population of PEI to be around 1,800.
On the opening day, nearly 600 people visited the temple, indicating the significant growth of the Hindu community in recent years. This growth can be attributed to an influx of students to the University of PEI, as well as new permanent residents and professionals.
Neethin Rao, the secretary of the Hindu Society, who hails from Kerala, mentioned that the temple has been well received within the province. The opening ceremony was attended by the mayors of Charlottetown and Cornwall, the local MP, and members of the legislative assembly.
Although the temple does not have a full-time priest, the inauguration rituals on Mahashivratri were performed by members of the Society, who learned some of the rituals from online tutorials. This highlights the collaborative effort of the community, as donations enabled the rental of the space and Indo-Canadian restaurants in the region donated food for prasad and bhog.
Thakur mentioned that the temple is open for two hours in the evening, as it relies entirely on volunteers.
Thakur mentioned that currently, the community is thrilled to finally have a dedicated place for worship, a luxury they had never experienced in the province before. To cater to a wide audience, the temple houses a variety of deities. Thakur emphasized, “We made a conscious effort to ensure inclusivity and representation in our selection.”
