Vigil for Christchurch at inauguration of remodelled Sikh temple

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Samabula Sikh temple head priest Preetnam Singh Shokar (pictured) in front the remodeled Gurudwara Sahib in Samabula. A vigil to honour the lives of 50 people killed in the tragic Christchurch mosques shooting in New Zealand more than a week ago will be held at the inauguration ceremony of the remodeled Gurudwara Sahib in Samabula, Suva this Sunday. Picture: RAMA

A VIGIL to honour the lives of 50 people killed in the tragic Christchurch mosques shooting in New Zealand more than a week ago will be held at the inauguration ceremony of the remodelled Gurudwara Sahib in Samabula, Suva this Sunday.

Samabula Sikh temple head priest Preetnam Singh Shokar said the ceremony would feature a multi-faith prayer from all faith-based groups in Fiji.

“This is very important as we will officially open the new remodelled temple and hold a vigil for the lives of those killed and affected by the recent terror attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand,” he said.

“For the first time, we will have an interfaith prayer for the inauguration, as we try to move towards global peace initiatives and religious harmony.

“This landmark is where we can all start with inter-faith prayer and everything that is going to happen here will be universal.”

Mr Singh said the event would be attended by all Sikh devotees across the country.

He said the new features on the temple was unique because it featured architecture from Amritsar in Punjab, India.

“Amritsar is the home of the golden temple, it is the head body for all Sikh temples across the world where they issue protocols and philosophies.

“This is the first time we are assembling such architecture in Fiji and it’s a three-quarter million dollar project.

“It was established in 1923 and since then there were no renovations done, so this is the first it has undergone after 96 years.”

Mr Singh said the building was unique because it was a station for Indian immigrants from Punjab during British rule in Fiji.

He said the building also featured Greek architecture, something that was unique in Fiji.

University of the South Pacific vice-chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia will officiate the ceremony.

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