A new Centre has just opened in the Auckland suburb of Panmure, offering a number of services to the community including families and children.
‘Bhakti Centre,’ located at 111 Pleasant View Road, close to the Panmure business district with a residential neighbourhood, boasts of facilities that could benefit various ethnic groups in general and Hindus in particular.
The Centre follows the Hindu culture and heritage that forbids alcohol, non-vegetarian food, and activities that are generally considered offensive to people.
It incorporates the ‘Shri Shri Radha Damodar Temple,’ a Community Hall with modern facilities, ‘Govinda,’ a vegetarian restaurant conforming to the teachings of Shrila Prabhupada and Narayan Goswami Maharaj, respectively Founders of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON) and the International Pure Bhakti Yoga Society (IPYS) and a soon to be opened Bookshop.
Both Societies are well established throughout the world with millions of devotees, and volunteers serving their community.
IPYS New Zealand, which owns the ‘Bhakti Centre,’ is registered as a Charitable Organisation, has Damodar Das, Kishor Das and Jaishree Dasi as Trustees.
Damodar and Kishor are the new ‘Bhakti’ names of popular businessmen Dhansukh Amarsee and Yogesh Punja.
Multi-purpose Hall
Speaking to this reporter at the opening of the Centre on June 23, Mr Damodar said that the new facility would be available for social and domestic functions, enabling people to enjoy pure vegetarian cuisine sans garlic and onion.
“The Radha Damodar Temple will soon have Deities of Radha, Krishna, Chaitanya, Nityananda, Subhadra, Balarama, Narasimha and our Gurudeva. The Community Hall is complete with stage, lighting and seating facilities, with furniture specially made in Australia. The Hall, which can accommodate up to 500 people, would be ideal for weddings, birthday celebrations and other individual and group events. Auspiciously, the first function held recently was a Hindu wedding. The upcoming bookshop will eventually sell devotional books, CDs and photographs,” he said.
The Community Hall, which has a built-up stage with a good sound and light system, can be easily converted into an auditorium to conduct entertainment and literary programmes, and social events.
Mr Kishor said that a ‘Brides Room’ and a purpose-built kitchen adjacent to the Hall, will be useful and convenient for wedding parties.
“We have a screen installed for audio and video presentations. Weather conditions will not affect guests since the area is fitted with air-conditioning and heating systems. Other conveniences include separate toilets for men, women and the physically challenged,” he said.
Devotional discourses
Mr Damodar said that devotional discourses, Vedic classes and similar spiritual activities will be held at the Temple and the Hall regularly.
“Savita Gupta, otherwise known as ‘Savita Didi,’ a lifelong ‘Brij-basi (one dedicated to noble deeds) and a Vaishnava (follower of Lord Vishnu) will be in Auckland to give nightly discourses at the Centre from July 12. The lectures would inspire adults and children,” he said.
Located on a plot covering 1100 Square metres, the Centre has a built-up area of 830 square metres and a free car park facility for about 25 cars, in addition to the adjacent free public car park.
The total cost of the Project, including renovation of the building (which was earlier the home of Returned & Services Association) is about $1.6 million, including the cost of the property and building renovation.
Mr Kishor said that the Centre would soon have two additional floors, one of which will be dedicated to the Temple, while the top floor would comprise living quarters for the priest and guest rooms for visiting sanyasis.
The Restaurant
One of the highlights of the Centre is ‘Govinda,’ an all-vegetarian restaurant, catering up to 80 diners at a time. Open from 10 am to 10 pm all days of the week (except on public holidays when the timings may differ), the Restaurant offers lunch specials daily and on weekends.
Praful Joshi, the main cook said that all meals and snacks (that are free of garlic and onion) and sweets are homemade.
“These are offered to God in the first instance as per the Hindu custom,” he said.
With almost ten years of experience in Auckland, he understands customer tastes and preferences.
“Vegetarians can be assured of quality food, prepared according to the teachings of Hinduism. While the restaurant is modern in design and service, the food prepared conforms to traditional values,” he said.
Mr Damodar said that new Centre will preserve, protect and promote the traditional values of Vaishanavism.
“We are confident that our activities will enable people to meet, pray, exchange good thoughts and ideas, do good deeds, strengthen family ties and promote goodwill and harmony. It will also provide the right atmosphere for people to engage in religious activities and community work,” he said.
