Opening of the Tavua Laxmi Narayan Mandir Official Address

0

Opening Remarks

  • Honourable Cabinet Ministers,
  • Honourable Members of the Opposition,
  • Government officials and representatives,
  • Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
  • Traditional leaders and elders,
  • Members of the Tavua Laxmi Narayan Mandir Committee,
  • Visiting Pundits from Australia and New Zealand,
  • Distinguished Guests,
  • Members of the congregation,
  • Ladies and gentlemen.
  1. Ni Sa Bula Vinaka and Namaskar!

Introduction

  1. Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we stand today, ki Bila vua na Gone Turaga na Tui Tavua, I pay my respects to their Chiefs, past and present, as well as emerging leaders and I acknowledge their enduring role within the Vanua and its stewardship. We are honoured to stand on this land through your guardianship and generosity.
  2. I am pleased to be here today to mark this significant moment in the spiritual and communal history of Tavua. I am honoured to join you for the Pran Pratistha Ceremony and the official opening of the Tavua Laxmi Narayan Mandir. This sacred moment consecrates not only a physical structure, but a living spiritual centre, one that will guide faith, service, and community life for generations.
  3. On behalf of the Government and people of Fiji, I extend my sincere appreciation to the Mandir Committee and the Tavua community for the privilege of sharing in this important milestone. This achievement reflects what is possible when vision, leadership, and collective commitment come together in service of a higher purpose.

Spiritual Heritage and Resilience

  1. Fiji’s spiritual and cultural heritage is sustained by institutions that carry faith across generations. Within the Hindu tradition, mandirs have served not only as places of worship, but as custodians of values, memory, and community life.
  2. Established in 1962, it stood for decades as a centre of faith and cultural life. Its loss during Cyclone Winston in 2016 was deeply felt. Yet, from adversity emerged resilience—and from loss, renewed purpose.
  3. This rebuilding honours the legacy of the late Mr Parma Nand Sharma, whose life embodied humility, service, and generosity. It is a legacy carried forward with dedication by Mr Vijay Nand Sharma and all who contributed to this vision.
  4. Today’s consecration affirms not just the restoration of a Mandir, but the renewal of dharma—calling upon all to live with righteousness, compassion, humility, and duty.

Community and Collective Action

  1. This Mandir stands as a testament to collective action.
  2. It reflects the leadership of the Temple Trustees and Committee, the generosity of donors at home and abroad, and the dedication of volunteers, artisans, and families whose contributions made this possible.
  3. This is nation-building at its most fundamental level: communities working together, grounded in shared values, to create spaces that uplift society.

Alignment with National Development and the Ocean of Peace

  1. Ladies and gentlemen, the reopening of this Mandir aligns strongly with Fiji’s broader national development priorities.
  2. Our development pathway is not only about infrastructure and economic growth—it is about building a just, inclusive, and resilient society grounded in values. It is about strengthening social cohesion, empowering communities, and investing in the moral and cultural foundations of our nation.
  3. Faith-based institutions such as this Mandir are essential partners in that journey. They contribute to:
  • Social stability and cohesion
  • Youth development and moral leadership
  • Community resilience in times of crisis.
  1. The promotion of service, compassion, and shared responsibility is fundamental to the Mandir’s purpose.
  2. These are the same principles that underpin Fiji’s vision of an Ocean of Peace. The Ocean of Peace is not only a foreign policy aspiration—it is a national ethos. It reflects our commitment to dialogue over division, respect over intolerance, and cooperation over conflict.
  3. It calls on us to build communities that are inclusive, value-driven, and anchored in mutual respect.
  4. This Mandir embodies those principles. It stands as a place where peace is cultivated, where diversity is nurtured, and where unity is energised – not through uniformity, but through shared values and understanding.

Nation Building and Unity

  1. Fiji’s greatest strength lies in its diversity.
  2. Our different cultures, faiths, and traditions are neither weakness nor points of division. Rather, they are sources of strength. They enrich our identity and deepen our sense of belonging.
  3. Nation-building requires that we continue to nurture this unity—through respect, shared purpose and deeds.
  4. Religious institutions play a critical role in this. They instil values that complement national policies—values such as integrity, respect, discipline, and service.
  5. These are the foundations of a peaceful and progressive nation.

Future Leaders and Trust in our Institutions

  1. To the young people of Tavua and beyond, this Mandir belongs to you as much as it does to those who came before you. It is a place where you will learn not only sacred rituals, but enduring values. Where culture is passed down through prayer, discipline, music, story, and examples.
  2. You are entrusted with its future. Preserve it. Protect it. For culture endures not in buildings alone, but in lived practice, in how we treat one another, how we serve our communities, and how we choose the path of righteousness even when no one is watching.
  3. At a time when our nation, like many others, is navigating uncertainty and change, the values cultivated in sacred spaces such as this are essential. Prayer anchors us in humility and reflection, strengthening integrity, compassion, and a sense of responsibility toward one another. These are values that sustain our national unity.
  4. Trust in our national institutions, whether spiritual, communal, or civic, is nurtured through these same values. It is sustained when people pray not only for personal wellbeing, but for wisdom, guidance, and the common good, and when those values are lived daily by individuals and leaders alike.
  5. May this Mandir guide young minds toward wisdom, humility, and duty. May it inspire future leaders to serve not for recognition, but for the wellbeing of others, and to strengthen the bonds of trust and unity that hold our nation together.
  6. With construction now complete, the Laxmi Narayan Mandir reopens its doors following sacred observances conducted in accordance with ancient Hindu traditions.
  7. This moment stands as a source of pride for the people of Tavua and as a lasting tribute to the late Mr Parma Nand Sharma, whose life of humility and service continues to inspire.
  8. As earlier reflected, this redevelopment is more than a construction project, it is the fulfilment of a father’s dream and a testament to the strength, unity, and shared purpose of this community.

Conclusion

  1. It is with respect, therefore, that I formally acknowledge the official opening of the Tavua Laxmi Narayan Mandir.
  2. May this sacred place ever resound with prayers and devotion. May it offer solace to the troubled and comfort to the weary. May it inspire selfless service and compassion. May it continue to strengthen the bonds of community, harmony, and nationhood.
  3. On behalf of the people of Fiji, I extend our warmest good wishes to the Tavua community. As we celebrate this reopening, let us also affirm the values that have brought us together – respect, faith and service
  4. In closing, as the Tavua Laxmi Narayan Mandir resumes its place in the life of this community, may it remain a place of peace and reflection. Guiding generations to honour their traditions while embracing the shared values that unite us all. Bringing strength and compassion to all who enter its doors.

Vinaka Vakalevu, Dhanyavaad and Thank You!

Translate »