TORONTO: Dressed in a green kurta and a pair of white pyjamas, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau performed pooja at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto. “How remarkable and fitting it is that when visitors come to Canada through our largest airport, Pearson International, one of the first Canadian sights people see off Highway 427 is this mandir. I for one could not be more proud,” Trudeau said.
He was accompanied by the spiritual guru of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj. “The relationship between our two countries is truly a special one. It's a relationship our government and our ministers both deeply value and actively cultivate,” the PM said at an event celebrating the temple's 10th anniversary. Addressing over 7,500 devotees, Trudeau said he wanted to “recognise the importance of the bond between Canada and India. The more than one million Canadians of Indian origin have made countless contributions to our national fabric.”
He participated in the abhishek ceremony in the main temple and also the aarti officiated over by the Mahant. He even, at a point, turned to the guru and said, “Please keep Canada in your prayers.” The event served as an outreach by the premier to the Hindu community in Canada, and two federal cabinet ministers- Navdeep Bains and Kirsty Duncan. Also present were Toronto mayor John Tory and India's High Commissioner to Ottawa, Vikas Swarup. The 45 year old praised the temple's architecture, calling it “without a doubt one of Canada's architectural wonders with its intricate stone and wood carvings.”
Trudeau, who started his remarks with “Jai Swaminarayan” and then a “kemcho”, said the temple perfectly represents “modern, diverse Canada.” He said that the temple, which was constructed without the use of steel, was built “according to principles outlined in ancient Hindu scripture. The temple is considered Canada’s first traditional Hindu place of worship. The Canadian PM also pointed out the temple’s dashabdi or 10th anniversary coincides with Canada’s the 150th year of Confederation.
