Did you know we have a mandir in the Glebe?

Aug 15, 2024

Did you know we have a mandir in the Glebe?

By Claire Trepanier

Some of you who have travelled to India or have met people of Indian heritage may know that a mandir is an Indian temple. And guess what? We have had a mandir in the Glebe at 55 Clarey Avenue since 2005. It is a lovely little temple in red brick, adorned with a bright yellow sign that says: “Vishva Shakti Durga Mandir” which means “Temple dedicated to the world goddess Durga.

Who is the goddess, Durga? She is one of the many deities which provide Hindus with a pathway to approach the divine. She is the spouse of Lord Shiva, the master of fertility and one of the three major gods in the Hindu trinity: Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer. Like her husband, she has lots of powers but hers are positive – she is the protectress of the universe, and she brings goodness into our lives.

The temple is managed by the Vishva Shakti Durga Mandir Association (VSDMA) which runs several programs for the Hindu community in Ottawa for seniors and to help immigrants finding housing and jobs. It also holds special events like the notable Canada Day event at Vincent Massey Park which gathers over 500 people.

Each week, a puja (or religious ceremony) is held in the Clarey Avenue mandir. Worshippers gather for a reading of the holy book followed by prayers and a meal in the basement. Sharing food is a key practice – it brings people together and creates a sense of belonging. After the puja, people go home with some food in their hands: “Nobody leaves the mandir empty handed,” said Shikhar Chitkara, the public relations officer, and his colleague Taniahq Bansai when I met them.

The mandir is an open house – anyone is welcome whatever their gender, race or religious denomination. You can come to participate in a puja, to simply visit the mandir or just to meditate quietly for a few moments.

Here is the process to follow if you wish to do so:

Bring with you any piece of fruit or a sweet made without eggs. These offerings are later distributed to anybody visiting the temple as prasad (sacred food).
On arrival, remove your shoes and put them on the rack near the entry.
In the main room, you will see a bell hanging from the ceiling. Ring it once to remove all the negative aura; its sound fills the room with positive energy.
Walk forward and put your offering in the basket on the floor. If your offering is money, put it in the donation box right next to the fruit basket.
You can then kneel in front of the goddess to pray or to meditate a moment.
People can eat any vegetarian meal before visiting the temple, but our hosts’ humble request is that you not eat meat or eggs. It is also suggested to avoid having onion or garlic before coming to avoid unpleasant smells.

I asked my hosts what the Glebe community can do to support the mandir and the VSDM association. Their answer was: “The best way is for more people from the Glebe community to join the Durga temple.” They told me that some people not knowledgeable in Hindu culture or Sanskrit language have been coming to serve the temple for more than a decade now. “Come to the temple, meet with people and if Pundit ji (the priest) is available, have a chat with him.” It is a chance to learn about Hinduism.

It is also totally fine for parents to take their children to see the murtis – those ornate sculptures of different gods – as a first experience of cross-cultural religions. Pundit ji or somebody else would be pleased to answer their questions.

What is the future of the Clarey Avenue mandir?

Since the Hindu community is growing, the VSDM association bought land in Barrhaven with the view to eventually building a much bigger mandir. There will be more facilities for the community and sufficient parking for everyone. Donations to support this project would be gratefully accepted and highly appreciated. Please consult the website of the VSDM association www.durgatemple.ca to learn more about how to contribute.

Claire Trepanier is a published author and Glebe resident.