Hindu faith leaders and community members who attended the Hindu Unity gathering in Siva on Sunday have passed a unified resolution declaring that kava (grog) and cigarettes will no longer be used or served in any Hindu place of worship across Fiji.
Sandeep Narayan Singh, one of the chief organizers of the program said unity is not just about coming together.
“It is about protecting dharma, to protect our families, and to purify our places of worship,” said
The organisers further announced that they would seek guidance from the Fiji Police Force and the Ministry of Health to examine whether the Public Order Act could be applied to religious venues.
“If temples are considered public places, then the law that prohibits grog and smoking in public should also apply to these sacred spaces,” Singh said.
The Hindu Unity Program also issued a heartfelt call to families and young people to support this movement.
“If we want respect as Hindus, then our temples must remain sacred and free from grog and cigarettes.”
“Today we have lit a diya for unity and purity. We will ensure that this light does not fade, but shines across our land — guiding every temple, every family, and every devotee towards the true path of dharma.”