THE Then India Sanmarga Ikya (TISI) Suva Sangam Arulmigu Sri Raja Maha Mariamman Thiru Kovil (temple) was founded more than 90 years ago.
The temple’s head priest Pandit Prakash Sivam said the temple had continued to offer its devotees blessings and preaching all these years.
The temple was founded by the late Sadhu Kuppuswamy, who was the founder and former president of TISI in 1926.
“More than 90 years back the temple was founded. This temple’s main pooja (prayer) is the annual firewalking ceremony. This temple has hosted and performed the firewalking ceremony for 93 years in Fiji for its followers and devotees,” he said.
“It is an old temple. There are many followers who visit the temple for blessings. People from all walks of life and other religions also pay a visit to the temple.
“This is a very powerful temple and people who seek blessings, or are suffering from any sickness, having financial difficulties or any other problems in life, come to the temple.
“Roughly we have 6000 to 7000 followers in Fiji. But there are more followers from overseas who come and visit the temple.”
He said there were plans to extend the temple after the Navaratri Utsavam — one of the biggest pooja ceremonies in the Hindu religious calendar the temple was preparing for. The annual Navaratri Utsavam started yesterday and would conclude on October 8.
Pandit Sivam said the Navaratri pooja was performed at the temple along with the main pooja of the firewalking ceremony which was held annually every August.
“The Navaratri Utsavam would be celebrated in 10 days and with 300 to 500 visitors visiting the temple every day.
“We are now preparing for the Navaratri Utsavam. We had just celebrated Ganesh Ustav.”
He said other temples also celebrated the Navaratri Utsavam, but their temple was the first in the Pacific and in Australia and New Zealand that would be doing the Durga Visarjanam on October 8.
The Durga Visarjanam is held on the last day of the Navaratri Utsavam with Hindu devotees taking idols of the goddess for immersion in the sea. He said Durga Visarjanam was one of the biggest ceremonies and pooja in the Hindu religion.
“For the firewalking pooja, 4000 to 5000 people visit the temple only for this ceremony. On a normal day, 150 to 200 people grace the temple and come and do their pooja and seek blessings. They bring offerings with them also.
“On a Sunday, more businesspeople visit the temple. Friday and Tuesdays, we have a special aarti (a Hindu ritual) and around 90 people are present during night time at 7pm.”
Meanwhile, originally from Tamil Nadu in Chennai, India, Pandit Sivam said this was his fourth year as the head priest at the temple.
“I am the third priest from India to be based here in Fiji. My forefathers also come from a priest family and tradition.”
He said the ceremonies and pooja done in Fiji were little different compared with the ones done in India.
