Jai Shree Swaminarayan!
It’s always a pleasure and privilege to come to this temple.
I was here not long ago—celebrating Holi with colour and joy, and Diwali with light and love… together with many of you whom I consider more like family than friends.
Tonight is particularly special—as significant as it is symbolic.
Significant, as we mark 20 years of one of the oldest Hindu temples in Australia, and the first Swaminarayan temple of this organisation in Australasia.
Symbolic, because this mandir was personally inaugurated by His Holiness Achaa-riya Shree Kosha-lendra-prasaad-ji Maharaj the seventh spiritual heir of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan, who will be here to bless the festivities along with other spiritual leaders and saints from India.
Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan taught that to live with integrity and a social conscience is to live a life of true Sanatan Dharma—the path of eternal righteousness.
And I see that every time I visit this community. In your prayers, your programs and everyday actions.
In particular, I see how your community continues to live the legacy of your Acharyaji who reminds us to be “human first, then religious.”
As Acharya Ji has beautifully said: “The true temple is not just built with stone, but with the selfless love, discipline, and seva of its people.”
This is what this temple represents.
Whether it’s through charitable initiatives that uplift the most vulnerable, or intergenerational activities that bring together young and old, you have built a temple not just of stone and structure, but of values, vision, and virtue.
I also want to congratulate you on your commitment to nurturing the next generation.
As we all know, children are the seeds of tomorrow—and every time I’m here, I see how deeply young people are engaged, educated and energised, and how this grows their character, charisma and compassion.
Tonight we celebrate the history of this temple and the heart of this community which embodies the highest ideals of satsang (spiritual fellowship), sewa (selfless service), and samarpan (devotion).
What I’ve seen time and again is a community that leads with humility and heart.
This Mandir has a special place in my heart; it was one of the very first temples I visited when I was elected as the Federal Member for Greenway in 2010.
When I first visited India ten years ago with Harish and Aisha, one of the first places I went to was the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kalupur in Ahmedabad.
That temple is sacred and special – the first site of any Swaminarayan Mandir selected by Shree Swaminarayan himself.
When I mentioned my association with ISSO, one of the Sadhu’s joked that Kalu means Black and Pur means town – so I guess that’s true, hence why the first ever construction of an ISSO temple in Australia was here in Blacktown!
It truly is a source of joy personally to me, seeing how much this temple and your community has grown, which will have a profound impact for generations to come.
I am so proud this temple stands in Western Sydney—where our diversity is our strength, and where the values of faith, family and fellowship make us who we are.
From your humble beginnings in a small industrial unit, to this grand and vibrant temple—this journey has been inspirational.
I know the next chapter will be even greater.
In the near future, I have no doubt that this Shree Swaminarayan Temple ISSO will not only remain a spiritual jewel of NSW, but a beacon of hope, humanity and harmony—a place where devotion, dedication, service and sanctity go hand in hand, and where Sanatan Dharma continues to flourish.
Thank you for all that you do—for our communities, families, and our nation.
Thank you for welcoming me into your mandir and allowing me to be a part of your faith and festivities.
Congratulations on this magnificent milestone, and here’s to the next 20 years and beyond.
Jai Shree Swaminarayan