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03/25/2008

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Western Victoria Sikh Community secretary Parampal Singh Phathapar, with son Zorawar, and president Rashpal Singh in front of the property they have purchased to be used as a Sikh Gurdwara in Tarneit.

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WYNDHAM’s 2000-strong Sikh community is building a $1.3 million temple in Tarneit.

Secretary of the Sikh Community of Western Victoria Parampal Singh Phathapar said the temple would be the first in the Western suburbs.

He said plans were well advanced with the land, about 1.2 hectares, already bought in Davis Rd, Tarneit, for $600,000.

The temple, however, will not be an elaborate building, at least on the outside.

“The land already has a three-bedroom house on it, along with a huge Colorbond shed of between 600 and 700 square metres,” Mr Phathapar said.

“We intend to spend $700,000 renovating the shed inside to create an assembly area, dining facilities and a prayer room where the Holy Book will be.

“The house will be used for a library, children’s activities and teaching on Sikh scriptures. There will also be provision for car-parking. It’s exciting for us and we are really looking forward to the temple being completed.”

The association has 145 direct members in Wyndham, but combined with their families, the figure climbs to about 400, with about 2000 Sikhs in the municipality overall.

The temple is expected to draw worshippers from throughout the Western suburbs.

Mr Phathapar said the necessary council permits had been obtained.

“The community itself is funding the project, which means the people will truly feel part of it,” he said.” We have not asked the council for any money. We have also taken out a bank loan.

“The community hopes to have the temple completed for the Festival of Baisakhi on 15 April, which celebrates the formation of the Sikh religion in the 17th century.”

Sikhs come from the Punjab, an area in north-west India and Pakistan.

They were respected as good soldiers in the British Army’s colonial forces.

The first Sikhs arrived in Australia in the 19th century, mainly as indentured labourers in the cane fields of northern NSW.

Mr Phathapar said Sikhs were “by nature an adventurous people” and the more recent migrants came to establish lifestyles for themselves and their families.

Sikhs believe there is one creator God called Satnam.

They also believe in karma, reincarnation and the ultimate unreality of the world.

- By Denise Deason

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