Sri Narayan Hindu Temple celebrates 22nd anniversary
Bells echoed to let God know they were there. Music filled the main room while members shared in fellowship, food and prayer. Children played throughout the grounds, laughter chasing them down the halls.
It’s been 22 years since the Sri Narayan Hindu Temple was opened in Yuba City, and members of the temple – or “mandir” in Hindi – weren’t about to let the anniversary go by without a celebration.
“This is a place where anyone is welcome,” said Prem Hunji Turner, president of the Hindu temple. “This is a place where people can come to be nurtured. We are all connected to each other, the Earth, to nature. This temple provides a wonderful forum to bring everyone together.”
Arun Aery, chair of the leadership group with the temple, said inclusivity is an important characteristic of the religion.
“Everyone is welcome to our functions. I think it’s important to bring everyone together for prayer here. It’s peaceful for the whole community to be together, as is Hinduism,” Aery said.
Before it was built, there weren’t really any temples in the area where Hindus could go to pray.
“Many of us would mostly just practice at home. We have small temples at home but we really didn’t have a place to go, unless you wanted to travel to Sacramento,” said Kavinder Chatkara, temple liaison. “Now, this is a place we call home. People love to come because it gives them that feeling of home.”
On any given week, the temple will see between 200-300 people walk through the door, Chatkara said.
While the temple represents a home for many Hindus in the Yuba-sutter area to worship, it also embodies love. A love for community; a love of diversity; but most importantly, the love between a man and wife.
Turner’s parents are the reason the temple exists today. Her father, Hardial Singh Hunji, who was Sikh, donated $1.8 million in land and cash in 1995 to have it built for his late wife, Kushlia Devi Hunji, who was Hindu.
One of Turner’s mother’s dreams before she died was to have a place where people could go to worship. Hardial Hunji – who died in early 2017 – made sure he would see his wife’s dream to fruition, with the help of the local Hindu community.
“It’s amazing, their spirit is definitely here. I think they would be very happy to see how the kid’s program has developed, how the community has grown, and the many different events we put on throughout the year,” Turner said.
Turner said the temple will be planning an interfaith event later this year, something she said her mother would have wanted.
Aside from that, temple organizers put on about a dozen different events or festivals throughout the year – events like Diwali (the festival lights),
Jagran (an all-night prayer vigil held on New Year’s Eve), and Holi (the festival of colors).
“Holi is a fun day. People of all ages come together for a joyful day full of color,” Aery said. “It’s nice to be able to come outside the temple and have some fun. This year will be bigger and better than ever.”
More information about the Sri Narayan Hindu Temple can be found on its Facebook page (@Srinarayantemple).