Mother Durga statue to be erected in honour of Women Empowerment
The plaque will be constructed of granite stone, with the donors’ names and a dedication.
In honour of the revered Hindu priest of Dundee, Guru Umeshvaran Nagiah, a statue (murti) of the Hindu goddess Mother Durga will be erected within the Dundee Hindu Temple grounds in Browning Street. The Dundee Durga Murti Committee was formed in 2018 as a separate fund-raising committee to spearhead the project, as well as oversee the future maintenance and upkeep of the murti. However, with the lockdown in 2020, the project was halted.
The committee must be commended for not letting the pandemic deter them, as they continued working and seeking donations to help fund-raise for this massive project. The five-metre-high statue will stand on a base of 1.2 metres and the unveiling ceremony will be held over a 13-day period at the temple later this year. The committee came up with ideas on how to raise funds in support of this project, one of these being a plaque that will be mounted around the base of the statue.
The plaque will be constructed of granite stone, with the donors’ names and a dedication. According to committee members, the bulk of the project’s cost has been borne by the plaque donations. The construction of the murti has two stages. The first stage was the construction of the base, which is 20 tons in weight and has been completed. The second stage is the construction of the murti itself, which is approximately 30 tons in weight and is currently being sculptured in Verulam, Durban.
It will later be transported to Dundee and erected at the premises. The religious community bestows great dedication to Mother Durga; the project is in reverence of their faith in her divine power to overcome all challenges. “We strongly worship the Mother aspect of God, which also symbolises women empowerment and giving women an equal stand in society. Mother Durga is the Universal Mother and with this statue, we as the Dundee Hindu community wish to honour women from all walks of life,” said Guru Umeshvaran Nagiah. He also emphasised that the Hindu community embodies the motto that says: The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.
To further raise funds for the unveiling ceremony, the committee will be hosting a musical concert on June 18 at the Majuba College Hall in Dundee. “The committee will raise its own money for the entire project, as it is not funded by the temple, and we hope that the community of Dundee and surrounding areas will join us on this day in support of this very special project,” said committee treasurer Vimal Hargovan. Committee chairman Shaiel Chunder added that, “The concert will help raise funds for the unveiling of the statue in October. During the 13-day function, supper will be provided daily, musical renditions performed, as well as daily rituals done during the unveiling function.” “On behalf of the committee and myself, we appeal to the community of Dundee and surrounding areas to support this project, as prayer is the only thing that can see us through the difficult times we are facing in the world,” concluded Guru Umeshvaran Nagiah. The committee would like to thank the following sponsors: Chans Harry’s Transport, Shuben’s Readymix Concrete, Paint Centre, The Magic Touch, AST Coal, The Copy Cat, Shivaay Logistics, Supa Quick, Alpha Logistics, Imperial Panelbeaters, Jaihind Steel Works & Pooja Shop, Hargo Haul, Mi[1]Ka Fruit & Veg, Discount Build, Group 4 Technologies, Boss Security & Sunshine Motors. For any enquiries or if you would like to make a donation, please email Shaiel Chunder, Vimal Hargovan or Elaine Govender at dundeedurga108@gmail.com.
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