Hindu Temple to Mark Decade of Service

August 18, 2008

Author: Jennifer Dunville

Source: The Daily Gleaner

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/388169

It's a milestone Nirmal and Ram Singhal never thought they would reach.

The Fredericton residents are getting ready to celebrate the anniversary of the Hindu temple - a dream they made a reality 10 years ago.

"I'm on cloud nine," Ram said. "Every time I come from the temple, I cry. I see children there and other people benefiting from its existence and it makes me very happy. I cannot believe it has been 10 years."

Nirmal and Ram have lived in the Fredericton area for more than 40 years. But they didn't always have a place for worship.

Nirmal said her husband tried several times to start a temple, but the interest and commitment wasn't there from the community.

"One day, about 15 years ago, I was standing on this piece of land and I told Ram I wanted to buy it," Nirmal said. "He asked me why and I told him that someday there would be a great temple and that is where we would build it."

Nirmal and Ram bought the land on Doak Road and held onto it for five years until they had the funding and commitment they were looking for from the community.

"Not only have people given time and money to make this a reality, but even those who are not Hindu helped make this dream come true," Nirmal said. "Everyone was great. Even the contractors would take their shoes off if they had to go into the temple - an important tradition in our culture."