A NEW temple in Bendigo will keep the name of a little girl alive, as it provides a spiritual home for the region's Hindus.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Opening on Saturday, the Brishti Ganesh Temple carries on the memory of young Brishti Shrestha who died from a rare brain tumour in 2018.
Her father Umesh Shrestha said the temple would be a way to keep Brishti's name alive. He has worked for years to organise it, paying for part and rallying donations and volunteers to build the rest.
Mr Shrestha said he was feeling nervous about the opening, but glad to honour his daughter.
"We couldn't save her, because of her rare cancer ... but we wanted to save her name forever," he said.
The temple will sit on the grounds of Bendigo's Great Stupa of Universal Compassion.
Mr Shrestha said he hoped among many people who visited the Great Stupa every day, some would read the plaque and remember his daughter.
He thanked donors to the temple, and volunteers who worked every weekend for months on the structure.
The temple has been build in Nepalese style, among few like it in Victoria. Mr Shrestha said Brishti was very much a part of the Nepalese community, which he wanted to represent.
It is currently the only Hindu temple in Bendigo.
Mr Shrestha said it was very significant for the growing community of Hindus in Bendigo to have somewhere to worship.
Other news:
He said it would hopefully boost tourism to the city, bringing Hindus up from Melbourne to worship.
Mr Shrestha said anyone was welcome to visit the temple.
It will be formally opened on Saturday 10am, with all people welcome.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Find us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News