Thursday, 20 June 2024

Kali Mata Mandir

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (10:22): On Saturday I had the pleasure of joining the Hindu community in my electorate to celebrate the first appearance of the goddess Kali. I represented the member for Kalkallo Minister Ros Spence from the other place. The beautiful Kali Mata temple in Craigieburn holds immense spiritual and cultural significance for the Hindu community who live in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. The temple is an important gathering place for the community and also provides free food, or prasad, for anyone who walks through their doors. Their kitchen completely relies on donations from devotees, and all the food is prepared and served by local volunteers. This is a perfect example of how multicultural communities add vitality, warmth and richness to our Victorian society. The Hindu community enriches our shared Victorian life with their rich cultural heritage and numerous vibrant festivals. I want to thank the temple president and head priestess Bhawna Gupta and the organising committee for their tireless efforts in bringing the community together on this auspicious occasion. Ma Kali is an important and inspiring figure in Hinduism. Her fierce love for her disciples is matched only by a determination to fight against evil forces. I am deeply grateful to the temple for their warm hospitality and the blessings I received. This was a truly enriching experience, and I look forward to visiting the temple many more times.