Swaminarayan Complex inaugurated as a state-of-art community hub

Sunday (February 26, 2023) saw hundreds of people coming together as the Swaminarayan (ISSO) Complex, a state-of-the-art Community Centre in Papatoetoe, South Auckland, was officially inaugurated.

The Sunday event was the final day of the three-day long celebrations. Friday saw the welcome of the saints and a garba night and Saturday started with Abhishek, Annakut and the Sabha with Shreeraja and Lalji Maharaj.

The Sunday event was attended by nearly 500 community members. Many dignitaries such as Transport, Workplace Relations and Safety and Immigration Minister Michael Wood; Opposition leader and Leader of National Party Christopher Luxon; ACT Party leader David Seymour; former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Parliamentarians such as Jenny Salesa, Melissa Lee, Brooke van Velden and former MPs Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Dr Parmjeet Parmar and Mahesh Bindra among others graced the occasion.

Wood described the complex as 'stunning,' saying, "It is a magnificent facility. It is such a wonderful gift to the community and celebrates as well as acknowledges all the communities. This centre brings humanity together in the Hindu tradition and the spirit of unity. I acknowledge everyone who has contributed to this magnificent complex.”

Luxon thanked Dr Kanti Patel and his wife Ranjna Patel, trustees of the Swaminarayan Temple (ISSO) Complex, for their relentless service to the community for many years. He said, "Thanks, Kanti Bhai and Ranjna, for your contribution to the community and continue to do. You have set an example for us. This is going to be a fantastic gift for the community.”

Seymour said the complex is an impressive reminder of what people and community can do for each other voluntarily. He said, “The Swaminarayan Complex is a wonderful community facility that brings people together for support, fellowship and faith.”

Winston Peters also took to social media and wrote, “In all of the recent bad news, it was an uplifting event. Full praise to Dr Kanti Patel and Mrs Ranjna Patel, and many others who have worked so long and hard to complete this project. At Kolmar Rd Papatoetoe, this classically styled large building and its community benefits is certainly worth a visit.”

One of the highlights was the speech by Saint Ramakrishna Das, a saint from the Swaminarayan Sampraday in Gujarat, India, who specially flew in from India. He spoke at length about the teaching of Swaminarayan and paid tributes to Dr Kanti Patel and his wife Ranjna Patel, trustees of the Swaminarayan Temple (ISSO) Complex.

Academic Manish Tanna, the Master of Ceremonies, described the various aspects of Swaminarayan ISSO, the temple and the new complex in great detail and depth.

Regarding the complex's history, Kanti Patel said, "The project was started in 2003 with a vision to have a spiritual place for the community as we realised that there is a need for the same. But then we realised that it needed more than just a spiritual place, and then we started buying and developing the land, and that's how the dream came into reality. There had been many challenges, especially due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2021 tornado, which caused delays, but it is great to see the complex being open to serve our communities.”

He added, "We want this complex, with all state-of-the-art facilities, to be a hub for all Indian cultural events. We endeavour to make this a preferred venue for all who want to do their events in Auckland.” 

The Swaminarayan Complex in Papatoetoe, South Auckland, is a state-of-the-art facility that offers various amenities to its visitors. The complex includes a spacious community centre and conference rooms with modern technology and facilities, making it ideal for hosting events, meetings, and other activities. The complex has various sports facilities, including a basketball court, volleyball court, and cricket pitch.

Moreover, the complex includes a modern and well-equipped kitchen that is used to prepare food for various events and activities and a library that houses a vast collection of books on religion, philosophy, and other topics. Whether for cultural events, spiritual practices, sports activities, or educational pursuits, the complex has something to offer for everyone.