Adream nearly two decades in the making is set to unfold from 21 to 27 January for the Swaminarayan community in Melbourne’s west. The week’s celebrations will culminate in a moment they describe as both historic and divine: the Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav, the ceremonial installation of the temple’s sacred idol.
“It is the heart of the whole volunteer effort,” says Hariskrishna Patel, director and co-founder of the Swaminarayan Temple in Rockbank. “When we install the murti (idol), we perform rituals to invite the Lord to reside within it. After that, you can say the living Lord is there.”
The journey to this seven-day festival began humbly. Patel recalls arriving in Australia in 2007 and, within 15 days, starting satsang (spiritual gatherings) with just three or four families in a single suburban home.
“We started from scratch,” he says. “We thought if we moved it around, people wouldn’t know where to go. So we decided on one house and met there every Sunday.” The group grew, eventually hiring local council halls, but the dream of a permanent home always lingered.
That dream took tangible shape in 2017 in what members see as a moment of divine guidance. While driving on the Western Freeway with visiting spiritual leader, Sadguru Swami Shree Nityaswarupdasji, they spotted a 6.5-acre parcel of land for sale.
“Guruji just looked at it and said, ‘If God wants it, if the Lord wants to sit here, then we will get this land,’” Patel recounts. The prime location attracted commercial interest, but against the odds, their offer was accepted.
What followed were eight years of determined effort – navigating planning approvals with the support of Melton City Council and rallying a community of volunteers, professionals, and donors. The resulting temple is intentionally elevated, requiring visitors to climb steps before entering.
“Yes, absolutely,” Patel says of the design. “There’s a sense of respect. You bow down, you walk up.”
Beyond the architecture and rituals, community leaders see the temple as a vital compass for the next generation. “Nowadays, kids learn their education in school, but they don’t always have the right direction on how to live life,” Patel reflects.
“They might follow movies or TV, but that’s not real life. Here, we are going to teach them values such as where we come from, what you have to do, how you have to do it, and your responsibility towards the neighbourhood and the community.”
Patel hopes the wider Australian public will also recognise these values of service, respect, discipline, and belonging. “Sometimes they feel like we are different. But we are not different; we are one of them,” he says, acknowledging occasional negative comments online.
“We are here to help everyone. There is no difference. In Victoria, all communities are equal. We are here to support everyone however we can, within our capacity.”
Today, the temple counts around 100 volunteers, and Patel expects participation to grow after the Murti Pratishtha.
The festival itself will be a vibrant display of devotion and community. It will feature scripture processions (Pothi Yatra), spiritual discourses from visiting gurus, devotional singing, a grand fire ceremony (yagna), and a community feast (Annakut) where hundreds of vegetarian dishes are offered. There will even be a “Hasya Day”, a night of comedy and music featuring visiting Gujarati comedian Hitesh Antala.
Patel likens the main ceremony to the birth of a child. “Every year you celebrate birthdays, but it’s not the same feeling as when the child is born. In the same way, when the Lord comes to the temple… it’s a once-in-a-lifetime feeling.”
As the community prepares to welcome thousands, Patel extends an open invitation to all Melburnians. “We are welcoming everybody. If they wish to join us, please come. There is no restriction.”
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