Members of Samabula Suva Sikh Temple commemorate a century of preservation in Fiji.
Pio Tikoduadua, Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, attended the centennial celebration of the Samabula Sikh Gurdwara Sahib as a chief guest.
On this occasion, he said:
“Today, I expressed our nation’s gratitude for their unwavering commitment to making Fiji a better place for all….Let us all draw inspiration from the Samabula Sikh Gurdwara Sahib’s century of service and continue to work together for a harmonious and prosperous Fiji.”
Paramjit Singh, General Secretary of the Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, told Fiji Village that this marks a great milestone for the temple.
Head Priest Sandeep Singh told FBC that the Gurudwara Sahib stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Sikh community in Fiji.
“Yeah I do have a lot of memories, my dad was originally from India, he passed away last year and he served this Gurudwara for many years and as a child, I have childhood memories of playing in the front area here.”
The majority of Indians in Fiji are descendants of Indian indentured labourers who were brought to the islands between 1879 and 1916.
However, most of the Sikhs came to Fiji via the French colony of New Caledonia and the British colony of Hong Kong as free immigrants to mostly work as farmers, policemen, teachers, and preachers.
Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Mason Smith has applauded Fiji’s Sikh community for its generosity and for sharing their farming expertise.
“In fact, you are the largest dairy farmers in the country, and you have built very close relations with the i-Taukei people in Tailevu and Naitasiri areas.”
Built in year 1923, this is the first Gurdwara Sahib in the South Pacific.
The Samabula Sikh Gurdwara Sahib celebrations reflect the diversity and resilience of the Sikh community.
In 2019, the Gurdwara Sahib was renovated featuring architecture from Amritsar.
This was the first-ever renovation to be carried out since its establishment in 1923.
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