Indian spiritual sustenance in Australia
Indian-born people living in Australia account for close to one million of Australia’s population of 27.5 million, with the number of Indians more than doubling over the past decade. After the UK, the Indian-born population is the second largest migrant community in Australia.
This is hardly surprising. You find Indians of all walks of life in Australia — technologists and engineers, professors and students, and taxi drivers and shop assistants.
I routinely ask Indian taxi drivers for advice on Sydney’s best Indian restaurants. To my great surprise, one recently recommended the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Helensburgh, 65 km south of Sydney.
This temple is built on top of a hilly area 400 feet above sea level, and has four ‘Praharam’ (encircling corridors). It was built according to Vedic principles (Agama Sastras) and the first consecration took place on June 30, 1985.
So this morning I headed off by train. As I was changing at Sutherland station, I met two Chinese ladies, Jenny from Shanghai and her friend from Nanjing whose son is studying in Sydney. Jenny’s son is studying at Boston University.
Jenny and her friend were heading to visit Kiama, 128 km south of Sydney, which they assured is a beautiful town. When I got on the train, I discovered many other Chinese who were also heading for Kiama.
Kiama is indeed a lovely spot, but I doubt that many Australians would make a day trip. Jenny also assured me of her appreciation for our Jacaranda trees which are currently in bloom. I hope that our tourist industry is tuned into the tastes of Chinese tourists, our most important visitors.
Sitting next to me and the Chinese ladies was a New Yorker of Indian origin. The three of them expressed their amusement at the slowness of Australia’s trains and life in general. They seemed to find us Aussies rather cute, in that regard.
The New Yorker was visiting his niece in Helensburgh. So I cadged a lift with them to the temple, and followed them in the Hindu rituals.
Then was the long awaited lunch. I ate one of my favourites, masala dosa, with masala chai. Delicious.
A few tips. The Sri Venkateswara Temple is about 5 km from Helensburgh train station. There is a local bus, but it is not very frequent. Although the bus is synched with the train schedule, you can miss it if the train is late.
Today, Sunday, as I write the trains only travel every hour from Sunderland to Helensburgh. Related to this is the fact that the Temple’s canteen only operates on weekends.