Temple hosts Annual General Meeting

Over the past year, the Sat-Chit-Ananda Temple Society has overcome many obstacles in the challenge of meeting its community’s spiritual needs.

At the temple’s Annual General Meeting held on Sunday, these obstacles were laid before the community.

Arisha Garahoo, the temple’s committee’s secretary, started the proceedings by reading the Trustee’s Report on behalf of Nad Gounden.

Miss Garahoo focused on the positive aspects the committee had managed to resolve over the past year.

“The committee worked diligently to reinstate the non profit organisation (NPO) registration number, which was de-registered due to non-submission of annual reports for the previous three years,” she said.

The previous committee had apparently been inactive during the period.

Miss Garahoo added the executive members were able to acquire the temple’s own Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) registration certificate. “The PBO registration is beneficial to our major donors for taxation rebates.”

She said the temple’s application for VAT registration had been successful, and would be beneficial to to the organisation to be able to claim a VAT refund for major projects.

While these successes marked significant victories for the temple, it was the sponsorship of R181 000 from the Divine Life Society of South Africa to purchase eight domes for the newly built temple, that really stood out.

The Lotus domes are expected to be installed by the end of the month. It is believed the energy of Ohm resides within the domes, which will create a positive energy within the temple’s devotees, bringing them closer to God.

The domes arrived at the temple from India in February, and members of the public have been working tirelessly to place it on the temple.

“The challenges faced with logistics to bring the domes from India was a successful lesson we learnt from,” Miss Garahoo said.

Kirshen Singh, who chaired the AGM, said logistic issues experienced ranged from language barriers with the manufacturers, raising the necessary funds to transport the domes, as well as struggling in securing the necessary documents to ensure the domes could go through customs and be brought to Newcastle.

Mr Singh was concerned about negativity towards the temple and its members, allegedly resulting in seven people who resigned from the original committee elected at the previous AGM.

However, the temple’s members were dedicated in moving forward despite rumours.

The temple’s finances are doing well, as reported by treasurer, Pradeep Manilar.

“In the course of the year, external auditors from South African Revenue Services were here to view the books of the temple. They were very pleased and then approved us as a VAT vendor.”

Mr Singh said the positive financial situation was achieved through selfless acts of committed members who gave out of their own pockets, instead of using the temple’s funds to build it up for the benefit of others.

The AGM was concluded with members of the public socialising with the committee and learning how they could help develop the temple further.