Indian indentured labourers remembered in Lower Albersville
The visit commemorates the 165th anniversary of the arrival of Indian indentured labourers to KwaZulu-Natal.
The 1860 Indentured Labourers Foundation Verulam (ILFV), and guests from India and Trinidad and Tobago visited the Shree Hanuman Sanathan Dharma Sabha Mandir and Shree Mariamman Temple in Lower Albersville recently, to mark 165 years since the first group of Indians arrived in Durban aboard the SS Truro from Madras to work in the sugarcane plantations.
Chairperson of the Shree Hanuman Sanathan Dharma Sabha Mandir, Veena Lakhan said the anniversary serves as a reminder of the struggles and resilience of the Indian community in South Africa and their significant contributions to the country’s development. “This visit aims to foster social cohesion and strengthen the bonds of shared history in the province.”
Dr Kogie Archary Parthab (1860 ILFV) thanked members of both temples for the warm welcome. “This event seeks to honour the invaluable contributions of Indian indentured labourers’ resilience and dedication which played a pivotal role in shaping South Africa’s social, cultural and economic landscape.”
Guests visited both the Shree Hanuman and the Mariamman temples where they conducted prayers and learned more about their history. The visitors enjoyed bhajans and were treated to lunch sponsored by Food for Life.
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