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Edmonton’s Hindu Community Marks Birthday of Lord Krishna

August 22, 2010

Edmonton’s Hindu community kicked off celebrations marking the Sept. 1 birthday of Lord Krishna by unveiling a special display at City Hall today. 

The display depicts Lord Krishna’s life and message about spreading the melody of love to people. Lord Krishna is one of the most commonly worshipped deities in the Hindu faith and is believed to have been born over 5,000 years ago.

The display is part of the City’s Celebrating our Faiths program – developed jointly with the Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action to create a greater awareness and understanding of Edmonton’s diverse faith communities.

The program seeks to educate City staff and citizens about Edmonton’s various faiths through displays at City Hall.  Displays depicting different faiths are rotated on a regular basis. Since 2006 over 16 different faiths have been featured.

In welcoming participants to City Hall, Mayor Stephen Mandel said the City was pleased to be hosting different faith groups like the Hindus on a regular basis.

"We can all be proud to be a part of a richly diverse community in which we have the opportunity to learn about, acknowledge, and respect the many faiths and cultures of our people."

Sushil Kalia, past-president of the Hindu Society of Alberta said: “We are happy to be part of community that recognizes the contribution of our faith and which values the message of love imparted to us by deities like Lord Krishna.” 

Krishna Janmashtami (the birthday of Lord Krishna) is one of the most popular festivals in the Hindu religion. It involves the decorating of temples, ringing of bells, blowing of the conch and the reciting of hymns of praise for the deity. The Hindu Society of Alberta along with other Hindu temples in Edmonton will be observing the occasion with devotion and prayers.

The display at City Hall will run until September 27. All Celebrating our Faiths displays at City Hall are open to viewing on weekdays from 7am to 10pm, Saturdays from 9am to 5pm and Sundays and holidays from 11am to 5pm.