Fiji Hindu Temples Move to Bar Grog and Cigarettes

Hindu Unity Gathering in Fiji pushes to bar grog and cigarettes from temples, seeks legal guidance on enforcing the move

Hindu faith leaders and devotees who attended the Hindu Unity gathering in Siva on Sunday announced a unified resolution to ban kava grog and cigarettes in all Hindu places of worship across Fiji. Organizers said the aim is not merely symbolic unity but to protect dharma, safeguard families, and keep temples pure.

Sandeep Narayan Singh, one of the program’s chief organizers, said unity goes beyond coming together; it is about safeguarding sacred spaces. The organizers indicated they would seek guidance from the Fiji Police Force and the Ministry of Health to determine whether the Public Order Act could be applied to religious venues. If temples are treated as public places, the law that bans grog and smoking in public could extend to these sacred spaces.

The Hindu Unity Program also issued a heartfelt appeal to families and young people to back the movement. “If we want respect as Hindus, then our temples must remain sacred and free from grog and cigarettes,” the organizers asserted. A diya was lit to symbolize unity and purity, with the pledge that this light will not fade but will shine across the country, guiding every temple, every family, and every devotee toward the true path of dharma.

This development unfolds amid broader efforts within Fiji to protect sacred spaces and promote interfaith harmony. Earlier discussions at Hindu unity events have included strong statements from national leaders condemning sacrilege and encouraging unity across faiths. The movement is backed by a wide network of Hindu organizations and mandalis—more than 20 groups nationwide—reflecting broad community support for cleaner, more respectful worship environments. The conversations also come after a spate of temple vandalism and sacred-text desecrations that have spurred calls for stronger protection and interfaith dialogue.

Context and outlook
– Government voices have stressed zero tolerance for religious hatred and acts of sacrilege, signaling support for measures that strengthen protections around worship sites.
– Education and community outreach are being leveraged to deepen religious tolerance in schools and communities, reinforcing a shared civic ethic of inclusion and respect.
– Interfaith dialogue remains a central theme as Fiji’s diverse religious landscape seeks to balance freedom of worship with communal harmony.

Summary
The Hindu Unity Gathering in Fiji has formalized a stance to prohibit grog and cigarettes in Hindu temples nationwide and plans to consult authorities on possible legal approaches. Backed by a broad coalition of Hindu groups and framed within Fiji’s broader push for unity and protection of sacred spaces, the move aims to preserve the spiritual integrity of places of worship while encouraging interfaith resilience and community well-being.

Additional value for readers
– A quick reference box could list the major organizations backing the initiative and nearby interfaith initiatives to help readers understand the coalition driving these reforms.
– Readers should watch for further government guidance on how laws like the Public Order Act could be applied to religious venues and what that might mean for temples and mandalis in practical terms.

If you’d like, I can tailor a version with a specific word count for your site or add a localized sidebar with quotes from community leaders.