Orange's growing Hindu community gathered at the CWA Hall on Friday evening for the inauguration of its recently established association.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Orange Hindu Association was registered in February and launched this week with a ceremony which packed out the hall in Robertson Park.
Association president Binu Nair said the organisation has formed with the purpose of "spreading harmony".
He said its elected council plans to work closely with other groups - such as the Desi Aussies of Orange - to "bring unity and maintain diversity" in their community.
The group has recently launched a website which it will update with planned activities the public is invited to attend.
There is no exclusion for any religion. We want to be a diverse group
- Binu Nair, OHA president
Its council plans to coordinate camps for young people, yoga classes and Sanskrit language classes in the future.
Currently, OHA runs monthly prayer in the Orange City Council halls when the space is available or at members homes when it's not.
Mr Nair said the prayer group is not restricted to any particular religion or sect.
"Everyone is welcome to attend," he said.
"There is no exclusion for any religion. We want to be a diverse group."
Mr Nair said the members of the group come from very different backgrounds.
He said the one thing they all have in common is they chose to make Orange home because they felt accepted here.
"I lived in Sydney for eight years. When I moved here I knew I had found common folk," he said.
"All our community admire the beauty of Orange - we call it a paradise on Earth."
In the 2016 NSW census 318 adults in the Orange electorate listed their religion as Hindu.
Mr Nair said there are now approximately 200 Hindu families living in the city.
He said the association is an "outward looking community looking to be strengthened by participating in religious and social activities together."
The ceremony in Robertson Park on Friday was attended by member for Orange Philip Donato, member for Calare Andrew Gee and Orange mayor Reg Kidd.
The Orange Hindu Association will list details of its upcoming events on its website when they are confirmed: www.orangehinduassociation.com.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...