Durban Hindu Festival and Temple Guide

A community with deep roots

Durban has the largest community of Indian origin in South Africa. The first indentured labourers from India arrived in Durban in November 1860 to work on the sugar plantations of Natal, followed by traders from Gujarat; today their descendants — Tamil, Telugu, Hindi- and Gujarati-speaking families — live across the city, especially in Chatsworth, Phoenix, Clairwood, Merebank and Tongaat. Many traditions have been kept for more than 160 years, sometimes in forms that have faded in India itself.

Temples

The Clairwood Shri Siva Soobramoniar Temple on Sirdar Road, founded around 1889, is one of the oldest Hindu temples in South Africa and famous for its Thaipusam Kavady festival. Chatsworth is home to ISKCON's Temple of Understanding, and many other temples serve the Tamil, Telugu and North Indian traditions of the city.

Festival season

• Kavady (Thaipusam and Chitra Pournami) — devotees carry kavadis to Murugan temples across the city in fulfilment of vows, after days of fasting and prayer.
• Diwali — lamps, fireworks and family visits; Diwali is not a public holiday in South Africa, so community events often fall on weekends.
• Navratri and Durga Puja — prayers at temples and community halls.
• Purattasi — the Tamil month of fasting and prayers to Lord Venkateswara, widely observed by Durban families.

Shopping for puja items

The spice and grocery shops of central Durban and the shopping centres of Chatsworth and Phoenix stock incense, camphor, diyas, puja items and festival sweets.

Timings

South Africa keeps the same time all year (SAST, UTC+2, three and a half hours behind India). Use the Durban panchang for local tithi, sunrise and Rahu Kaal.