Despite early morning rain, hundreds of Australian Hindus came together across NSW today for a 70-kilometre spiritual walk organised by the Hindu Council of Australia (HCA).
The biannual Paada Yatra began at the Murugan Temple in Mays Hill and followed a scenic route through Sydney, with a stopover at the Saibaba Temple in Strathfield before concluding at the Sri Venkateshwara Temple in Helensburgh. The walk was open to people from all backgrounds, allowing participants to choose a distance that suited their ability while taking part in the wider spiritual journey.
For one participant, the event marked her first Paada Yatra experience. Speaking to The Australia Today, she said she participated in the first section of the journey, from the Murugan Temple in Mays Hill to the Saibaba Temple in Strathfield.
“It was my first time participating in the Paada Yatra. I chose to walk from the Murugan Temple to the Saibaba Temple, and I really enjoyed the experience. I hope that next time I can complete the full yatra,” she told The Australia Today.
Paada Yatra is a centuries-old Hindu devotional tradition in which devotees undertake spiritual journeys on foot to sacred sites as an expression of faith, discipline, humility and unity. Participants traditionally walk together while chanting prayers and engaging in spiritual reflection.
The HCA said its Paada Yatra initiative continues the tradition in Sydney while also promoting community togetherness, seva (service), health, mindfulness and environmental responsibility.
The journey concluded with community prayers and blessings at the Sri Venkateshwara Temple in Helensburgh.
The HCA organises Paada Yatra twice a year, providing an opportunity for members of the Hindu community to participate in a shared spiritual and cultural experience while connecting with temples and fellow devotees across Sydney.
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