Chinese family revives century-old Hindu temple in Banting

Free Malaysia Today

In Kampung Kelanang, Sri Seetharaman Temple has been cared for by a Chinese family for over 40 years.  Written & presented by: Theevya Ragu Shot by: Fauzi Yunus & Andrea Edmonds Edited by: Dinesh Pushparani  Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2024/10/31/how-a-bird-and-visions-made-yong-family-custodians-of-hindu-temple/  Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5 Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTLifestyle #Deepavali2024 #SriSeetharamanTemple #Ramayana #Multicultural

Transcript

00:00Dating back over a hundred years, this Hindu temple in Kampong Kelanang, once hidden among

00:14the trees, now comes to life daily thanks to the devotion of a single Chinese family.

00:30At Sri Sita Raman Temple in Banting, Selangor, first-time visitors are often taken aback

00:52by the sight of 46-year-old Yong Huat Dai performing evening prayers for each deity.

01:01While Yong and his mother care for the temple now, the journey started with his father over

01:0640 years ago.

01:09Growing up near the plantations in Banting, Yong's father once found himself chasing

01:15after a bird.

01:17He followed it through the fields, never expecting where it would lead him.

01:47With their family barely getting by, Yong's father came close to walking away from the

02:01responsibility of maintaining the temple.

02:31Yong Huat Dai, Yong Huat Dai, Yong Huat Dai, Yong Huat Dai, Yong Huat Dai, Yong Huat

02:52Dai, Yong Huat Dai, Yong Huat Dai.

03:09Over time, with the public's support, Yong's family was able to transform the temple from

03:14a simple structure into what it is today.

03:19And after his father's passing during the pandemic, Yong left his high-paying job overseas

03:26to carry on his legacy.

03:28To this day, he vividly remembers the feeling of entering the temple for the first time

03:35without his father.

03:37Welcome home.

03:56My life first time.

03:57Nangis sampai pengsan.

04:07Yong eventually found his own calling with Lord Hanuman, a key deity from the Hindu epic

04:17Ramayana, which forms the origin of Deepavali.

04:21The temple truly embodies multiracial harmony, with Chinese devotees from Klang making their

04:28first visit to this Hindu temple during FMT Lifestyle's visit.

04:33Indeed, the Sri Sita Raman Temple is a cherished place of worship in the community.

05:03It is a temple that has been around for many years, and I would say that it is a very powerful

05:13temple.

05:14I would say that this temple has been in existence for a long time because of its unity.

05:19I only understand one thing.

05:21All religions teach us to be good people.

05:25It doesn't matter what race or creed you are from.

05:31If you have a heart of a Raman, an Anjaneya, you also have a chance to protect this Ramayana.

05:47This temple's tale reminds us that Deepavali's true meaning of the victory of good over evil

05:53comes from standing united despite our differences.

05:56Divya Ragu, FMT Lifestyle.

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