When Rajendra Pandey started volunteering with Vishva Hindu Parishad Australia (South Australia), he aimed to create culturally sensitive services for Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs. He identified a significant need in the South Asian community: a respectful and culturally appropriate location for scattering ashes. This led him to establish Harishchandra Ghat in Adelaide. Pandey explained that, traditionally, Hindus immerse ashes in flowing water after cremation to symbolize returning the body to nature. However, many community members struggled to find suitable sites for this practice, sometimes having to send ashes back to India or wait for the right conditions.
After working with various councils, Pandey secured approval from the Snowden Council. The City of Port Adelaide Enfield has designated Snowden Beach as a site for these ceremonies, allowing them to occur on weekdays from 9-11am without requiring a permit or fee. The council has allocated $75,000 to construct a staircase for safe water access, install bench seating, and place educational signs about this cultural practice. These enhancements aim to improve the overall experience at Snowden Beach, which will now serve as a designated location for dispersing ashes and performing related religious rites along the Port Adelaide River at Largs North.
