Federal Cabinet ministers joined thousands of devotees on August 3 for the unveiling of North America’s tallest Bhagwan Ram murti at a Mandir in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
The statue was unveiled at the Hindu Heritage Centre in Mississauga. Attendees included Minister of Women and Gender Equality Rechie Valdez, President of the Treasury Board Shafqat Ali, and Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu.
Sidhu greeted the crowd with a “Jai Shri Ram” and described the installation of North America’s largest Ram statue as “something to be very proud of.”
Also in attendance were interim Conservative Party leader in the House of Commons Andrew Scheer, along with MPs, provincial ministers, and local officials. The Indian government was represented by Acting Consul General in Toronto Kapidhwaja Pratap Singh.
The statue project, which began four years ago, was made possible by a donation from Indo-Canadian business leader Laj Prasher. The murti’s inauguration was celebrated with a shower of flower petals. Acharya Surinder Sharma Shastri, the centre’s founder and head priest, stated that the statue stands 51 feet tall, excluding the seven-foot pedestal and a future chattri, or umbrella, which they plan to add once the necessary permits are obtained.
Fabricated in Delhi, the fibreglass murti features a steel superstructure designed to last a century and withstand winds up to 200 km/hr. He shared that the team drew inspiration from the inauguration of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, in January 2024. “The installation of this murti is more than a moment of pride—it is a spiritual gift to the community, reminding us that righteousness must always guide our path,” he said.
Although the murti was fabricated in India, it was assembled by local craftsmen in Canada, Shastri explained. Kushagr Sharma, the event’s principal organiser, said, “Seeing over 10,000 people come together in devotion and unity for the unveiling of Shri Ram’s 51-foot murti was truly remarkable. This event was not only a celebration of our faith but also a proud moment for all Canadians who cherish cultural harmony and spiritual heritage.”
He also noted that flights landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga pass low over the Mandir during their descent, making the towering Ram murti one of the first sights to welcome arriving passengers.
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