51-foot statue, tallest of its kind in North America, unveiled in Mississauga

A huge crowd gathered for the inauguration of a 51-foot-statue at a Hindu temple in Mississauga on the weekend.

Shri Ram Murti, a 51-foot tall statue of the Hindu major deity Lord Rama or Ram, was celebrated at the Hindu Heritage Centre, a temple and community centre in Streetsville on Sunday, Aug. 3.

The statue is billed as the tallest of its kind in North America, according to the Hindu Heritage Centre.

The inauguration included a parade, formal ceremony and lunch. Mississauga Road was closed from Britannia Road to Kitimat Road for the parade.

The street was filled with people for the event.

“Massive crowd witnessed the ceremony,” said Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish on X. “A truly spectacular landmark for Mississauga’s Hindu community. All visitors to the site always receive a warm welcome.”

Area Councillor Brad Butt spoke at the ceremony on behalf of the city.

“A wonderful celebration at @hhc_mississauga today for the unveiling of the Lord Ram statue,” Butt said.

Opened in 2011, the Hindu Heritage Centre is the largest Hindu temple and cultural centre in Mississauga. The 25,000 square feet temple serves Hindus from the Greater Toronto Area and features a 10,000 square foot prayer hall, 16 classrooms and a 9,000 square foot banquet hall.

The Shri Ram Murti inauguration follows the unveiling of the 55-foot-tall Hanuman, a Hindu deity, statue outside of the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton.

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