Sri Katpaga Vinayagar Hindu Temple — Attraction in Brampton

We've been visiting this temple every year for the past 10 years for 'Ellu vilakku' burning during Purattasi Sani. Today was the worst experience.

This goes on to express my worst interaction with the skinny old priest and all is business transaction. We did not purchase any Archanai ticket today since we already had one during our visit yesterday. He had completed his archanai for Saniswaran and came out with the burning vilakku. He only presented the vilakku to the person in front of us who had bought the archanai ticket. When my wife went over to just touch the vilakku to pray (merely a second), he immediately refused and asked her 'what do you want'. As my wife responded that she just want to touch the vilakku to quick pray, he said this is only for those who had purchased archanai ticket. He wanted us to purchase a ticket just for that 1 second pray. It's not like we can't buy any tickets, but there's no reason for me buy another the next day and there's no absolute reason for me to justify to him that I had purchased one the day before.

I don't know if this was management direction, but that priest is extremely rude and clearly indicated this place is all about Pay per Pray transaction!!

We've been going to many temples all around GTA, but none turned away the vilakku from letting the waiting devotees pray on it.

We have not ever experienced this type of rudeness, only when you are entitled with a purchased ticket. Absolute business!!

I had even brought my kids who are starting to learn about culture and religion, and now they had witnessed that temples are just plain business and not a place to worship unless you pay up. They've been asking us if this is the normal process at temples.

We're not the only one who were treated this way today. We even witnessed another elderly lady who was questioned 4 times about whether she had purchased a ticket.

Anyways, this situation today had taught us that this place only let's you worship if you are able to afford a ticket.

Hope the management sets this particular priest straight or they will be losing more visitors. I've already complained to the management today in person right away, so they know who I'm...

If you’re looking for a positive and peaceful experience, I would not recommend visiting this temple. Our visit was deeply disappointing due to the behaviour of one individual who, to be clear, wasn’t a priest and I’m unsure of his actual role in the temple’s management.

After attending the pooja, the four of us sat quietly for about ten minutes to reflect. That’s when a man (tall, heavy, brown skinned, wearing glasses) approached us and asked us to leave. He accused us of coming to ‘enjoy’ rather than pray, which felt unfair and uncalled for. We had just finished our prayers and were sitting respectfully.

He also complained that we were talking and using our phones. While I did briefly answer a call earlier, a different staff member kindly informed me that phone use isn’t allowed, so I stepped outside to take the call and returned. After that, we made sure not to use our phones. In fact, when the other heavy man came to us, we were simply checking the time on an analog watch, not a phone.

Can the management prove us with all your surveillance you guys have with you to support your guy? We strongly feel we were misjudged and treated unfairly by someone whose authority and intentions are questionable.

It’s hard to believe any place with someone like this can truly carry a divine presence. If you’re seeking a spiritual or positive experience, I would strongly advise against visiting this temple. There are other temples nearby.

PS: The guy appeared to have prasads meant for two or more people; while 4 of us were able to...

Similar to other low-rated reviews, I also had an unpleasant encounter with the manager/owner. Avoid him at all costs if you want a divine and calm experience.

Here are some of the issues I noted at this religious institute:

Priests openly ask for money — and on top of that, they also request donations for the kitchen staff.

The manager/owner is consistently unpleasant. Poor people skills, and it’s unclear how he ended up in such a role.

Stingy with donated food. Unlike other temples where food is generously provided or left out for visitors, this place hides it in the kitchen. Our group of 6 received only 1 parcel of food.

No improvements in over 10 years. I wonder where all the donations are going.

Do the math — for a divine and peaceful experience, where your donations are actually put to good use, I recommend you...