In this article: The Hindu Temple of Saint-André – Colors of Faith on Réunion Island
During a three-week journey across Réunion Island in 2002, we visited the Temple du Colosse in Saint-André under a brilliant blue sky — one of the island’s most magnificent Hindu temples. It stands on a wide, green meadow, surrounded by palm trees and sugarcane fields — a place whose colorful stillness leaves a deep impression.
A Temple in the South Indian Tradition
The temple is dedicated to the goddess Pandialé and was built in the early 1990s by Tamil craftsmen from Madras. Its architecture follows the South Indian style: a tall, figure-adorned Gopuram, its tiers rising above one another, glowing in turquoise, rose, ochre, and green. Each level tells stories in reliefs and sculptures from Hindu mythology — of Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha, and the many manifestations of divine energy.
Between Light and Stillness
As we entered the temple, a delicate scent of incense filled the air. A priest walked barefoot through the forecourt, preparing flower offerings and smiling as we paused for a moment. The sun blazed, the light shimmered on the polished stones, and the vibrant colors of the Gopuram shone so intensely that they seemed almost unreal.
Syncretism and Memory
In many ways, Réunion is a place of encounters: African, Indian, Chinese, and European roots blend here into a cultural mosaic where religions do not oppose each other but coexist. The temple of Saint-André expresses this harmony — a visible sign that spirituality here does not divide but connects.
Those who visit the Temple du Colosse should take their time — not only to admire the architecture, but to sense what it represents: the continuity of remembrance. The Tamil workers who came to Réunion in the 19th century brought their faith with them, built their temples, kept their rituals alive — and thus created something that still radiates today.
A Day to Remember
The day of our visit remains unforgettable: the bright light above the sea, the green of the island, the glow of the colors. In that moment, everything seemed connected — the people, the place, and what they believed.
