Thursday, November 9, 2017

Hindu Temples in Bay area

There are two Hindu temple in Fremont SFO, regular visit is normally a part of daily walk for the sr citizens from india or those living there permanently. Today the temple count in America is touching about 900. According to Hindu American foundation a few decades ago a deity like Balaji would be flanked by Rama and Krishna but now the American - Hindus have exclusive temples for different sects; earlier settlers made temples in abandoned warehouse as there were fewer Indians and with limited resources. A massive surge by the Hindu migrants from 1990 onwards and its affluence have created temples like Shri Swaminarayan mandir in New Jersey and LA, costing over 100 million dollars. A temple in Michigan has a devotee count touching 25000. Most temple of Balaji today are visited by older Hindu- Americans, the second generation Hindu- Americans are not much interested. Another new trend has emerged the devotes desires regular preaching by their Swami - they also feel the need of Hindu moral and spiritual education for their children. This is commendable. Back home the Hindu Bal Kendra for moral and spiritual preaching is yet to take off significantly. Most week ends the Indians in America head to their respective Swami/ Guru places to receive preaching and meditation classes and I feel in couple of years from now Indians in America will not have any need to travel all the way to their home land on pilgrims.

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