Bharat Bhumi is rich with temple structures.
Many temples have been erected outside Bharat as well. One such temple is the Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam temple located in Queens, in New York City. This temple is run and maintained by The Hindu Temple Society of North America, established in 1970. Construction of the temple was completed in 1977. This is also called the Flushing Temple.
The temple is constructed using granite. The design of the temple’s exterior was inspired by the face of traditional Hindu temples found in South India. The temple resembles the iconic image in the Hindu minds. Along with the main deity Ganesa there are idols of Lord Balaji, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Lord Hanuman and Sri Nagendra Swamy. Temple includes a dhwaja stambha and a gopuram (lofty tower).
Other than housing the rituals of ‘pooja’ the temple structures have been performing so many additional functions back home in Bharat, such as providing space for social gatherings, presenting a platform for expression of art to dancers, sculptures, musicians and many others. In many temples in rural India the decisions against disputes are given by the priest and they obeyed by all the parties in disagreement, thus helping in maintaining law and order in the society.
Apart from all these functions the temples on foreign land cater to the emotional quest of the nostalgic Hindu community staying away from the motherland. Every citizen who is away from Bharat is always connected at heart with the Homeland, loves her and has a deep respect for Bharat. temple ambience becomes the place to showcase it.
Never realised it until I visited Flushing Ganesh Temple.
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