Hindu Temple of Rochester Inc.

Information about this center is no longer updated. This data was last updated on 5 February 2014.

Phone: 585-427-8091
Email: info@hindutempleofrochester.com
Website: http://www.hindutempleofrochester.com
[flickr_set id="72157621818058541"] Research was conducted by Dr. David Reis and the Wells College Pluralism Project

Activities and Schedule

The Temple's Hours are as follows:
Monday through Friday: 9:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. and 4:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
The Temple is closed on Wednesday Some of the activities at the center are:
Diwali Puja Wednesday, Nov. 14th
7-8:30 P.M. Lakshmi Puja
8:30 P.M. Bhog, Aarti & Prasad
Diwali Celebration Saturday November 17th
3-3:30 P.M. Lakshmi Puja
3:30-4:15 P.M. Ramayan Reading
4:15-5 P.M. Bhajans
5-6 P.M.  General Body Meeting and Elections
6:30 P.M. Bhog, Aarti & Prasad followed by dinner  

Monthly PUJA Activities for the Year 2001

1st Saturday
9:45 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Sri Padmavathi & Sri Ventakeshwara (Balaji) Abhishekam
(Sponsorship:$31) 2nd Saturday
9:45 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Sri Ram Parivar Abhishekam & Havan
Ramayan Reading, Bhajans, Archana, (Sponsorship:$31) 3rd Sunday
9:45 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Sri Valli, Sri Devayani & Lord Murugan Abhishekam
Bhajans, Archana (Sponsorship:$31) 4th Saturday
9:45 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Sri Radha Krishna Abhishekam
Geeta Reading, Bhajans, Archana (Sponsorship:$31)
Maa Durga Abishekam - Mata ki Bhente
Bhajans, Archana (Sponsorship:$31) Every Sunday
7:30 P.M. - 8:15 P.M.
Vishnu Sahasranamam Parayan Every Monday
10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
7:00 P.M. - 8:15 P.M.
Shivalinga & Sri Ganesh Abhishekam (Sponsorship:$31)
Ramayan Reading, Hanuman Chalisa, Kirtan & Bhajans Every Tuesday
10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
7:00 P.M. - 8:15 P.M.
Sri Hanuman & Sri Kartikey Abhishekam Bhajans, Archana (Sponsorship:$31)
Hanuman Chalisa, Kirtan & Bhajans Every Wednesday - temple closed, unless there is a special puja ceremony Every Friday
10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
7:00 P.M. - 8:15 P.M.
Sri Lord Vishnu & Sri Lakshmi Abhishekam Bhajans, Archana (Sponsorship:$31)
Rudra & Lalitha Sahasranam Parayan
Every Day: Suprabhatham at 9:00 A.M. and Mangal Aarti at 11:15 A.M. and 8:15 P.M.

Activities and Festivals

Valdihar is a program for children ages three through eighteen that teaches the practices and ideology of Hinduism in a fun and exciting way. Yoga or Meditation classes can also be arranged through the Temple Committee

Celebrations:
DIWALI, or the festival of lights, marks one of the biggest and grandest celebrations in India.  Diwali comes exactly 20 days after Dusshera, on Amavas (new moon), during the dark fortnight of the Indian calendar month of Kartik.  The thirteenth day of the dark fortnight is known as Dhan Teras.  On this day, the children buy crackers, candles, earthen lamps and a hatri (a small house-like structure made of mud).  A pair of earthen Lakshmiji (the goddess of wealth), and Ganeshji (a female goddess) is used for Diwali puja.  Lakshmiji is given great attention because She is supposed to visit everyone during Diwali.  Special foods like papri and deevlas are also made.  The day prior to Diwali is known as Narak Chaturdasi (Chhoti Diwali) and is a celebration.  The puja starts on Chhoti Diwali itself, when the place of worship is decorated with a small chowk made with wet khakri matti.  It is believed that at midnight, Lakshmiji comes down from the heavens in her glittering clothes to brighten homes.  She loves a lot of light and happiness so she visits those houses that are bright and shining.  Because of this, the temple members often decorate their houses with lights during Diwali.

Publication

The Hindu Temple of Rochester is published monthly.  The November 2001 issue, which includes daily schedule, special events and monthly calendar, is listed above.

History

For several years, a group of Indians in the Rochester area would get together and worship together once a month.  In December of 1986, the Board of Trustees made the decision to build a temple in Rochester.  Activity to look for an appropriate site was soon started.  The search ended in the Fall of 1989 when an offer was made to purchase the land at the current site.  The closing to purchase the property was in February 1990.  A site plan was prepared to get the permission from the Town of Henrietta for construction of the Temple.  The approval was given on October 22, 1990.  The contract for construction was awarded in January of 1993 and the construction started in the Spring of 1993.  With the effort of numerous volunteers and community members, the first phase of the construction was completed and the certificate of occupancy for the lower level was given on April 1, 1994.  There were no significant obstacles to the building and establishment of the Hindu Temple of Rochester and today, the temple is a well-established place of worship for approximately 1,000 followers.

Demographics

The Hindu Temple of Rochester is made up of an Indian population ranging in age from young children to the elderly.  Members speak Indian languages and English.

Description

The Hindu Temple of Rochester is a two-story building on a quiet street in Rochester, NY.  The center was newly built in 1993.  The worship and religious services occur on the upper floor (pictured below).  The first floor is used for pre- and post-worship and as a place for gathering as a community.  The first ceremony at the Temple site was on July 10, 1991 when Pujya Sant Morari Bapu came to perform the Bhoomi-Pooja.  Besides a large attendance from the community, seventy-five families participated in this ceremony.