Hindu Temple Society of North America
Flushing, Queens, New York City, USA
Also known as: Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam · Ganesh Temple
- Deities
- Ganesha, Venkateswara (Vishnu), Lakshmi, Shiva, Parvati, Durga
- Traditions
- vaishnava, shaiva, shakta
- Worship status
- active
- Coordinates
- 40.7528, -73.8168
- Darshan hours
- Varies by season; consult the temple's own website for the current daily schedule before visiting.
- Best time to visit
- Year-round; the temple is especially active on weekends, when its long-running free community canteen serves thousands.
- How to reach
- At 45-57 Bowne Street, Flushing, Queens, New York City; reachable by the 7 subway line to Flushing-Main Street plus a short walk or bus, or by car.
Location
Open in Google MapsFounded in 1970 by Alagappa Alagappan and fellow devotees who began by meeting in his living room, the Hindu Temple Society of North America built its permanent home in Flushing, Queens on a site that had previously held a Russian Orthodox church, giving the exterior a South Indian temple facade in an unlikely New York City setting. The temple was completed and consecrated on July 4, 1977 — making it, by most accounts, the second-oldest Hindu temple in the United States built by Indian immigrants, after the Pittsburgh Sri Venkateswara Temple — and it was reconsecrated in 2009 after decades of growth. Though centered on Ganesha (giving it its popular name, “the Ganesh Temple”), the sanctum houses more than 40 sacred images spanning Vaishnava, Shaiva and Shakta traditions, including Venkateswara, Lakshmi, Shiva, Parvati and Durga. Long led by president Dr. Uma Mysorekar (since 1994), the temple has become a major cultural anchor for New York’s Hindu community, running a temple canteen since 1993 that serves roughly 4,000 people a week and a youth education center, the Ganesha Patasala, opened in October 1998.
Sources
- historical record: Wave 2 re-verification: coordinates independently reconfirmed via Komoot Photon geocoding, which returns 'Hindu Temple Society of North America' at 45-57 Bowne Street, Queens, NY 11355 (40.7528039, -73.8168949) -- an exact match to this entry's pre-existing coordinates.
- historical record: Wikipedia article 'Hindu Temple Society of North America': the organization was established in 1970 by Alagappa Alagappan and others, who initially met in his living room; the temple building rose on land that had held a Russian Orthodox church, in a design inspired by South Indian temple facades; construction was completed and the temple was consecrated on July 4, 1977, with a reconsecration in 2009; it is described as the second-oldest Hindu temple in the US built by Indian immigrants; the primary deity is Ganesha, alongside more than 40 additional sacred images including Venkateswara, Lakshmi, Shiva, Parvati and Durga; a temple canteen established in 1993 serves roughly 4,000 people weekly; the Ganesha Patasala youth center opened in October 1998; Dr. Uma Mysorekar has served as president since 1994.