Community open house at Shree Swaminarayan Temple

SECAUCUS – The Shree Swaminarayan Temple at 200 Penhorn Ave. will host a community open house on Saturday, Oct. 25 for the residents of Secaucus and surrounding communities to celebrate Diwali and the Indian New Year. Everyone is welcome to tour the temple and learn more about the organization.
The temple, built in 2001, serves as the North American headquarters for the Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan. They will welcome guests from noon to 3 p.m. on Oct. 25 with English tours of the temple facility every 30 minutes and informational presentations on Hinduism, Diwali, and temple activities. An interactive fair will also be held in Swamibapa Community Hall featuring booths on Indian music, vegetarianism, traditional Indian instruments, henna/mehndi, Indian dance, rangoli/sand art, sports activities, and more. A delicious complimentary lunch and dinner will be provided. The temple will feature a magnificent, grand Annkut (literally a “mountain of food”) with hundreds of vegetarian food offerings to Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa. Members of Swamibapa Pipe Band, North America’s first Indian American bagpipe band, will also be showcasing American and Indian musical selections.
A traditional cultural program in Gujarati will follow from 3 to 6 p.m., including religious discourses and a special presentation on tree and environmental protection. State and local government officials and Indian community leaders are scheduled to join the festivities.

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