The NY based Federation of Hindu Mandirs and USA Pandit’s Parishad Inc., comprising mostly of Indo Caribbeans hosted the first Caribbean Hindu Mandir Conference in America on Friday evening July 25 and all day Saturday July 26. It brought together Hindu religious leaders, temples executives, scholars, youth leaders, representatives of community organizations and the public from the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean for two days of dialogue and exchange.
The conference opened on the evening of Friday, July 25, and continued throughout Saturday, July 26, at compound of Shri Surya Narayan Mandir, located on 172nd Street, off Jamaica Avenue, in Queens.
The conference was free of cost. Attendees received a gift bag with handouts. There were dinners on Friday and Saturday and breakfast, lunch and snacks in between during panel breaks on Saturday.
Organizers said the conference is designed to strengthen cooperation among Caribbean Hindu mandirs and among Hindus and to preserve the unique traditions of the Caribbean Hindu diaspora in North America and to address opportunities and challenges facing Hindu communities generally.
Featured speakers include Nikunj Trivedi, a nationally recognized NY based Hindu civic leader, and Shawn Binda, a respected Caribbean Hindu community advocate who lives in Toronto. Shri Nikunj is from India. He said the first time he learned about Indo Caribbeans was when he was 19. Indian Caribbean history and migration was and is not taught in schools in India, USA, and Caribbean. Shri Shawn Binda has Trinidadian roots and is married to a Guyanese. He explained his upbringing. Both addressed leadership, challenges facing Hindus, anti Hindu agenda in USA, cultural preservation, youth engagement, the future of Hindu institutions in the Americas, among other issues. Dharmacharya Ram Hardowar and executives of the Federation and the Parishad delivered remarks.
“This conference represents a historic milestone for Caribbean Hindus in the United States,” said the Dharmacharya of Federation of Hindu Mandirs USA Inc. “Our goal is to strengthen our temples, preserve our traditions, inspire future leaders and build lasting partnerships that will benefit our communities for generations.”
Participants and attendees resolved to strengthen unity amongst Hindu organisations and Hindus and to effectively counter the anti Hindu agenda and “prejudice and hatred, biases” against Hindus and Sanatan Dharma. They also feel there should be greater involvement by Hindus in politics. It is felt political involvement and engagement with public representatives to combat anti Hindu narratives. There must be greater interaction amongst Hindus and unity. They must strengthen bonds.
The conference program include keynote addresses, panel discussions, religious observances and networking sessions focusing on temple leadership and management, non profit status, Hindu education, youth development, cultural preservation, and community service.
Participation came from representatives of Hindu mandirs and organizations across New York, New Jersey, Florida, Canada, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and other countries with significant Caribbean Hindu populations.
The Federation of Hindu Mandirs and USA Pandits Parishad are non profit organizations committed to promoting Hindu dharma, supporting Hindu temples, preserving cultural heritage, advancing educational initiatives and fostering unity among Hindu communities throughout the United States and globally.
