Best of Hinduism

Gujarati Temples (Houston, TX) BAPS Swaminarayan Temple Spires Against a Houston Sky (Houston, TX)

Because of the ability of BAPS to plan with the same capacity as a transnational corporation, the Houston complex was constructed in only 16 months. (Photo: E. Allen Richardson/The Pluralism Project)

Priest Makes a Ghee Offering in the Fire at Sri Lakshmi Temple Consecration (Ashland, MA)

Offerings of ghee in the fire at Sri Lakshmi Temple Consecration in Ashland, Massachusetts, 1990

Guru Maa Singing Devotion to Hanuman (Hempstead, NY)

Guru Maa singing devotion to Hanuman at Sri Hanuman Mandir in Hempstead, New York, circa 1990

Guru Maa Singing Devotion to Hanuman (Hempstead, NY)

Guru Maa singing devotion to Hanuman at Sri Hanuman Mandir in Hempstead, New York, circa 1990

Hindu Wedding Ceremony at Hindu Mandir (Minneapolis, MN)

Wedding ceremony at Hindu Mandir in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Photo Credit: Hindu Mandir)

Women Present Gifts to the Gods at Sri Lakshmi Temple (Ashland, MA)

Women present gifts for the gods at Sri Lakshmi Temple in Ashland, Massachusetts

Bharatiya Hindu Temple (Troy, MI)

Vivaha (Hindu Wedding Rite) (Photo: Bill McNeece/The Pluralism Project)

Vivaha Hindu Wedding Rite at Bharatiya Hindu Temple (Troy, MI)

Vivaha (Hindu Wedding Rite) being performed at Bharatiya Hindu Temple in Troy, Minnesota. (Photo: Bill McNeece/The Pluralism Project)

Ganesha (Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill, NC)

sandstone, 11th–12th century Central Indian

Ganesha (Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill, NC)

Sandstone Ganesha Statue located at the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The statue is from the 11th–12th century and is classified as Central Indian.

Hare Krishna Farm (Carriere, MS)

Maharani Granham holds the small statue of Prabupada, the founder of the Hare Krishna Movement, during the morning service at the temple. (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

Morning Services at Hare Krishna Farm (Carriere, MS)

Maharani Granham holds the small statue of Prabupada, the founder of the Hare Krishna Movement, during the morning service at the temple. (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of South Carolina (Columbia, SC)

Larger Ganesha figure sitting on a speaker on the left side of the stage. (Photo: Tracy Wells/The Pluralism Project)

Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of South Carolina (Columbia, SC)

Larger Ganesha figure sitting on a speaker on the left side of the stage at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of South Carolina. (Photo: Tracy Wells/The Pluralism Project)

Home worship (Barrington Heights, IL)

Mrs. Shobha Natrajan Ram lights lamps in front of altar on a Friday evening in March 1998. (Photo: Vasudha Narayanan/The Pluralism Project)

Home worship (Barrington Heights, IL)

Mrs. Shobha Natrajan Ram lights lamps in front of her home altar on a Friday evening in March 1998. (Photo: Vasudha Narayanan/The Pluralism Project)

Hindu Temple Association of Delaware (Hockessin, DE) Kumbha Abhishekam of the Hindu Temple of Delaware (2002)

(Photo: Sarina Pasricha/The Pluralism Project)

Kumbha Abhishekam of the Hindu Temple of Delaware (DE)

Men participate in the Kumbha Abhishekam Hindu ritual to synergize and unite the mystic powers of the deity during temple consecration. (Photo: Sarina Pasricha/The Pluralism Project) 2002

Children Prayer Dance Praising Lord Vishnu

Jan 31st 2010. Prayer dance praising Lord Vishnu by two students during our Hindu Sunday School talent day called 'Divya Pratibha Diwas' which means 'Divine Talent Day' where our students ranging from ages 4 -14 showcase their talent through religious performances. The colorful kites in the background were hand made by our students on the occasion of our Hindu Spring festival 'Makar Sankranti'.

Members of the bride's family wait for the bridegroom's arrival (Gainesville, FL)

December 1997 (Photo: Vasudha Narayanan/The Pluralism Project)

Members of the bride's family wait for the bridegroom's arrival (Gainesville, FL)

Members of the bride's family wait for the bridegroom's arrival during a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony in Gainesville, Florida. December 1997 (Photo: Vasudha Narayanan/The Pluralism Project)

Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville (Virginia)

The Kailash Shrine, dedicated to Lord Nataraja - the Dancing Siva - sits high atop a hill overlooking LOTUS and the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Mandala in a Temple Foyer

A beautiful Mandala in a temple foyer.

Chinmaya Maruti (Andover, MA)

Altar with photograph of Swami Chinmayananda (1916-1993) along with an image of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana. pluralism.org

Cinmaya Maruti (Andover, MA) Chinmaya Maruti Fire Ceremony (Andover, MA)

A monk makes offerings during the Maruti Fire Ceremony at the Chinmaya Mission in Andover, MA. 2010 (Photos: Diana Eck/The Pluralism Project)

Cinmaya Maruti (Andover, MA) Chinmaya Maruti Offerings (Andover, MA)

Monks make offerings and perform the Maruti ceremony at the Chinmaya Mission in Andover, MA. 2010 (Photos: Diana Eck/The Pluralism Project)

Cinmaya Maruti (Andover, MA) Chinmaya Maruti Women Processing (Andover, MA)

Women process during the Maruti ceremony at the Chinmaya Mission in Andover, MA. 2010 (Photos: Diana Eck/The Pluralism Project)

Aerial Photo of the Hindu Temple Grand Opening (Maple Grove, MN)

Aerial view of the procession at the Hindu Temple of Minnesota during the Kumbabishegam (Grand Opening) on June 28, 2009 (Photo Credit: Baskar Gopalan)

Grand Inauguration and Kumbaabhishekam of Chinmaya Mission Andover (Andover, MA)

Saturday, July 25: Guests observe priests perform a ritual around the rangoli pattern. July 2009

Dance. Love. Life. (Cupertino, CA)

This photograph was taken at a family wedding in California. In traditional Gujarati Hindu weddings, the evening prior to the wedding is celebrated with a group dance known as dandia raas (the stick dance). Across the United States, this tradition continues to be practiced by Gujarati-Americans in weddings as well as other celebratory occasions. This is a precious moment captured between the bride and groom just prior to the dandia raas dance. (Photo by: Prerak Shah) pluralism.org

New Year's Ceremony at the Hindu Temple of Minnesota (Maple Grove, MN)

New Year's ceremony at the Hindu Temple of Minnesota in Maple Grove, Minnesota, 2010 (Photo Credit: Baskar Gopalan)

Fahler_JoshHinduTemple

Temple at Dusk (HDR)"): "Sri Meenakshi Temple is in Pearland, south of Houston, Texas amidst farm fields and sprawling housing developments. The Temple's organization has existed since the 1970's"

Sri Meenakshi Temple (Pearland, TX)

Temple at Dusk (HDR)"): "Sri Meenakshi Temple is in Pearland, south of Houston, Texas amidst farm fields and sprawling housing developments. The Temple's organization has existed since the 1970's"

Undergraduates at Harvard University Celebrate Holi (Cambridge, MA)

Gathering under gray skies, Harvard undergraduates gleefully cover one another in bright colors in the 2012 observance of Holi, the Hindu celebration of spring  (Photo Credit: Kris Snibbe)

Swami Narayan Temple (Chicago, IL)

Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Swami Narayan Temple in Chicago, Illinois, 2012 (Photo Credit: Baskar Gopalan)

Ganesh Chaturthi (Queens, NY)

The Hindu community in Flushing, Queens celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi (birthday of Ganesha). As the parade begins, Ganesha is brought from inside the temple, placed on a dais, and attended to by priests while devotees follow in procession. (Photo: Kevin Childress/The Pluralism Project)

Hindu Children at a Festival (New Jersey)

Hindu children dressed in celebratory traditional outfits during a cultural festival celebrating Indian-American heritage. Photo by Schumaker NJ, 8.91 On CD I.22