HINDU TEMPLE SOCIETY of Lehigh Valley 4200 Airport Road, Allentown, PA 18109 Ph: (484) 616-9001 NEWSLETTER November 2018 Volume 31 Issue 11 Om asato maa sadgamaya, tamaso maa jyotirgamaya, mrtyormaa amrtam gamaya...om Saantih,Saantih,Saantih* TEMPLE PROGRAMS Every Tuesday 11:00 AM Jain Samuhik Samayik Every Tuesday 5:30 PM Hanuman Chalisa & Sri Ram Amritvani Recitation Every Friday 7:00 PM Vishnu Sahasranamam chanting Every Sunday 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Last Thursday 3:00 PM Sundarkand Nov 3, Saturday Nov 3, Saturday Nov 4, Sunday Nov 11, Sunday Nov 17, Saturday Nov 18, Sunday Nov 3, Saturday Nov 18, Sunday Nov 4, Sunday Nov 20, Tuesday Nov 5, Monday Bhagavad Gita Vichar Group (details on page 3) 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM Kirtan and Langar 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Ekadashi Pooja Talk by Swami Shantatmananda in Tamil (details on page 5) 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Pradosh Shiva Abhishek 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM Dhanteras Puja (details on page 4) Nov 6, Tuesday 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM Kali Chaudas Puja Nov 7, Wednesday 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM Diwali Puja and Annakut (details on page 6) Nov 8, Thursday 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM Jain Bestu Varsh Snatra Puja ALMANAC (Panchang) Nov 03: Ekadasi Nov 04: Pradosham Nov 18: Ekadashi Nov 20: Pradosham Nov 25: Chaturthi Nov 22: Poornima Jain Almanac Nov 1 - Aso Vad Aatham Nov 5 - Aso Vad Dhan Teras Nov 6 - Aso Vad Chaudas Nov 7 - Aso Vad Amas (Mahavir Niravana Kalyanak) Nov 8 - Kartak Sud Ekam (Gautam Swami Kevalgyan kalyanak) Nov 12 - Kartak Sud Pacham Nov 16 - Kartak Sud Aatham Nov 22 - Kartak Sud Chaudas Nov 30 - Kartak Vad Aatham FORTHCOMING PROGRAMS Dec 9th - Temple Anniversary Dec 18th - Vaikunta Ekadasi Nov 10, Saturday 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM Kannada Deepavali Celebrations Nov 11, Sunday Nov 18, Sunday Nov 17, Saturday Nov 17, Saturday Nov 18, Sunday 9:45 AM - 12:30 PM 9:45 AM - 12:30 PM 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM 06:00 PM - 7:30 PM Balvihar Deepavali Celebrations Balvihar Community Bhajans (details on page 7) Abhisheka Shiv Ling Sthapana (details on page 7) Nov 22, Thursday 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Poornima pooja Satyanarayan Nov 25, Sunday 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Sankat haran Chaturthi pooja TEMPLE TIMINGS Monday - Friday : 10:00 AM - 12:05 PM 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Daily Aarti Timings: 10.00 AM & 7:30 PM For questions and information, please call (484) 616 9001 Please send e-mail to htseditor@gmail.com by the 19th of each month to publish in the following newsletter. Any information received after the 20th cannot be published in the following month For further details, please see next page. 1
TEMPLE ADMINISTRATION Executive Council An Important Announcement In order to reduce expenses, The Hindu Temple Society has decided NOT to mail Annual Reports. If you are a paid member of HTS, and would like to receive an electronic copy of the annual reports, please email Mr. Raman Malhotra at raman@rcn.com!!no PARKING ON THE CURB!! Note the yellow no parking lines next to the curbside of the temple. Violations will be strictly enforced by the local police. **No Eating in the Temple Sanctorum** Only small quantity of dry Prasad is allowed in the temple sanctorum. No plates and cutlery allowed. Please exit out of the temple sanctorum into the main lobby area to eat more Prasad. Please refrain from bringing unused items from your home and leaving it at the temple in boxes President: Shaila Shah 610-706-3233 Vice-President: Jitesh Rohatgi 862-324-2939 Secretary: Sunil Gupta 610-905-1762 Treasurer: Shankar Nataraj 610-530-8027 Asst. Treasurer: Venkata Balabhadra 610-530-7863 Program Director: Nirmala Sivakumar 610-909-7865 Asst Program Director: Pamela Gupta 412-736-6806 Editor: Amita Pallod 484-358-9976 Asst Editor: Balvihar Director: Pratibha Purani 610-390-9316 Balvihar Asst. Dir: Purvi Bhojani 484-903-1954 Comm. Relations Dir: Surender Dayal 610-706-4584 Rasna Patel 732-648-4918 Webmaster: Padmasri Mokkapati 610-504-4837 Asst. Webmaster: Shridhar 630-363-0673 Members-at-large Nirav Shah 215-450-9987 Monica Chibber 610-417-0536 Sameer Phadke 484-695-8761 Rama Abhireddy 732-331-0744 Program Committee Rimmi Dawar 610-261-2050 Geetha Srinivasan 585-704-6879 Rakesh Shroff 610-504-9412 Sujata Singh 610-730-0845 Editorial Committee Aditi Pallod Treasurer Committee Maintenance Committee Satish Patel 646-479-0142 Babilal Chauhan Advertisement in the News Letter Full Page(7.5 x 10 ) $ 70 Half Page (7.5 x 5 ) $ 50 Quarter Page (3.5 x 5 ) $ 30 Temple Tax ID #23-2064729 Please e-mail your ad (in WORD / PUBLISHER ONLY) AS PER THE ABOVE GUIDELINES to the editor htseditor@gmail.com, and send the check payment (made out to Hindu Temple Society) directly to the temple address. Please enter the RENTAL DONATIONS FOR THE TEMPLE (EFFECTIVE FROM AUGUST 2014) MEMBERS NON-MEMBERS Main Level, Lower Level & Kitchen (6 hrs.): $500 $600 Main Temple Hall (up to 4 hrs.) $200 $300 Lower Level & Kitchen (6 hrs.): $350 $450 Lower Level without kitchen (6 hrs.): (Fri,Sat,Sun) $250 $350 Lower Level without kitchen (6 hrs..): (Mon-Thu) (Except Holidays) $150 $250 Kitchen only ( 6hrs): $150 $250 Upper Level, Krishna Room (2 hrs or less) $15 $25 Upper Level, Yamuna Room (2 hrs or less) $15 $25 Upper Level, Ganga Room (2hrs or less) $25 $35 Lower Level, Stage Only (2 hrs or less) $25 $35 A refundable deposit of $100 is required. Each additional hour is $50/hour. Use of the audio system in the temple: $50 $75 *** Audio system must be operated by a qualified person only. *** Chair - Each $0.50 $0.60 Table - Each $5 $6 Visit https://lvhts.org for CURRENT newsletter, donation and other information 2 Board of Trustees Chairman: Pattabi Neelakantan 610-351-1710 Vice Chairman: Chetan Pandya 610-336-0454 Secretary: Vikas Joshi 610-360-1210 Audit Committee: Chetan Pandya - Chair 610-336-0454 Bhailal Shah 610-398-1647 Education Committee: Vindya Ragavachari - Chair 610-614-0929 Gayatri Ray 610-776-8110 Finance Committee: Chandra Swaminathan 610-481-9528 Vikas Joshi 610-360-1210 Chatargy Kaza 610-614-0128 Membership and Community Relations: Chatargy Kaza 610-614-0128 Pratima Patel 610-694-0504 Vindya Ragavachari 610-614-0929 Kripa Sngh 610-391-1540 Projects & Planning Committee: Kripa Singh Chair 610-391-1540 Pratima Patel 610-694-0504 Vikas Joshi 610-360-1210 Members-at-Large: Ex-Officio Member: Shaila Shah 610-706-3233 Publication Identification Title: HTS News Letter Issue Date: Monthly / November 2018 Issue No: Volume: 31; Issue # 11 Published by: Hindu Temple Society, 4200 Airport Road, Allentown, PA 18109
TEMPLE BULLETIN BOARD BHAGAVAD GITA VICHAR GROUP Bhagavad Gita and Vedanta Studies Group Sessions are held every Thursday, 7:30 PM to 09:00 PM and 10:30 AM - 12 PM every Saturday in the Krishna Room, Temple. Text : Bhagavad Gita Home Study by Swami Dayanandaji TEMPLE BULLETIN BOARD Vishnu Sahasranamam chanting Every Friday 7:00PM NEW!! Every month Pujas on occasions will be performed by Pundit Sri Anandji Sastrigal Everybody with background and interest in these studies is welcome to join any time. For additional questions, please contact : Dipak Choudhuri, Tel 484-597-0981 E-mail: choudhuridipak@yahoo.com Sundarkand Last Thurs day of every month at 3:00 PM PUJA PROGRAM Pandit Sri Anandji Sastrigal will be performing the following Pujas this month Nov 03, Saturday Nov 18, Sunday Nov 04, Sunday Nov 20, Tuesday Nov 22, Thursday 6:30-7:30 PM Ekadashi Pooja (Vishnu Sahasranama Archana followed by Arathi) Sponsors are solicited 6:30-7:30 PM Pradosh Pooja (Abhisheka to Lord Shiva followed by Arathi) Sponsors are welcome 6:30-7:30 PM Pournami Pooja (Satyanarayna Pooja and Katha: story telling of Lord Satyanarayna in Hindi or English followed by Aarathi) Devotees are welcome to sponsor the pooja Nov 25, Sunday 6:30-7:30 PM Sankat Haran Chathurthi Pooja (Ganesh Pooja and Arathi) Sponsorship open 3
DHANTERAS PUJA Monday, 5th November, 6:30 PM At Hindu Temple Society 4200 Airport Road, Allentown, PA 18109 Dhanteras, also known as Dhanatrayodashi or Dhanvantari trayodashi marks the beginning of the festival of Diwali. On Dhanteras, homes that have not yet been cleaned in preparation for Diwali are thoroughly cleaned and whitewashed, and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is worshipped in the evening. The main entrance is decorated with traditional rangoli designs. Small footprints are drawn with rice flour all over the house, to symbolize the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi. Diyas (lamps) are ritually kept burning all through the night. According to legend, during samudra manthan (churning of the ocean) by the devas and a suras, Dhanavantar emerged from the ocean carrying the jar of amrit on this day. Hence, this is the day to celebrate health, wealth and abundance. People buy gold, silver, metal and kitchen ware. On the auspicious day of Dhanteras, just as old things have to be discarded to make space for new, let us cleanse our mind of negativity and rigid beliefs and bring in positive and uplifting thoughts. Please join us with family for Dhanteras Puja. To sponsor, or for more info call Priest Anandji (512) 545 9657 4
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DIWALI PUJA & ANNAKUT Wednesday, 7th November At Hindu Temple Society 4200 Airport Road, Allentown, PA 18109 Hindu Temple Society cordially invites you with family to the Diwali Puja at 6:30 P.M, followed by dinner Puja Sponsorship : $151.00 To sponsor puja please contact : Nirmala Sivakumar (610) 909 7865 or Neela Bera (610) 417 1068 or Shaila Shah (484) 347 7749 6
Hindu Temple Presents Community Bhajans Followed by lunch Time: 11:00 AM When: Saturday Nov 17th, 2018 Cost: FREE Location: Temple Main Hall 4200 Airport Rd Allentown, PA 18109 Spend some quality time your family and friends at the mandir for an hour of beautiful devotional music followed by delicious lunch SPECIAL GUEST: Harish Tailor on Banjo Music will be presented by Lehigh Valley's own talented artists. They will present a program of bhajans and other devotional songs. It will be led by Sh. Vinay Mishra, who learnt hindustani classical music from Pandit Mukesh Desai at the Arsha Vidya Gurukulum. They will be accompanied by Sh. Dharam Sookram, a talented Tabla & Dholak player who hails from a family of priests and musicians. For Sponsorship: Contact Surender Dayal 610-392-5851 or Sushir Gandotra 570-620-6219 Hindu Temple Society invites you to Abhisheka Shiv Ling Sthapana followed by Talks on Rudhram by Swami Shantatmananda of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam Saturday, Nov. 17 & Sunday, Nov. 18 Session 1: Saturday, Nov 17 (6:00 7:30 pm) Swamiji will lead chanting of Rudhram and perform Sthapana of Abhisheka Shiv Ling. He will continue the session with a talk on Rudhram, and its meaning. Session 2: Sunday, Nov 18 (6:00 7:30 pm) Swamiji will conclude the talk on Rudhram What is the significance? From now onward, devotees will be able to perform abhishek to Shiv Ling when they visit the temple and receive Iswara s grace. Kindly sponsor the event: Yajman: $101 Regular Sponsorship: $25 To sponsor, or for more info call Priest Anandji (512-545-9657) 7
Dear Friends, Wishing you and your family Happy Diwali. It is the time to enjoy the festivities with your family and friends. It s time to count one s blessings and be thankful for what we been blessed with. During this festive time, as you make your charitable donations, please remember our Hindu Temple as well. Over the years we have grown in every dimension including building capacity and community base. For the benefit of the community, our temple conducts various religious pujas and havans, Balvihar for the children, spiritual discourses, yoga and meditation classes, festivals and cultural programs. It also serves as a center for cultural activities such as dance classes, music classes, etc. All of these are possible only due to your generous and continued support. The temple has been serving the community for more than 30 years. With time, comes new demands. All our major appliances have started showing their age. We have painted the sanctums and the main hall. Replaced the carpet and the doors. We are in the process of replacing the HVAC. We can meet all these needs ONLY with your continued financial support.. We need your help. You can make a donation using a credit card at our web site http://lvhts.org/. For your convenience, you can make automatic payments annually or monthly (receive receipt by email) on our website. You can also fund any specific maintenance or upgrade project that temple has in the plan. Thank you for your continued financial support over the years. Donation Form Below HINDU TEMPLE SOCIETY 4200 Airport Road, Allentown, PA 18109; (610) 264-2810 Name: Spouse Name: Address: Telephone: E-mail: (Membership : $151 Gift For a Day: $401 Other: Multiple Days: $1000 $2000 Patron: $5000 ) Total Donation $ Please mail your Tax Deductible Donation to HTS at the above address; or go to www.lvhts.org to pay by credit card. Make your Annual Tax Deductible Contribution to the Hindu Temple Today!!! 8
Hindu Youth Association HYA Newsletter November 2018 DIWALI BAZAAR The Diwali Bazaar is a carnival event at the Temple where HYA was in charge of one booth for fundraising. We sold an assortment of Indian and American Sweets and kept fun games, which appealed to kids and adults. The Diwali Bazaar expanded HYA s community outreach and was a fun and great event overall. Garba Night Garba is a traditional high energy Gujrati dance. Traditionally, it is performed during the nineday Hindu festival Navaratri. HYA hosted Garba night in the temple on October 12th (7-11pm). The event was a great success. Attendees were engaged in a fun group dance with the authentic music while also connecting with the dance s historic roots. Join HYA Today! HYA is an opportunity for kids to volunteer, learn about their culture and have fun. If any of your children are 13 or older then joining HYA will broaden your horizons to a new level. If you are interested or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any of our officers. It s a great opportunity to make new friends! Elections for new Leadership roles coming soon! Officers: Aditi Pallod - President (484-358-9976) Nehali Gupta - Vice President (610-653-7092) Aman Malik - Treasurer (610-737-4254) 9 Divisha Singh - Secretory (484-626-2786) Rhear Malhotra - Editor (484-866-0282) Vikas Malik - Advisor (610-304-4518)
The Hindu Temple Society 4200 Airport Road, Allentown, PA 18109 (610) 264-2810 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED... Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Lehigh Valley, PA Permit No.22 2018 HTS Upcoming Events Temple Anniversary - Dec 9th Vaikunta Ekadasi - Dec 18th Mark your calendar for these grand HTS events and look out for further updates in the HTS email blasts and the newsletter. Temple: (484) 616 9001 For temple related information and donations, please ONLY go to https://lvhts.org/ To obtain electronic copy of the newsletter, please send your email address to htseditor@gmail.com. GO GREEN 10