This issue is dedicated to all our donors and volunteers

SANDESH The newsletter of The Hindu Society of NE Florida - A Non-Profit, Tax Exempt Religious, Cultural & Educational Association VOUME XXI, ISSUE 1 Mar, Apr, May 17 Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha (Dharma Protects those who protect it) Special Events HOLI CELEBRATION Sunday, March 12 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS Sunday, March 26 UGADI CELEBRATION Tuesday, March 28 RAM NAVAMI CELEBRATION Wednesday, April 5 MAHAVIR JAYANTHI CELEBRATIONS Sunday, April 9 HANUMAN JAYANTHI CELEBRATIONS Tuesday, April 11 VAISHAKHI POORNIMA CELEBRATION Wednesday, May 10 MOTHERS DAY CELEBRATION Sunday, May14 What s Inside? Financial Summary Page 4 Chairperson s Message Page 5 Head Priest s Message Page 9 Quarterly Calendar Pages 13-14 Pooja Rates Page 18 This issue is dedicated to all our donors and volunteers

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HSNEF Board Chair Raghu Chatrathi chair@hsnef.org Vice Chair Vamsee Srikakolapu vc@hsnef.org Secretary Sandip Gupta secretary@hsnef.org Treasurer Kalyan Kandlakunta treasurer@hsnef.org Worship Tracy Khona jaxtemple2013@gmail.com Maintenance Vipan Kalhan Education Chitra Pudhokode Bal Vidya Mandir Krish Seetharaman Priest Pt. Kadambi Srinathji 2017 Executive Board Raghu Chatrathi (708) 207-8786 Kalyan Kandlakunta 534-3799 Sandip Gupta 268-2050 Tracy Khona 382-2321 Chitra Pudhucode 571-6851 Raj Satyanarayana 233-6205 Sangita Harton 434-1929 Vipan Kalhan 233-8266 Vinod Malhotra 201-1948 Vamsee Srikakolapu (561) 628-3157 Sunil Shah 982-7999 Saraswati Singh 993-8116 2017 Advisory Council Mani Perumal Gyan Joshi Rajat Sharma Nandu Shah Krishna Hanchate Sarath Kuravi ADVERTISING IN SANDESH Advertising in Sandesh is an excellent opportunity for business owners and professionals looking for exposure among local Indian community. It is a quarterly publication reaching Indian community households in the Jacksonville area. Sandesh publication is also available online at. The rates for advertising per issue in Sandesh are as follows: Full Page: $100 Half Page:$75 Quarter Page:$50 First and Last Page (inside) Full: 200 Half: 150 Last Page (outside) Full: 250 RENTAL FACILITY The Temple facility is available for private events, personal functions and social gatherings on first come first served basis and at a cost. Please avail of the facility and help the temple by optimally using the existing facility. Please contact Office Administrator at temple office (904) 268-7630 or office@hsnef.org for bookings. For rates, please see Page 22. Admin Asha Sharma Sreelakshmi Manne Shilpa Vather ofice@hsnef.org Sandesh Editor Anita Mandal Ripples Mentor Suraksha Jhalani Facebook: Jax Hindu Temple - HSNEF Questions, comments or concerns office@hsnef.org (904) 268-7630 Hindu Society of NE Florida 4968 Greenland Road, Jacksonville, FL 32258 Phone: 904-268-7630, Temple Timings Morning Timings : 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Weekdays Evening Timings : 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM (Summer) and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Winter) Weekend Timings : 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM (Summer) and 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Winter) Page 3

Hindu Society of N.E. Florida Highlights: Wells Fargo Bank Balance as on. 12/31/2015 $ 122,277.27 Wells Fargo Bank Balance as on. 12/31/2016 $ 337,522.08 Money in Emergency Fund 12/31/2016 $ 16,676.22 Year-2016 Income Jan-Dec 2016 Oct-Dec 2016 Annual Gala Pledge $38665.00 $38665.00 Bank interest $112.88 $36.91 Classes Income $4785.00 $90.00 Future Kitchen $16499.75 $4349.00 General Donation $127,098.87 $40011.00 Hundi $83,257.00 $24,933.00 Capital Income $48503.00 $20350.00 Membership $37380.19 $4568.00 Pooja $61659.00 $10633.00 Rental of Temple Facilities $13144.00 $2005.00 Sandesh Income $4026.00 $2500.00 Special Events $59196.00 $18189.26 Total Income $494,327.06 $166,330.17 Expense Capital Expenses $22183.51 $711.55 Classes Expenses $824.34 $0.00 Credit Card charges $4581.26 $982.26 Employee /Consul. Benefits $18607.90 $5619.62 Employees Salary 91972.79 $25626.03 License & Fees $1676.25 $1550.00 Maintenance $51259.37 $6272.24 We will be sending a Thank You letter to all those who have contributed $250 or more in the year 2015. If you do not get the letter please contact us at the temple. Always collect receipt for payment made in cash We request you to pay big amounts by check. For credit card receipt must be issues for payment over $21. For payment of $21 or less by credit card receipt will be issued on request. Help us correct our records of your contribution for life membership. Please verify the contribution amount in our record. For resolving the gaps please inform and produce evidence. Please volunteer for Kar Seva. Check with office for schedule. Pooja Related Regular Expenses $3492.72 $791.00 Publications, Print & Postage $2274.63 $85.63 Property Insurance $16078.28 4033.53 Special Events Exp. $32185.77 $13299.49 Supplies (Office + General) $4323.44 $287.05 Taxes - Payroll + Others $1609.82 $878.62 Utilities $19,493.05 $4,844.59 Workers Comp. $1421.00 $0.00 Total Expenses $271,984.13 $64,921.61

Message from HSNEF Chair Namaste Wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year!!! On behalf of our community, I would like to thank the outgoing members of the Executive Board and Advisory Committee for their contributions to Hindu Society of North East Florida. I would also like to welcome the new Executive Board and Advisory Committee members. With the community help and EB and AC leadership we hope to build on prior year successes and make 2017 another successful year. This year we will achieve an important milestone 10th year of our temple at the current location. We want to thank the countless individuals whose contributions helped create HSNEF and built the temple as a place for us to congregate and offer worship. These 10 years have significantly increased the size of our congregation. In order to accommodate the increased size of the congregation we have embarked on a temple expansion plan. During the Annual General Body meeting conducted on November 12th, the temple expansion plans were presented and approved. The approved plan is included in this magazine. In 2017 one of the goals is to complete the parking lot expansion and the temple needs your financial support to achieve the goal. A big thank you to all the members that are working on the temple expansion plan. We have started implementing the new safety and security procedures during major religious events to enhance both the religious experience and the safety of the devotees. The response from the congregation has been highly complementary. We will continue to evaluate this policy after each major religious event and make adjustments as necessary. Thanks to the generosity of the community we raised close to $60,000 during the annual gala event that took place on December 3rd at UNF Robinson Theater. Others have done their part to raise funds as well. Mata Rani devotees raised over $10,000 and Navratri celebrations raised over $3,500. Eat for a good cause (EFGC), an effort started in 2015 to raise funds for a new kitchen, raised over $16,000 in 2016. A big thank you to everyone who is contributing to the success of HSNEF. Ripples, the youth volunteer organization started in 2015, successfully conducted a children s day carnival on November 12th at the temple premises and raised over $4,000 for HSNEF. More importantly over 50 young adults volunteered at the event. These young adults are going to be the future of HSNEF. Thank you Team Ripples. Please renew your annual temple membership ($121) for 2017 or consider upgrading to a life member ($5000). Your support helps HSNEF provide the religious, social, educational and other services to the community. Please also consider supporting the temple expansion plan by sponsoring a brick for $1001. You can become a member and donate by going to the temple website, by calling the temple office at (904) 268-7630, or by visiting the temple. Membership and donation forms are included in this magazine. A list of life members, 2016 annual members and 2016 donors is included in this magazine. Thank you for your continued support of HSNEF. Please consider volunteering at the temple. We are always looking for individuals who can help with temple maintenance activities, parking and temple setup for major religious events and other activities. Please send an email with your availability and interest to office@hsnef.org. Finally change is coming to our beloved Sandesh magazine. Starting from this issue, Sandesh is only going to be available online and can be found on the HSNEF website under Services. Sincerely Raghu Chatrathi HSNEF 2017 Executive Board Chair Page 5

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Message from Head Priest WISH YOU ALL HAPPY UGADI, GUDIPADVA, TAMIL NEW-YEAR DAY, VISHU, BAISHAKHI AND SHRI RAMNAVAMI CELEBRATIONS Hari Om Wish you all Happy Gudipadva, Ugadi and Temple s 10 th anniversary Celebrations. The Hindu Society of NE Florida wishing you all for the tenth anniversary of our Temple. Community is growing very faster and the temple is visited by many devotees. Let us join to improve the facilities of our Temple and serve best our congregation. The Tenth anniversary of our Temple will be celebrated on March 26th with Maha Ganapati Havan and Ganesh Abhishek. Special Saraswati Pooja for Children will be conducted on 26 th of March 2017. This Saraswati puja is the special highlight of our Temple. Please see the special event of Sandesh for the details, and sponsor the event. Please bring your children for puja the Temple will provide all samagri for puja. The next upcoming event is Gudipadva,Ugadi & Naya Samvat celebrations which will be celebrated on 28 th Tuesday March 2017. Please see the special programs for details. The second Mathaki Chowki Puja of the year will be celebrated on Saturday 1 st April 2017 3 to 7 pm. This year Shri Ram Navami falls on Wednesday, 5 th April 2017. Please see the special events page for the detail program. Sri Ram Navami special Sri Sitha Rama Kalyana Mahotsavam will be celebrated on Saturday 8 th April 5 to 7pm. On 9 th April Mahavir Swami Jayanthi will be celebrated. Ram Navamai Akhhand Ramayan Path will be celebrated on 15 th and 16 th of April 2017. Ramayan Path begins on April 15 th and ends with Mahapoornahuti on 16 th 2017. The devotees interested in participating Ramayan Path please call the Temple to schedule ahead of time. On 14 th April, Baisakhi and Soura Samvatsaradi (Tamil New Year s Day) will be celebrated in the evening 6-8 pm with puja. Hanuman Jayanti will be celebrated on Tuesday April 11 th 2017, from 1.00-8.00 pm offering 101 times of Hanuman Chalisa. In the morning, Hanuman Havan will be performed at 9.00-12.00 noon. We are going to celebrate Vaishakha Poornima Samuhikha Satyanarayana Puja on Wednesday 10 May 2017 6.00-8.00 pm. Annamacharya Jayanthi special Annamacharya Sankirtana celebration on Saturday May 6 th, starting from 1.00 pm to 6.00 pm Lots of religious and cultural events are coming up in our Temple. During this time the Temple needs more annadaan s Please come forward and sponsor anna daan. Please participate in all the events and be blessed by Lord Ganesha and all the forms of the One Almighty. With Divine thoughts, Pandit Kadambi Shrinathji Director of Worship Services Pradhana Acharya HSNEF

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Address: 4236 St Johns Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32216 Page 12

Mar-17 MAR 1st WED Vainayaki Ganesh Abhishek 6.00-8.00 PM MAR 4th SAT Sri Venkateswara Suprabhata Seva 9.30-10.00 AM Shri RamParivarPooja 10.30-11.45 AM MAR 5th SUN Ganesh Abhishek 9.30-11.00 AM MAR 11th SAT Sri Venkateswara Suprabhata Seva 9.30-10.00 AM Devi Pooja 11.00-11.45 AM MAR12th SUN Shiv Pooja 9.15-10.30 AM Jain Samavesh 10.30-11.30 AM Holi Celebrations Holika Dahan 6.30-7.30 PM MAR15th WED Sankataharana Chaturthi Ganesh Abhishek 6.00-8.00 PM MAR 18th SAT Sri Venkateswara Suprabhata Seva 9.30-10.00 AM Shri Venkateswar Abhishekam & Pooja 10.00-11.45 AM MAR 15th SUN Sri Satyanarayan Pooja 9.30-11.00 AM MAR 24th FRI Mahapradosha Shiva Abhishek & Puja 6.00-8.00 PM MAR 25th SAT Sri Venkateswara Suprabhata Seva 9.30-10.00 AM Sri Lakshminarayana Pooja 10.30-11.45 AM MAR 26th SUN Ganesha Temple Sthapana 10th Anniversory (see special events page) MAR 28th TUE UGADI, GUDIPADVA & VASANT NAVARATRI CELEBRATIONS MAR 31st FRI Vainayaki Ganesh Abhishek 6.00-8.00 PM Apr-17 APR 1st SAT Sri Venkateswara Suprabhata Seva 9.30-10.00 AM Shri RamParivarPooja 10.30-11.45 AM Vasant Navratri Shri Mata Rani Chowki Puja 3.00-7.00 PM APR 2nd SUN Ganesh Abhishek 9.30-11.00 AM APR 5th WED Shri Ram Navami Celebrations, (see Spl.Events) APR 8th SAT Sri Venkateswara Suprabhata Seva 9.30-10.00 AM Devi Pooja 11.00-11.45 AM Shri Rama Navami Kalyana Utsava Cele- 5.00-7.00 PM APR 9th SUN Shiv Pooja 9.15-10.30 AM Mahavir Swami Jayanti Celebrations 10.30-11.45 AM APR 11th TUE Hanuman Jayanthi Celebrations See Special Events APR 14th FRI Baishakhi & Tamil New Years Day 5.00-8.00 PM Sankataharana Chaturthi Ganesh Ab- 6.00-8.00 PM APR 15th SAT Shri Ram Navami Celebrations, Akhand Ramayan Begins (see Spl.Events) APR 16th SUN Akhand Ramayan Poornahuti See special events APR 22nd SAT Sri Venkateswara Suprabhata Seva 9.30-10.00 AM Sri Lakshminarayana Pooja 10.30-11.45 AM APR 23rd SUN BalaKrishna Pooja&Shrimadbhagavat Pravachan 10.30-11.45 AM Jain Samavesh 10.30-11.30 AM APR 24th MON Mahapradosha Shiva Abhishek & Puja 6.00-8.00 PM APR 29th SAT Regular Puja 9.00 AM-1.00 PM APR 30th SUN Regular Puja 9.00 AM -1.00 PM Page 13

May-17 MAY 6th SAT Sri Venkateswara Suprabhata Seva 9.30-10.00 AM Shri RamParivarPooja 10.30-11.45 AM MAY 7th SUN Ganesh Abhishek 9.30-11.00 AM May 10th WED Vaishaka Poornima Samuhika satya pooja 6.00-8.00 PM MAY 13th SAT Sri Venkateswara Suprabhata Seva 9.30-10.00 AM Devi Pooja 11.00-11.45 AM MAY 14th SUN Mother's Day & Shiv Pooja 9.15-10.30 AM Jain Samavesh 10.30-11.30 AM Mother's Day Shri Durga Puja 11.00 AM- Sankataharana Chaturthi Ganesh Ab- 6.00-8.00 PM MAY 21st SAT Sri Venkateswara Suprabhata Seva 9.30-10.00 AM Shri Venkateswar Abhishekam & Pooja 10.00-11.45 AM MAY SUN Sri Satyanarayan Pooja 9.30-11.00 AM May 23rd MON Mahapradosha Shiva Abhishek & Puja 6.00-8.00 PM MAY 27th SAT Sri Venkateswara Suprabhata Seva 9.30-10.00 AM Sri Lakshminarayana Pooja 10.30-11.45 AM MAY 28th SUN BalaKrishna Pooja&Shrimadbhagavat Pravachan 10.30-11.45 AM Jain Samavesh 10.30-11.30 AM Vainayaki Ganesh Abhishek 6.00-8.00 PM Page 14

Up Coming Special Events for MAR, APR & MAY 2017 HOLI CELEBRATIONS Sunday 12 th March 2017 Holika Dahan & Pooja, 6.30 7.30 PM Shri Ganesha Mandir Sthapana 10 th Anniversary Celebrations Sunday Mar 26 th 2017 To be announced with Special program for 10th Anniversary of HSNEF Anniversary Special Samuhik Children Saraswati Puja Sunday March 26 th 2017 11.00 am to 12.00 Noon Followed by arati and prashad UGADI GUDIPADVA NAYA SAMVAT CELEBRATIONS Tuesday March 28 th 2017 UGADI Special Ganesh Abhishek 9.00-9.30 am, Followed by Arati & Prashad EVENING Vasant Navaratri Begins, Kalasha Sthapana & Pooja 5.00-6.00 pm. Panchanga Pooja & Panchang Shravan 6.00-6.30 P.M.. Sarva Darshan 6.30-9.00 pm and Evening 6.30 7.30 and 8.30 Arati service during Sarvadarshan (Valmiki Ramayan Path & Chandi Path will be observed 6.00-7.00 P.M. from March 29th through April 4th ) Saturday, 1 st April 2017 Vasant Navratri Matha Rani Chowki Puja 3.00 PM to 7.00 PM RAM NAVAMI CELEBRATIONS Wednesday 5 th April 2017 (REAL DAY) Shri Ram Parivar Abhishek 9.30 11.00 am Shringar and Arati 11.30am 12.00 Noon Evening Sarva Darshan 6.30-9.00 pm and 6.30 7.30 and 8.30 pm Arati service during Sarvadarshan RAM NAVAMI CELEBRATIONS Saturday 8 th April 2017 (REAL DAY) Shri Sita Rama Kalyana Mahotsavam 5.00-7.00 P.M. Shri Ram Navami Celebrations & Akhand Ramahyan Path AKHAND RAMAYAN PATH March 15 th & April 16 th Saturday & Sunday 2017 Program 3 rd Saturday Schedule Shri Venkateswara Suprabhatam and Abhishekam 8.00-10.00 AM April 15 th Saturday Akhand Ramayan Path Begins 10.30 A.M. April 16 th Sunday Akhand Ramayan Poornahuti 11.00 A.M. Balvidyamandir Students presentation 11.00 11.30 A.M Bhajans, Arati followed by Pradshad 11.30 12.30 Noon Mahaveer Swami Jayanthi Celebrations Sunday, April 9 2017Arati & Bhajans 10.30 11.45 AM HANUMAN JAYANTI, Tuesday April 11 th 2017 Hanuman Havan 9.30-12.00 Noon Hanuman Chalisa 101 times chanting & Hanuman Ashtak Path Bhajans 1.00 pm to - 7.30 PM Arati followed by Prashad 7.30-8.00 PM Baishaki & Soura Samvatsaradi (Tamil New Year s Day) Celebrations Friday 14 th April 2017 Ganesh Abhishek 9.30-10.00 am followed by arati & Prasad 11.00-.12.00 Noon Evening Sankatharan Chaturthi Ganesh Abhishek 6.00-7.00 pm followed by Archana, Arati & prashad May 10 th Wednesday Vaishakha Poornima Samuhika Satyanarayana Puja 5.00-7.00 pm followed by Arati May 14 th Sunday Mother s Day Shri Durga Puja 11.30 to 12.00 Noon followed by Arati Page 15

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HSNEF Rate Chart for Pooja Services Annual Membership is $121 and Life Membership is $5,000 Description of the Pooja At the temple Outside Temple Approx Member Non Member Member Non Member Time Archana $11 $11 * * 0'-10" Sahasranama Pooja $51 $101 * * 0'-45" Abhishekam $51 $101 * * 1'-30" Satyanarayana Vratam $51 $101 $151 $201 1'-30" Other Vratams 101 (>=2hrs) 151 (>=2hrs) 151 (>=2hrs) 201 (>=2hrs) 51 (<2hrs) 101 (<2hrs) 101 (<2hrs) 151 (<2hrs) Havan $101 $151 * * 2'-00" Patra Pooja $51 $101 $101 $151 Vadamala $31 $51 * * Annaprasanam, Chaula ( hair offering) Vidya Arambha $31 $51 $51 $101 0'-45" Shanti Path Pooja $31 $51 $51 $101 0'-45" Vahana Pooja $31 $51 * * 0'-10" Hiranya Shraddha $11 $25 * * 0'-15" Mata Ki Choki $51 $101 * * 4'-00" Ganapathi/ Sudarshana Homam $101 $151 $151 $201 2'-00" Navagraha /Gayatri Homam $101 $151 $151 $201 2'-00" Ayush/ Shanti Homam $101 $151 $151 $201 2'-00" Chandi Havan $251 $301 $301 $351 5'-00" Seemantham with Homam $101 $151 $151 $201 2'-00" Punyavachanam with Pooja $31 $51 $51 $101 0'-30" Offering on Birthday & Anniversary $21 $31 * * * Upanayanam $151 $201 $201 $251 3'-00" Nischitartam ( Engagement) $101 $151 $151 $201 2'-00" Wedding Ceremony $301 $351 $501 $701 3'-00" Shashtipoorti (60th Birthday) Sahastrachandra ( 80 Birthday) $101 $151 $151 $201 2'-00" Shraddha (1st) * * $101 $151 2'-00" Shraddha Others $75 $101 $101 $151 2'-00" Bhumi Pooja * * $101 $151 2'-00" Grihapravesh/Vastu Pooja * * $151 $201 2'-00" Private Pooja (non-temple hours) $101 $151 * * varies Abhishekam (non-temple hours) $501 $501 * * varies Wedding Ceremony $301 $351 $501 $701 3'-00" The rate for out-of-town wedding services is $701.00 plus priest expenses For pooja bookings, full payment is required at the time of booking. If pooja is canceled by the devotee, 50% of the amount will be refunded. Temple facilities and equipment are available for rent to private parties. Please call HSNEF Office at (904) 268-7630 for availability and booking. Fraction of rental period will be counted as full period. A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the rental amount is required at the time of booking. Non-Profit Org Member Non- Member Multi-Purpose Hall (hourly rental - minimum 3 hour rental + $75 cleaning and utility fee) $25 $50 $75 Conference Room (hourly rental) $10 $10 $10 Chairs (daily rental + $50 returnable security deposit) $2 $2 $2 Tables (daily rental + $50 returnable security deposit) $8 $8 $8 Podium/Projector (maximum 5 days) $10 $10 $10 Page 18

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