Wow... definitely a privilege for my 100th review and to think I would reach such a milestone so…read moresoon. The Brooklyn Hindu Temple, a place where solace and devotion reside. I've been a member for roughly about 18 years now and will continue to support this temple. At times where I was lost, I have found guidance here. The moments of despair where things might have felt like it was the worst, this is where I sought refuge and found hope. So many values, morals, and ideals have been instilled within my character due to my experiences here; I can and will never forsake my temple. Having being grown and reared by my fellow church members, this temple has shaped a portion of who I am. So many things it has given me, and it asks for nothing in return but complete and selfless devotion in whichever way I could. Whether it be through the medium of music or simply just opening my mouth and joining in simple hymns, there is no requirement or limitations on prayer. A simple reminder, service is usually held on Sunday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and major Hindu holidays are usually observed. God does not discriminate and materializes himself/herself in many different forms and ways. There is only one way to immerse yourself in this temple, and that is to come and experience it for yourself. Jai Shri Ram.

Have been visiting this temple since I995. It has been a…read moreplace of divine worship, peace and soulful connections. The Main One with God and others with our fellow community members. It is definitely a place to get blessings and love.

love this temple. the priests are very nice. place is well lit. the priests are more than happy…read moreto help you with a puja. there is a nice shrine for the nine planets too. very good energy here. everyone is nice and welcoming to non-hindi speaking folk too.

This temple is amazing and the people are great. I attend as much as I can. As soon as you walk in…read moreyou are greeted by friendly face and the most down to earth people.

Very good and bless place to be ..always forgets a your problems when your here because of the…read morelovely blessings of Maa and the wonderful people here..I will advise anyone to come here and enjoy the blessings of Maa.

I have never been to a more welcoming place for kirtan and yoga. I was immediately greeted like a…read morelong lost friend and immediately felt cared for. The kirtans on Thursdays are amazing!

From the owner: The Bhakti Center is a spiritual cultural center on New York City’s Lower East Side with a talented…read morestaff devoted to sharing the experience of self-transformation through the timeless culture and practices of Bhakti-yoga. It’s a center of authentic learning, and a great place to meet new people, make lasting relationships, and find inspiration and support on the spiritual path. Want to get in contact with us? Send us an e-mail at: info@bhakticenter.org

An experience from another world! Free admission, staff were very friendly. Educational. Just be…read moresure to dress accordingly (no shorts or exposed shoulders),but if you forget the staff will provide you with a sari. A fantastic experience!

There are almost no words to describe this place. It truly belongs on your bucket list. If you are…read morevisiting NYC or Philadelphia, make sure to add it to your itinerary. You'll be glad you did. It took 12 years, over $100 million, and 12,500 volunteers to build this architectural wonder, and it's incredible having the second largest BAPS temple in the world right here in New Jersey, second only to the one in New Delhi, India! From the moment we arrived at the main entrance, I felt transported to a different world. Everyone in our group was in awe, and I couldn't stop taking photos. Every detail deserves admiration, from the massive statue of Nilkanth Varni at the entrance plaza and the tranquil courtyard water features, to the main Akshardham Mandir itself with its countless intricate indoor and outdoor carvings. A few helpful tips for your visit: - Welcome Center: Be sure to catch the informative intro video. There are two theaters with staggered showtimes, so just hop into whichever one has the shorter wait. - Dress Code: They enforce a strict modest dress code (e.g. shoulders and knees must be covered). Don't worry if you forget - they offer free wraps at the door so you aren't turned away. I wore shorts, and they provided a sarong to wear over them. - Footwear: You will need to take off and check your shoes before entering the Mandir. - Amenities: Near the exit, there is a cafeteria, a dessert shop, and a museum (we didn't get a chance to try the food this time, but it's great to have options). With ongoing expansions still underway, this magnificent landmark will only get better. Absolutely 5 stars for me!

One of a kind of a temple in USA .. its like a replica of Tirupati venkatschalapathy.. never seeen…read moresuch temple in US. Fantastic and really has fantastic aura. It's a new temple and just had kumbabishekam ... we just loved the positivity in this temple... They encourage lots of young kids and artists to perform in this temple .. . Big thanks to all organizers .. lots and lots of parking around . Nice location. Right in t he heart of NJ . 5 star for sure !

No doubt temple is very good but priest is rude. They should be polite and respectful to everyone…read morewho visit temple.

A Lovely temple right next to the Indian Street in Journal Square. The temple has idols of Raha…read moreKrushna, Durga Maa, Ganesh, Sai Baba, Shiva Linga and Nava Graha. Its a small but beautiful place for Hindu religion. They have special aarti every thrusday for sai baba followed by Langar (Prasad Sevan).

We had our wedding here (originally scheduled May 202, rescheduled to May 2021) and had a wonderful…read moretime. Everyone we interacted with was very professional, helpful, and happy to go above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly. The temple was very flexible in terms of working with us to set up prior to the wedding. We had a multi-racial wedding and my husband's family and our non-Indian friends were never made to feel uncomfortable at the temple. Rescheduling a wedding can be a mess as you can imagine but Shailja made the process very smooth for us and was one of our easiest vendors to work with. The temple made for an affordable and beautiful location for a wedding; we had a beautiful baraat before the wedding and there are grassy areas around the temple for pictures.

Went there for Diwali on Saturday night. Very nice North Indian Temple. A puja was held, it was…read morewell organized. One of the better temples in the Tri-State area.

The Shiva Mandir is one of the loveliest temple in Elmhurst Queens, walking distance from…read morea few near by bus stops. I came to the Shiva Mandir for a coworker son's wedding and was very impress with the overall decor. Basically the Shiva Mandir has three levels. The first level is where the prayer services, puja, engagement or marriage ceremonies are held. Considering I went to India I am familiar with what to expect in a temple. With that said they have some lovely statues of the Hindu Gods- Shiva, Ganesh, Ram, Vishnu and Krishna. My mother and I were touch by the Hindu Goddess/Mothers - Saraswati, Lakshmi and Durga. Usually in a temple, one is expected to sit on the ground during a service. However, I noticed more temples in Queens have chairs for those who are not used to sitting on the ground. Now the basement level is where the food is prepared and they also have benches where they serve only vegetarian food, tea, non alcoholic beverage and delicious sweets. Awesome place to have a Hindu wedding ceremony. Keep it simple in a holy place that's close to the mighty one and your love ones. If in the area, do stop by ring the church bell, take your shoes off, and learn more about the Hindu religion and culture. For females, just be sure to wear a long skirt or dress. Thanks for reading!

No matter what your religion is, you do not have to be afraid of coming to the Shiva Mandir temple…read more The people who attend services are beyond nice and even when I attend a service, other religions are mentioned and it does not matter to them what your religion is. When people walk into the temple, they take off their shoes and turn off their cellphones before going into the main room. There is a bell that can be rung for clarity of the mind (I do it for fun.) Upon walking through the main doors, Hindu believers kneel a bit and touch the ground first and then touch their head all with their hands. They do a similar action when they touch the Gods feet and the holy water. If they are holding a plate of candles and sacrificial fruits, they lift the entire plate up to make a three circular motion paths around each God. The Gods' platform on bright blue ceramic tiles is brightly lit with a beautiful sky and mountainous background. In addition, there might be lighted props, holy objects, or plants nearby and the windows decorated. During the services, I typically see a child or two walk around even though they are not supposed to. The entire room is carpeted dark red and everybody sits on the floor unless the person has difficulty sitting on the floor. In that case, foldable chairs are provided at the back of the room where mostly the elderly or disabled sit. The person who leads the service, called the Pundit, sits in what looks like a bed, but is not. While he speaks mostly English and some Hindi, there is always live music in the background with a band including a harmonium, electric piano, guitar, and drums to name a few. The music is broadcast through microphones and loud speakers and the entire room is brightly lit with many lights. There are also special people who sit up in the front, though I am not familiar as to what their roles are, but one of them is a singer while the other VIPs who wish to do the service sit and do the service. In between speeches, the band and singer(s) segues into a song. Towards the end, people are allowed to make announcements such as birthdays and events happening at the Shiva Mandir. After the end of the service, contributions are given, prays are done to a candle light, and everyone accepts a spot of milk to drink on their palm. Then, after the upbeat music is over, everybody goes down to the basement level to eat what I believe is Trinidad, Indian, and various vegetarian food and snacks prepared with soda or water and provided by volunteers who use a big kitchen and storage room to prepare it. It's like a mini-party every time I go for Thursday services, especially if it's around somebody's birthday. The women dress in beautiful traditional sari clothes while the men either wear traditional clothes or in their semi-formal attire. I even wore a sari myself when I attended Shiva Mandir for the first time. The looks of wonderment and surprise came from some temple goers and even people who live in the block. They loved how I tried to dress in a sari. Everybody is positive and everybody has fun here and now I know why going to the temple is the highlight of my co-worker's life.