A Hindu temple that opened in a former West Elmira Catholic church in 2023 is celebrating its second anniversary in September, and the founder of the international movement the temple belongs to will be on hand.
The former Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church at 1100 W. Water St. was purchased in January 2022 for $240,000 by the Bhakti Marga neo-Hindu organization, based in Germany.
The Bhakti Marga America community renamed the church Paranitya Narasimha Temple, and after extensive renovations, introduced it to the public with an inauguration ceremony from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3, 2023.
Now the temple is planning a two-year anniversary celebration at 6 p.m. Sept. 3, and Paramahamsa Vishwananda, the founder of the Bhakti Marga movement, will be the featured guest.
From the start, the Paranitya Narasimha Temple strived to be a part of the Elmira community, and leaders encourage members of the public to join in the second anniversary celebration.
“We don’t have a mission to convert anyone,” Sanjayananda, a novice monk with Bhakti Marga America, said when the temple first opened. “If (conversion) happens, it’s wonderful, but for us, it’s just to be a part of the community.”
Bhakti Marga translates to “path of devotion” in English, and the anniversary event will offer “ecstatic singing, joyful dancing, delicious, blessed food, and spiritual inspiration to align you with your highest purpose and authentic self,” according to the organization’s website.
In addition to the Sept. 3 anniversary celebration, there will be a Darshan blessing (the act of seeing or being seen by a divine being or a holy person) with Paramahamsa Vishwananda at the temple Sept. 7. Organizers ask people who plan to attend to register in advance.
For more information about the Sept. 3 anniversary, go to bhaktimarga.us/blogs/events/temple-anniversary. To learn more about the Darshan blessing and to register, go to bhaktimarga.us/blogs/events/darshan-blessing-elmira-new-york-1.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: West Elmira Hindu temple plans anniversary celebration. What to know about public event
Reporting by Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
