India Temple Association Hours:
7:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Aarti at 12:00 noon and 8:00 PM daily.
Aarti time is subject to change on Special occasions & Festival days.
General Information:
The idea of establishing a place of worship and a community center was conceived in 1990, and India Temple Association (ITA), a non-profit religious organization, was established to pursue this idea. The main objectives and goals of ITA are:
To provide a place of worship to Hindu community in South Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.
To keep our children in touch with religion and culture.
To educate our children about our religious and cultural values.
To provice a place to our community which they can use at the time of their need to celebrate happy events and share sorrow at sad events.
To acquaint the community at large with our culture.
To create better understanding among community members with different back grounds in a multi-ethnic society.
The Association consists of two major administrative units i.e. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Executive Committee, which is elected annually, has the responsibility for the day-to-day affairs of the Association, whereas policy decisions are made by The Board of Trustees.
ITA is a non-profit charitable and educational organization. Its goals are: to promote social, cultural, and religious understanding based on peace, love, justice, truth, and harmony; to promote friendship and goodwill among all people; to perform social services such as providing free medical help to needy families, providing educational grants/loans to needy families, providing social services to the elderly and to conduct educational/guidance programs for children to teach them good family and social values. Donations to ITA, Inc are tax deductible.
India Temple Association History:
India Temple Association was formed by five visionaries, Mr. Vankat Raman, Mr. Romesh Chopra, Mr. Mohanram, Dr. Desh Raj Goel and Dr. Kanwar Sain Satija in 1976. Land was bought, plans were prepared and, as usual, community lacked funds to build new temple. Active members of another organization Shri Vallabhnidhi agreed to merge with ITA and on May 6, 1982, ITA purchased the church property and Hindu Mandir in Berlin became a reality, a place of worship for all Hindus in the Delaware Valley. Shri Narendra Amin was instrumental in providing paintings for temple beautification and along with Shri Mahesh Dixit, meticulous details for the ordering of idols from India were finalized. On May 31, 1985, the Idols of Radha-Krishna arrived at the mandir. However, because of damage in transit to Radhaji’s idol, the Pran-Pratishtha Mahotsava, of Lord Krishna was performed on September 20, 21 and 22, 1985. Over the past 25 years, the temple and its services have grown along with the community. Recently, the Organization celebrated its 25th Anniversary of Pran Pratishtha on September 10,11 and 12, 2010.
ITA is a non-profit and educational organization. Its goals are: to promote social, cultural, and religious understanding based on peace, love, justice, truth, and harmony; to promote friendship and goodwill among all people; to perform social services such as providing free medical help to needy families, providing educational grants/loans to needy families, providing social services to the elderly and to conduct educational/guidance programs for children to teach them good family and social values. Donations to ITA, Inc are tax deductible.
India Temple Association Mandir Hall Rental:
Private Use
Hall of Berlin Hindu Mandir is available for private use (approximately 4 hours duration) for a minimum donation of $300.00. For guidelines and reservations, please, contact manager@indiatemple.org or call 855-MY-MANDIR (855-696-2634) Ext 1
General
Shoes are not allowed inside the Mandir Prayer Hall.
All adults are requested to refrain from wearing shorts in the Mandir Prayer Hall.
All food served in the Mandir must be strictly vegetarian and all drinks non-alcoholic.
Smoking is prohibited in the Mandir
It is necessary to leave the premises neat and clean.
Your active participation is needed and always appreciated.
India Temple Association Childerens Programs:
Balvihar
Unlike in India, where Hinduism and our culture are mainstream, in United States, special effort and energy must be devoted to teaching children about their heritage. The goal of Balvihar is to serve as a structured program that supports parent’s effort to impart Indian Culture and Hinduism to their children. The program instructs over 250 students from Pre-K to 8th grade. The curriculum includes yoga, prayers, introduction to festivals and cultural practices, the history of India, the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, and exposure to the Vedic values, principles and practices of the Hindu religion. Detailed curriculum by grade are below. We also offer the opportunity to participate in year-end Annual Day Program where they can showcase what they have learned through songs, dramas and dance.
In order to participate in Balvihar (BV) program, you must be members of the India Temple Association (ITA). Click here for the Membership Form. For more information, please look at downloads below or email balviharenrollment@gmail.com
2018-19 KG Class is CLOSED. Email samirkpatel@yahoo.com to be placed on the waitlist.
Youth
The ITA Youth Program is to prepare young Hindu children 9th through 12th grade age group for life in high school, college and beyond. The program will equip our youth with the tools to preserve, protect, defend and nurture the Hindu culture and religion, and to practice Sanatana Dharma in their daily lives as they mature into adulthood.
In order to participate in Youth program you must be members of the India Temple Association (ITA).
For more information and inquires please call 1-855-MYMANDIR (1-855-696-2634 x 4)
Scholarship
Purpose: To support the I.T.A. community by giving scholarships to graduating senior students who have demonstrated dedication and significant contribution to the I.T.A.
Award Description: Up to two scholarships worth $1000 each will be awarded to graduating high school seniors whose families are current members of the I.T.A. Each will be renewable for up to 3 additional years based on meeting maintenance criteria and available funding. The scholarship can be used at a 2 or 4-year accredited institution for undergraduate studies related to tuition or books only.
Eligibility:
Applicant’s family must be a current I.T.A. member
Demonstration of engagement at the Temple will be weighed heavily: examples are participation in Balvihar-Youth Program, volunteering at the Temple, participation in ITA sponsored events such as fundraising, cultural programs and community events, etc.
Applicant must be a current senior at a local high school with plans to enroll full-time in an accredited 2 or 4 year college in the United States.
A completed application form
Please email AnuMunshi-Khandhar at anu_munshi@yahoo.com or
call 614-832-1129 for details and scholarship application form.
SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE: Postmark by May 31, 2017
Art Class
ITA offers art classes run by one of our founding members, Narendra Amin. He began these classes in May 1985. He has painted portraits of saints but paintings of Gods and Goddesses, Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagvad-Gita, Dashavatar, acharyas and various saints for the Saints Gallery at the temple https://www.indiatemple.org/ITA/art.php. Narendra Amin creatively imparts history and religion in the form of art to kids in his class. Over 200 children have taken his classes over the past 25 years.
The purpose of this Creative Art Workshop is to promote art to those children who have strong aptitude for art with a view to make it as an interesting hobby.
The subjects covered in this workshop shall be pencil and charcoal drawing, water color, oil painting, ceramics, and clay modeling.
Workshop is limited to 20 students and the to this workshop shall be restricted to children in 6th grade and above having dene some artwork before. The children participating in this workshop are expected to help each other by way of posing as models or any join projects as and when required.
Workshop facilities shall be provided by ITA in the Social Hall of this Temple building. Parents on behalf of their children shall indemnify ITA for any personal injuries or liabilities resulting from the use of the facilities. Also they shall agree to abide by the rules and regulations stipulated by ITA for use of the temple facilities.
Schedule: Workshop shall be conducted on 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sunday from 9:30AM to 12:30PM.
Tools and Materials: Parents are expected to furnish their children with all necessary tools and materials required for art work, though purchse of some tools and materials may be deferred. Materials and tools may include smock, easel pencils of different grades, eraser, felt pens, charcoal striks, stumps, sketch pads, palette, canvas, oil paints, oil, color brushes, clay modeling tools, clay, etc.
In order to participate in Art classes you must be members of the India Temple Association (ITA). Our Art Classes runs over two calendar years, September through June. You must be an ITA member for both years. Membership information available on-line at Membership Form.
For registration and futher imformation on art workshop.
Please contact.
Narendra Amin
Ph. 856- 429- 8761
India Temple Association Adult Programs:
Geeta Study
Daytime Gita Group
A new Gita study group has just started meeting at the Temple in Tuesdays, 11AM to 12 PM Noon. This is an informal group to study Gita verse by verse following “Bhagavat Gita Study” summaries published by India Temple Association. Since Gita speaks to every aspect of human issues, these discussions encourage questioning and reflecting upon our life and our thoughts. Many of the topics get repeated and reviewed in light of the on-going Gita verses.
The study is open to all. Please join in the group, as we would like as many people to participate as possible. You are never too late to join.
If interested in joining in, please contact by reply to this email or at (856) 466-1430 by text message or call.
Yoga Classes
Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The Sanskrit word yoga has many meanings, and is derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj”, meaning “to control”, “to yoke” or “to unite”.
Yoga classes were started in 1983 and have been the longest running program in the history of our temple. The program is currently taught by Veena Gandhi. For more information call her at 856 435 9148.
Senior Citizen’s
ITA is at the forefront of exciting activities for all age groups, including our active ITA Senior Citizen program for the 50+ age group. There is a growing need for the welfare and well-being of Hindu seniors, as well as a need to improve the quality of their cultural/social interactions. Seniors meet twice a month on Thursdays by assembly upstairs in the prayer hall for Kirtan and Bhajans followed by Aarti. The emphasis of the senior program includes:
Health & Welfare
Culture & Recreation
Education and Information
Food & Nutrition
Excursions
Volunteers & Support
In order to participate in this program you must be members of the India Temple Association (ITA). Membership information available on-line at Membership Form. All other details relating to this program are available in the Senior Citizens Program handbook at Membership Form.
For more information and inquires please call Suraj Singh 1-855-MYMANDIR (1-855-696-2634 x 701)
Usefull link for South Jersey Seniors http://www.hinduseniors.com/
India Temple Association Location:
25 Taunton Ave,
Berlin,
NJ 08009, USA
Phone: +1 856-768-6785
India Temple Association Direction:
FROM THE TACONY BRIDGE:
NJ route 73 South to Berlin Circle
Stay on 73 South to next traffic light.
Just before Taunton Ave, please turn right at All Turns sign board, and then turn right which joins E. Taunton Ave; temple will be on the right.
FROM THE BEN FRANKLIN BRIDGE:
Route 30 East to NJ Route 70 East to Marlton circle.
Right on NJ Route 73S, go to Berlin circle.
Stay on 73 South to next traffic light.
ust before Taunton Ave, please turn right at All Turns sign board, and then turn right which joins E. Taunton Ave; temple will be on the right.
FROM THE WALT WHITMAN BRIDGE:
I-295 North.
Exit 29-A for Route 30 East to Berlin Township
Turn left on Taunton Avenue.
FROM THE DELAWARE MEMORIAL BRIDGE:
I-295 North.
Exit 29-A for Route 30 East to Berlin Township
Turn left on Taunton Avenue.
FROM CENTRAL AND NORTH JERSEY:
NJ Turnpike South.
Take Exit 4 to Route 73 South
NJ route 73 South to Berlin Circle
Stay on 73 South to next traffic light.
Just before Taunton Ave, please turn right at All Turns sign board, and then turn right which joins E. Taunton Ave; temple will be on the right.
