Kearny Hindu Community Center Timings Timings:
Daily: 8.00 AM to 11.00 AM and 5.00 PM to 9.00 PM
Kearny Hindu Community Center Weekdays Events:
Shiv Abhishek: 9:15 AM
Aarti: 9:30 am & 7:30 PM
*Shiv Abhishek on Monday at 7.00 PM followed by Aarti
Kearny Hindu Community Center Weekend Events:
Saturday:
Shiv Abhishek: 8:15 am
Aarti: 8:30 am & 7:30 pm
Sunday:
Shiv Abhishek: 8:15 AM
Aarti: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM & 7:30 PM
Welcome to Hindu Community Center – Ambaji Mandir in Garfield Temple and Vaikunth Dham in Kearny
Established as a religious and cultural non-profit organization in 1980, it is said that the Hindu Community Center is the first Hindu mandir to be born in New Jersey. The original property located at 1 Gaston Avenue in Garfield, NJ, was purchased to house a Sanatana Mandir for the Indian community. After a year of renovations, Shri Ambaji, Shri Krishna, Hanumanji, Ganeshji and Shiva Lingam murtis (idols) settled in Garfield.
When parents and senior members of the community participated in bhajan (devotional songs) and listened to speeches called kathas, it soon became clear that a forum for children was also a necessity. With the vision of developing a facility where children could develop an understanding of Indian culture and heritage, Sanstha established a Vidyakendra. Initially, the Vidyakendra was a kind of one-room school located in the same mandir.
In 1993, the Hindu Community Center expanded the Vidyakendra with a new location in Kearny. His name is Vaikunth Dham (celestial house of Lord Maha Vishnu). The community purchased a building large enough to accommodate eight classrooms, a banquet hall, a kitchen and a room dedicated to the Murtis exhibition. These include Shri Ambaji, Ganeshji, Shiva Lingam, Laxmi-Narayan, Vedmata Gayatri and Hanumanji.
Kearny Hindu Community Center History:
Over the years, since 1980, we have welcomed devotees and their families and we have always been blessed by the Lords and with their blessing we have been able to carry out various activities; A brief annual summary of these 35 years (1980-2015) is presented here humbly.
Activities at a glance from 1980 to 2015:
1980 Establishment of Hindu Community Center:
Established as Non-Profit religious and cultural organization. Purchased 1 Gaston Ave. Garfield, NJ, property to house a Sanatan Mandir for Indian Community.
1981 First Sanatan Mandir with Panchayatan Devas named as Hindu Mandir formally opened in greater Tri State area at 1 Gaston Avenue, Garfield, NJ.
– Vidya Kendra, a one room – Sunday School for learning Gujarati, Hindi and cultural dances started at Hindu Mandir, Garfield.
1982 Altar Construction and other minor renovations
Installation of Idols.
1983 Pran Pratishtha celebration: Installation of Lord Panchayatan Devas under guidance of H.H. Shri Narhariprasad Shastri. The Hindu Mandir was formally open.
1986 Medical Center: A Saturday medical check up center started. Offered free medical check up to community members and elderly parents who did not have medical insurance.
1988 Fifth Patotsava: Anniversary of Pran Pratishtha celebrated. Shubha Swadia and group presented a three hour cultural and folk dances stage show.
1991 Yoga Class: First Yoga Class started at Hindu Mandir, Garfield under guidance of Shri Champaklal Bhavsar, long time disciple of Swami Krupalanandji of Kayavarohan, India.
1993 Kearny Facility: Hindu Community Center purchased a 32000 sq.ft property at Kearny, NJ, to expand its activities and provide hall facilities for the community use.
Dashabdi Mahotsava of Pran Pratishtha of Hindu Mandir, Garfield.
Opened Lakshmi-Narayan (Vaikunthdham) Temple at Kearny Facility with Installation of Pictures of Lord Ganesha, Hanumanji, Lakshmi-Narayan, Gayatri Mataji and Lord Shiva.
1994 Shrimad Bhagwat Gyanyagya Mahotsava:
11th Patotsava of Pran Pratishtha at Hindu Mandir, Garfield
Bhagwat recited by Param Pujya Goswami Indira Betiji (JiJi) at Kearny facility.
Vidya Kendra was moved from Garfield to Kearny Facility in its classroom wing. Curriculam was expanded to include Bharat Natyam, Prayer and Heritage, arts/crafts and basic computer learning. School population was increased to 300 students.
1996 Shrimad Bhagwat Gyanyagya Mahotsava:
13th Patotsava of Pran Pratishtha at Hindu Mandir, Garfield. Bhagwat recited by Abhinav Shukdev Shri Yogendra Bhatt (Pijwala) Kearny Facility.
1998 Shri Devi Bhagwat Gyanyagya Mahotsava:
15th Patotsava of Pran Pratishtha at Hindu Mandir, Garfield. Bhagwat recited by Abhinav Shukdev Shri Yogendra Bhatt (Pijwala) at Kearny facility.
Major renovations of community halls and re-construction of Vaikunthdham temple and prayer hall started at Kearny Facility.
1999 Hurricane Flyod:
Undeground water currents/flood damaged. The wall between present temple (previous community hall) Raised central area of the building. Wall was reconstructed and the facility was restored to full function.
2000 Shiv Mahapuran Katha:
Idols of current panchayatan devas arrived from India.
2001 Gujarat Earthquake Relief Work:
Clothing drive, and distribution to needy people in Kutch/Bhuj.
General fund raising organized with Gujarati Diaro, by local artists and variety show by Rutgers, University students. A fund of nearly $ 60,000.00, was collected and donated to construct a middle, school as part of large educational campus in Adhoi near Bhuj City, Gujarat, India.
2003 Renovations: Renovations and upgrading of community halls completed and hall were formally dedicated for the benefit of community use. Re-construction of Vaikunthdham temple and prayer halls started.
2004 Re-Construction: Re-construction of Vaikunthdham temple and prayer hall substantially completed. Pran Pratishtha celebration: Installation of Lord Panchayatan Devas which included Lord Ganesh, Hanumanji, Gayatri Mataji, Lakshmi-Narayan and Trinetra Mahadev, under the guidance of Priests Maheshbhai Shastri and Gajendrabhai Jani. The Vaikunthdham temple was formally opened.
2005 Shiv Mahapuran Katha at Kearny: Shiv Mahapuran recital by H. H. Shri Dayagiri Maharaj of Bhavanagar.
2005 Musical Program: Raj and Smruti Pandya
2006 Musical Program: ‘Kal, Aaj or Kal’ fundraising program was organized for the benefit of Vidyakendra school.
2006 Musical program: Rasbihari and Vibha Desai
2007 Shri Devi Bhagwat Katha: Recited by H. H. Shri Keshavbhavani Maharaj of Mai Mandir, Nadiad.
2008 Navachandi Yagna:
On the occasion of Silver Jubilee of Ambaji temple,Garfield – conducted Navchandi yagya, Kalash pooja and 7 days Shrimad Bhagwat Katha – Recital by 11 years old Sadhvi Chitralekhaji of Haryana.
2008 Tabla Concert: ‘Taal Naad’ – fundraising program organized for the benefit of Vidyakendra school.
2008 Vidyakendra events: Rangoli competition, Saraswati Mahapooja, Talent show and Fun fair.
2009 Yoga Shibir: 7 days Yoga Shibir and discourses on Ramayan by Swami Adhyatmanandji Maharaj of Sivanand Ashram, Ahmedabad at Vaikunthdham, Kearny. – July 3 to July 10, 2009.
2010 Ram Katha Mahotsava: Recited by “Bal Shuk” Shri Gopeshji Maharaj from Brindavana. Vidya Kendra Events: Rangolee Event, Ganesh Puja, Talent Show, Youth Forum, Annual Presentation.
2011 Comedy Drama: American (desi) Kaka Chale Vanka. SRO audience: By Shakuntal Arts.
Shiva Darshan: Short discourse by H.H. Shri Dayagiri Maharaj of Bhavanagar.
Hurricane Irene: Substantial water damage to interiors of the facility and library, VK book support and costumes.
Diwali Dinner: With musical presentation by visiting group from India.
2012 Comedy Drama: Gujju Atak Atak Na Latak by Shakuntal Arts.
Dr. Dinesh Pandya: Ayrvedic Naadi Pariksha Camp-June 1912
Sharad Purnima Garba: Shailesh Parmar and Parivar Garba, Rass presentation for the benefit of HCC.
Hurricane Sandy: Damages exceeded Irene damages, including damages to 4 major HVAC units.
2013 Natya Mahotsava: Shakuntala Arts and other Tri-State Groups. For the benefit of HCC- Hurricane Sandy Damages
2014 Ayurvedic-Seed Therapy Camp: By Rajesh Patel
Comedy Drama: Gajju Atak Atak Na Latak for benefit of ate Shri Rakesh Nayak “ODI BABA”
Vidya-Kendra: Bhoomi Pujan Ceremony for new addition of classroom wing.
2015 Samoh Janoi-Yagnopavit Event:
International Yoga Day: Celebrated at Kearny
Aadhikmass Discourse: by Swami Adhyatmanandji
Aadhikmass – Vishnu Yagna Garfield and Kearny
Drama Festival: Two day Drama Festival by Shakuntal Arts in collaboration with Gujarat Darpan and Gujarat Gujarat Foundation and Hindu Community Center. For Benefit of HCC.
About Kearny Hindu Community Center:
• HCC VK running from more than 32 years now
• New Building Construction in progress at Kearny, NJ – Behind Vaikuntha Dham Temple
• Total 10 CLASS Rooms that includes two large halls
• Contribute to sustain our Snatan Hindu Dharma and Sanskruti in our next generation kids and Youth
• Kids age 5 to 16 learn our language, Art and Religion
Kearny Hindu Community Center Activities:
• Hindu Prayers, Bhajans, stories from our Purans and Shashtraes
• Fun filled Flexibility Exercises and Yoga
• Hindi & Gujarati language classes
• Bhratnatyam Dance
• Arts & Crafts
• Music (Tabla &Keyboard **)
• Festival Celebrations – Diwali and Holi
• RANGOLI and SPEECH competition
• Perform Ishta Dev Puja themselves
• Annual program performance at the year end.
** Tentative, depending on teacher availability
Kearny Hindu Community Center School Timing:
Every Sunday from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Email: vkofhcc@gmail.com
Contact:
Jayesh Parmar 201-931-5046
Rohit Sethi 201-253-7740
Tejal Shah 201-757-8491
Amit Shah 201-757-8477
Banquet Hall for Wedding, Religious Discourses and Social Events:
For decades, our banquet halls are known for their simplicity, reasonableness and non-alcholic, and non-meat purity rooms for the most divine and blessed ceremonies called 1st, 2nd and 3rd rooms, also available with kitchens, synchronized according to needs and adjustments with other tenants in case of reservations the same day. Quality food providers are always within the reach of reference and phone for all the needs of our program.
Here are pictures of our banquet and general room, while a personal tour will give you a better perspective of where you can choose for your family or friends social event or any wedding or engagement ceremony, if you please contact: Mr Nitin Desai, Secretary of Reserve.
Kearny Hindu Community Center Address:
156 Schuyler Ave,
Kearny,
NJ 07032, USA
Phone: +1 201-997-5556
