MCs of the event Varishta Kuchi performing prayer dance
ST LOUIS: Hindu Temple of St. Louis, MO held its 24th annual fundraising event on September 28 at the Mahatma Gandhi Center. The event was attended by more than three hundred guests and devotees from all walks of life and various regional associations.
The main purpose of the event was to raise awareness and funds for the site improvement and for building multipurpose community center at recently purchased land adjacent to the Temple. The project will include building class rooms for Sunday School (Bal Vihar), state of the art kitchen facility and 247 parking spaces in various phases. The estimated cost of the project is approximately five million dollars.
The program comprised invocation by young priest Sreevaishnav Deevi, Ganesha Dance by Varshita Kuchi followed by Hanuman Chalisa yoga fusion by Bal Vihar team. Dr Madhuri Kancherla, the master of ceremony, spoke about growing needs of the community and education of youth.
Dr Siresha LaBore presented her views about volunteer opportunities for the younger generation at the temple and also why the new construction is so important for the 2.0 generation. She also presented a video of a youth “Akshara Nara” who donated all the $10,000 money collected at her high school graduation to the Hindu Temple.
The keynote speech by Dr Sharad Parikh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Temple, emphasized the importance of education of the youth for embracing our values. He presented the brief history of the temple and the success of the previous fundraising in 2012 with campaign theme of ‘My Temple-My Pledge’ which helped the temple to raise about $1 million in donations/pledges.
He discussed the details of the proposed expansion and the new building structure to be completed in various phases, and thanked all the partners and various organizations, in particular Mahatma Gandhi Center, India Association and Bal Vihar, for sustained support and help.
Ashwin Patel
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