Akshardham temple is a representation of indian Americans!
Indian community members say the Akshardham temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey has emerged as a powerful symbol of the growing influence of Indian-Americans in the US, reflecting their economic, cultural and political influence.
The long journey of the largest Hindu temple in the US is a reflection of how the indian community has grown in the country and has also become a major force in the crucial US presidential election. The Akshardham temple saw huge crowds of indian community members throughout the week for diwali celebrations. swati Patel, a New jersey resident who frequently volunteers at the BAPS temple, said it was a joy to have the opportunity to vote in the presidential election.
"I think the indian community is impressive. Now we can see some South Asian representation in local government and everywhere. I think the most important part is just voting in elections. It is a great joy to be born and raised in the US and to be able to vote here," said swati Patel. He said, 'In my childhood, my father used to take me to the polling booth. No matter which election it is, we should just exercise this right. This is the way to raise our voice.' Vinod Patel, who has been associated with BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham for several decades, said that the Hindu community has taken small steps to shape its members as a unit.
He said, 'When we started 50 years ago, there were very few Hindus or Indians. At that time the atmosphere of diwali was different, it was to meet each other and think about how we will celebrate this festival in India... There has been unity among Hindus and the influence of the indian community has increased a lot. For example, today if you look at the world of technology, there are indian CEOs in big companies. At that time, this was unheard of.' The Akshardham temple spread over 220 acres in Robbinsville is a testimony to India's architectural and cultural heritage.
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