The foundation had bought 6,250 square feet property in downtown Jamaica, Queens for the temple complex.
The American Bangali Hindu Foundation is organizing a fundraising dinner on May 20 for the construction of the community temple Mahamaya Mandir, at Jackson Heights, New York.
The construction of the temple complex of 19,500 square feet will start this summer with an estimated budget of $1.5 million, which the trustees hope devotees would contribute for the temple’s structure.
The American Bangali Hindu Foundation board of trustees and its executive committee have been working toward bringing a place of worship, the center of religious, cultural and education learning center in Queens, New York, for years.
In 2011, they brought a 6,250 square feet property in downtown Jamaica, Queens. Last year they paid off the mortgage and now they are looking forward to the next step of building a full-fledged temple and a community center for the growing Bengali community.
The fundraising event on Saturday will have a presentation of projects and missions undertaken by the foundation. The event would conclude with the performance of Mahamaya School of Music and Performing Arts.
The Foundation’s vision is to promote the spiritual, social and cultural development of all people who believe in the diverse manifestations of the Hindu religion. It aspires to unify the Hindu community by developing an appreciation and celebrating all aspects of the Hindu philosophy and religion.
It also aims at leaving a lasting legacy to its future generations by helping the children develop a sense of pride and identity with the Bengali heritage. The organization wants to help the new generation to be the finest citizens of their adopted country. To promote inter‐religious social and cultural understanding is another motif of the institution.