Hindu Temple Society of North America, Flushing

Hindu Temple Society of North America, representing Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam, ( Tamil : ஸ்ரீ மஹா வல்லப கணபதி தேவஸ்தானம். Telugu:శ్రీ మహావల్లభ గణపతి దేవస్థానం Sanskrit: श्री महावल्लभ गणपति देवस्थानम्), at 45–57 Bowne Street, Flushing, Queens, in New York City, claims to be the very first of the traditional Hindu temples in the USA.

It is popularly referred to as the Ganesh Temple, Flushing since the main deity is Lord Ganesh. While there are now several Hindu temples in New York City area, this temple continues to be among the most prominent of them. The temple architecture and the rituals follow the South Indian tradition.

The temple is visited not only by the Hindus but also those who wish to explore religious diversity in Queens. The very first Jain temple in the U.S., the Jain Center of America, is also located in Queens, in nearby Elmhurst.

The temple has a vegetarian restaurant termed the Temple Canteen in the basement which is popular for its South Indian cuisine and for the temple experience. The canteen feeds 4,000 people a week, with as many as 10,000 during the Deepavali (Diwali) holiday.

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