Namaste & Greetings to All,

As we, the New Team for 2012 start the year with all of your blessings & wishes here I am on behalf of the Team with my thoughts for this year. First I would like to extend my thanks to the Board of Trustees in bestowing their faith & trust in me by giving me the opportunity to serve our own Hindu Temple & the Indian Community for the year 2012. I strongly believe that I am just a representative of everyone of you from the community trying to help support each other & our Temple throughout the year. We are indeed blessed to have such a place of worship and community interaction in our midst that unites all of us coming from diverse backgrounds and languages. The need of the hour is to pledge and dedicate ourselves to make this fine institution sustainable by actively participating and contributing in whatever capacity we can. Not many cities of our size around the country can boast of having such elaborate facilities, visionary leadership from the founding fathers and a vibrantly united Indian community that attends only one temple. Credit also goes to our Panditji for aligning the different pieces together in a harmonious manner.

Having said that, I also want to remind our community that it is the responsibility of each one of us to see that our Temple is Financially secured. The least we can do is to pay our annual Membership dues, invite friends and acquaintances to the Temple and persuade them to become active in the Temple and become members. I believe, one cannot do this unless you are yourself convinced how important it is to have a place that celebrates our culture and heritage and how important it is to pass on the value system to the next generation. Thanks to all of you who have already paid your dues for the year 2012 and are supporting the Temple through the numerous events, Puja’s, volunteering, helping in the different committees and donating your time, knowledge and wealth for the benefit of your community.

There are quite a few benefits for becoming the member other than your spiritual and mental wellbeing such as: 

(i)                 Member rates for Pujas and spacious Heritage Hall/ Kitchen Rental

(ii)               Having Panditji available for your religious and family needs that arise from time to time whether it is a wedding or a birth

(iii)             Receiving the Temple news-letter (Jagriti) every quarter (we are again starting from this year of the circulation of Jagriti) making you aware of the different events slated for the year and help you plan ahead of time

(iv)              Receiving the Temple yearly calendar for free either during Diwali or beginning of the New Year

(v)                Receiving a free copy of the annual Temple directory which is distributed during the very popular Festival of India (this year it is going to happen in the week-end of Aug 17-19^th).  You and your children can also show your talent in the numerous cultural events organized throughout the year and help make these celebrations events that are cherished in our memory.

This year apart from our usual list of Pujas we have an elaborate Surya Yagna planned for May 13^th. Please mark your calendars to witness the Maha Yagna conducted by numerous priests on our Temple premises. You can contact Panditji or the Yagna Co-ordinators for more info.

 Besides the Membership dues the other way to support your own Temple all year round is by sponsoring different Pujas we have. Each Puja sponsorship is $125. This year we are going to try and do something new for all of you to decide on your own which Pujas you would like to choose to sponsor throughout the year. Here is the list of Pujas:

1. Mahashivratri; 2. Holi;  3. Ugadi/Gudi Parva;  4. Shree Ram Navami; 5. Mahavir Jayanti; 6. Sri Krishna Janmastami; 6. Sri Ganesh Chaturthi; 7. Navratri; 8. Durga Puja; 9. Diwali.

 You also have the opportunity to be part of the Festival of India by not only participating in the cultural programs but also sponsoring one or two of the Pujas (Ganesh Puja; Venkateshwara Puja; Mahavir Puja & Havan) during the 3 day festival in the week-end of August 17-19.

All you have to do is you write a check out to the Hindu Temple of Toledo for the amount which is $125*n (n = number of regular pujas you would like to sponsor this year) and mention the names of the Pujas you are going to sponsor. Your names will be given to the each Puja Co-ordinator just so they know that you have already pledged.

Finally to conclude I would like to Thank all my Team-mates & friends for volunteering their time/effort and thoughts to help out throughout this year. Thanks in advance to all of you in the community for coming forward and helping out your own Temple during the year of 2012 & making it a successful year in every way possible. Let’s all believe in one phrase: “Together as One Indian Community we can certainly make our Hindu Temple successful and prosperous in all aspects in 2012”.

please inform the president if the article does not work

2nd jag of 2012

Festival Issue of Jagriti most probably the last.  Sorry