The Bronx Puja Committee, Inc. is a Bangladeshi Hindu religious organization based in the Bronx, New York City. The organization’s principal aim is to teach new generations the spiritual and religious teachings of Hinduism and encourage them to actively participate in practicing Hindu culture, tradition, and language. The Bronx Puja Committee observes various Pujas year-round, including Saraswati Puja, Durga Puja, Basanti Puja, Ganesh Puja, and Lakshmi Puja. It also has monthly or biweekly chanting sessions for adults and children in New York City. The organization is building its temple in the Bronx with the community’s help.
The Bronx Puja Committee, in addition to hosting religious events, organizes various social activities, including picnics, group travel, and sports, to foster a strong sense of community. As a not-for-profit organization, most of its work and activities are performed voluntarily by its members or well-wishers. The committee was founded in 2006.
The Bronx Puja Committee is a nonprofit religious organization established under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and incorporated in the state of New York. As a tax-exempt entity, it operates exclusively for religious, charitable, and educational purposes, following federal and state regulations.
Core Mission:
The Bronx Puja Committee is dedicated to promoting religious harmony, preserving cultural heritage, and engaging in community service. It welcomes individuals of all faiths to participate in its activities while upholding the following objectives:
- Preserving Hindu Heritage: Promoting Hinduism’s spiritual, moral, and cultural traditions through the teachings of Vedic Sanatan Dharma.
- Interfaith Collaboration: Encouraging mutual respect and understanding among diverse religious communities.
- Spiritual & Moral Growth: Supporting the well-being of Hindus and related organizations worldwide.
- Youth Engagement: Educating younger generations about Sanatan Dharma’s values, culture, and traditions.
- Humanitarian Service: Providing charitable assistance to individuals in need, regardless of religion, race, or ethnicity.
- Fundraising Initiatives: Organizing cultural, religious, and social events to sustain the organization’s mission.
Activities
- Saraswati Puja: A festival dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the deity of wisdom, learning, and the arts, celebrated with prayers and offerings for academic success.
- Basanti Puja: A springtime worship of Goddess Durga, believed to be the original timing of Durga Puja before it was shifted to autumn.
- Janmashtami: A joyous celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth, marked by fasting, devotional singing, and reenactments of his childhood pastimes.
- Shani Puja: A ritual to honor Lord Shani, the deity of karma and justice, performed to seek protection from hardships and negative planetary influences.
- Satyanarayan Puja: A sacred worship of Lord Vishnu in his Satyanarayan form, performed to bring prosperity, remove obstacles, and express gratitude.
- Shyama Puja: A powerful night of devotion to Goddess Kali, observed on the new moon, symbolizing the destruction of evil and the triumph of divine energy.
- Holi/Dol Purnima: A vibrant festival of colors celebrating the arrival of spring and the divine love of Radha and Krishna.
- Baba Lokenath Festival: A devotional event in honor of Baba Lokenath, where devotees fast and light lamps as a symbol of faith and prayer.
- Maha Shiva Ratri: A sacred night dedicated to Lord Shiva, marked by fasting, prayers, and meditation to overcome darkness and ignorance.
- Harinam Chanting: A spiritual practice of congregational chanting of the holy names of Krishna, fostering devotion and inner peace.
- Sindur Khela: A Bengali Hindu tradition where married Bengali women apply sindur (vermilion) on each other’s forehead and feet of Goddess Durga to express solidarity on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami after Durga Puja.
- Pohela Boishakh: Celebration of Bangla New Year in April.
Membership:
- General Member: Membership is open to any person of legal age eighteen (18) years or older who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The candidate must understand and be sincere, dedicated, and committed to society’s principles, values, and objectives. General membership requires a $10 application fee and a $5 monthly fee.
- Founder Members: Funders who donated $5,000 to build the temple are permanent members with advisory and decision-making powers. Their decisions are binding on all other committee members. Founder members can not be removed, changed, or altered.
- Life members: Life members pay monthly dues for life, with a minimum donation of $100 for the first seven years towards the temple mortgage. Founder members are automatically life members.
Team:
President:
Vice President:
General Secretary:
Joint-Secretary:
Treasurer: