Welcome
The Hindu Temple of Greater New Orleans is located in Metairie on Transcontinental Boulevard. The main hall on the ground floor has a newly imported altar with separate niches for various deities. The consecrated icons represent Shiva and his consort Parvati, Ganesh, Rama, Sita, the devout simian Hanuman, Radha-Krishna, Mahavir, and Guru Nanak standing about three feet tall, these brightly colored images appear, even to outsiders, most approachable as they evoke the prayers and offerings of the Hindu community. Like most temples, the prayer halls have very little furniture, thereby enhancing the prominence of the altar located against an inner wall of the temple. Worshippers and guests alike receive the tilak, a red dot place on the forehead, and a piece of fruit or sweet which has been offered at the altar ("prasad"). Before the installation of the new altar service were held in the large space on the second floor of the temple.
Activities and Daily Hours
Morning: 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM, ("Aarti" at 8:00 AM)
Evening: 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM ("Aarti" at 8:00 PM)
The temple holds worship ceremonies ("pooja") during special festival days. Festivals that fall on weekdays are generally celebrated in the evening hours.
The Priest
Our scholarly priest, Dr. Bharat Joshi is a Vedagana, Yajurved Samhita, and Vedpathi. He is a pioneer in Shradh Vidi and president of “Ved Dharm Pracharak Mandal”. He can perform all types of Shubh & Ashubh Vedic Karma Kand, and is acharya of all types of Yagnas and Pran-Pratishta of LORDS. Dr. Joshi can also carry out pooja for all the 16 sanskars of life like wedding, Yagnopavit, baby shower, Satyanarayan Pooja, Vastu Pooja etc. Other Hindu rituals performed by our priest are Uttarkriyas (post death vidhi), all types of Shraddh vidhi, diagnosis of bhoomi dosh & its solutions, diagnosis of problems of atma after death and their solutions. Dr. Joshi is fluent in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Sanskrit.
