Hindu Temple of Greater Cincinnati

Aradhana
TM

Paush/maha Vikram Samvat 2079

January 2023

TEMPLE TIMINGS
Temple Address for GPS Website: www.cincinnatitemple.com
Mon to Fri 9AM - 12:45PM & 5PM - 8PM
720 Barg Salt Run Road Email: hindutempleogc@gmail.com
Sat & Sun 9AM - 8PM
Cincinnati, Ohio 45244 Phone: (513) 528-3714
Major Hindu Holidays 9AM - 8PM

Mailing address for sending donation checks: HSGC 4920 Klatte Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45244

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023!!

We would like to congratulate and welcome the members of
the incoming Executive Council for the year 2023. For details,
please visit the 2023 Executive Council.
As we say goodbye to an eventful 2022, we want to recognize
the outgoing Executive Council members Raj Bodalia, Kirti
Parikh, Sadhna Verma and Ashis Maity and their many contri-
butions to the temple and the devotees. We sincerely thank
them for their time, efforts and service.

Aradhana January 2023 Page 1

 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 2023 2023 Puja Committee &
President: A. Vinod Sudhakar 513-607-5760 Religious Activities Members
vinodemail@gmail.com
Senthil Karmegam(Chair) 304-610-2823
Vice President: Ajay K Munsif 859-803-4432 Kiran Dayal (In-charge: Temple Events) 513-474-4051
ajay.munsif@yahoo.com Meena Sondhi (In-charge: Scheduling Private Puja) 513-290-7541
Secretary: Saravanan Sakthivel 513-376-3050 Acharya Kailash Sharma 513-770-0705
saravanan.sakthivel@gmail.com Acharya Chakreshwar Sharma 513-376-2982
Pandit Srinath Bhattar 513-528-3714
Treasurer: Ramesh Sondhi 513-218-3609 Pundit Muthu Meenakshi Shivachariar 513-237-0214
ramesh.sondhi47@gmail.com Madhu Sharma 513-807-5081
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS Jyoti Desai 513-885-1318
Puja Committee: Senthil Karmegam 304-610-2823 Sangita Patel 513-791-0855
senthil.karmegam@gmail.com Vilas Patel 513-226-2154
Mangala Nemade 513-234-8373
Communications: Sampath Rallapalli 513-765-0527 Suchitra Mishra 513-573-9775
hsgc.aradhana@gmail.com Triveni Dave 859-371-9645
Latha M. Gowda 513-891-4184
Fundraising: Rani Dhamija 513-324-0606 Thavamani Natrajan 818-523-1631
shivrani07@gmail.com Rajesh Padmanabham 513-226-4279
Membership/ Hareshkumar Baldevbhai513-257-1804 Sheetal Khanvikar 330-844-8201
Volunteering: Patel J.S. Karthikeyan 513-382-2575
Harrypatel41@gmail.com Anand Konda 732-423-1539
Prop. Management: Mitesh Patel 513-349-5862 Rajan Odavar 513-336-6843
miteshpatel86@live.com
Cultural Activities: Kanupriya Sharma 513-893-6188 Temple Manager’s Committees
c.kanupriya@gmail.com Manager: Laxmi Shanker Srivastava 513-378-5476
Religious Education: N Ganesh Yadlapalli 857-719-1500 CFO: Saravanan Sakthivel 513-376-3050
ngy51@hotmail.com Legal Advisor Pavan Parikh
Youth Engagement: Neetu Verma 937-475-6453 Office Manager: Mohan Chopra
2vermas@gmail.com Swami Lectures: Meena Mehta, Koti Srikrishna,
Ganesh Yadlapalli
Long Range Krutarth Jain 513-884-1259 Adult Education: Meena Mehta, Ganesh Yadalapalli,
Planning: krutarthjain@yahoo.com Koti Sreekrishna
Technology: Subhas Bhandari 513-570-2008 Temple Database: Nandkumar Khemchandani,
subhas.here@gmail.com Raj Badolia, Greg Smith
Events: Jiten Keswani 317-313-8467 Community Relations: Meena Mehta
jiten.keswani@gmail.com E-Mail Data: Greg Smith,
Sports: Kamlesh Singh 513-884-7862 Nandkumar Khemchandani
Gift Shop: Meena Sondhi, Vina Bajaj
Raghuvanshi Security: Greg Smith, Kailash Sharma
ksingh7562@gmail.com (Dial One) Pinakin Bhakta
Financial Data: Nand Kumar Khemchandani,
PRIESTS Raj Bodalia, Laxmi Srivastava
Chief Acharya Kailash Sharma 513-652-5382 Project Manager: Vithal Nemade
Temple Website: Bharat Vala, Greg Smith,
Priest: acharyaksharma@yahoo.com
Priest: Acharya Chakreshwar Sharma 513-376-2982 Temple: Meena Mehta, Ashvin Mehta,
acharyachakreshwar@yahoo.com Calendar: Acharya Kailash Sharma
Priest: Pundit Srinath Bhattar 513-488-2986 Volunteer Mohan Chopra, Rajan Odayar,
bhattarsrinath@yahoo.com Services: Kedarnath Nambori
Priest: Acharya Arun Gurukkal 513-237-0214 Vijay Sharma
Temple - Greg Smith, Naba Mishra,
sundarammuthumeenakshi@gmail.com Photographer: V G Ramaswamy
Mela Committee: A. Vinod Sudhakar, Kartik, Deepak Dixit,
RELIGIOUS COUNSELOR Pinakin Bhakta, Raneshwar Gupta,
Jyoti Desai, Amar Sharma, Raj Bodalia
Koti Sreekrishna 513-290-3064 tatachar@aol.com Ramleela Cmte: Vinod Sudhakar, Kamlesh Singh

Members of History Committee

Durga Project Program
Amulya Tyagi (Chair Person) Domestic Abuse/Violence Contact
Ambi Balasubramaniam Kalpana Parekh 513-505-6886
Mohan Chopra Avisha Gulrajani 513-591-9739
Meena Mehta
Laxmi Srivastava
Aradhana January 2023 Page 2
 Puja and Rental Charges

RATES FOR PUJA & PRIEST SERVICES|

TEMPLE RENTAL - LOWER FLOOR ONLY

SERVICES IN OUTSIDE
Full day Half day
TEMPLE TEMPLE
Monday -Thursday
Abhishekam (All Deities) $101.00 —
(except holidays) $ 401.00 $ 225.00
Aksharabhyas $101.00 $151.00
Akhand Ramayan Paath $251.00 $501.00 Friday, Saturday & Holidays $601.00 $401.00
Anna-Prashanam $101.00 $151.00
Sunday after 3PM only not rented $401.00
Anniversary celebration $151.00 $201.00
Ashta Prakari Puja (Mahavir) $101.00 $151.00 Use of Kitchen $ 201.00 $101.00
Ashtottharam (108) Archana $ 11.00 — Use of Kitchen w/paper products $251.00 $ 151.00
AyushyaHomam/B’day Celeb. $101.00 $151.00
Ganesh Puja $101.00 $151.00 Full Day: 8.00 am-11.00 pm
Ground Breaking Ceremony — $151.00
Half Day: 8.00 am-2.00 pm or 4.00 pm - 11.00 pm
Griha Pravesh (House Warming) — $151.00
Griha Pravesh w/SatyaNarayan Puja — $201.00 TEMPLE RENTAL - YAGNASHALA ONLY
Kalayana Uthsava $151.00 $201.00 Havan/General Wedding/other
Kesh Khandan/Mundan/Churakrn $101.00 $151.00 functions functions
Mata Ki Chauki** $251.00 $301.00** Monday –Friday $100.00 $250.00
Naam-Karan $101.00 $151.00 Saturday & Sunday $350.00
Navagraha Puja $101.00 $151.00 Note:
Nischitartham (Engagement) $151.00 $251.00 All Temple rentals require a $ 200.00 security deposit. It will
Nitya (1 Day) Kainkaryam (Seva) $101.00 --- be forfeited if the basement hall, upstairs, bathrooms and the
Sahasranama (1008) Archana $ 51.00 --- kitchen area are not cleaned by the party renting the space.
Sathyanarayana Puja $101.00 $151.00
CONTACTS
Sathayanarayan Puja w/Havan $131.00 $201.00
Seemantham(Baby Shawer) $151.00 $201.00 To schedule Puja or To rent Lower Level or
Shanti Path $101.00 $151.00 Yagnashala
Shashti Poorthi (60th B’day) $201.00 $251.00 Meena Sondhi 513-290-7541 Meena.sondhi@gmail.com
Sunderkand Path $101.00 $151.00
Suprabhat Seva $ 21.00 ---
Thread Ceremony $151.00 $251.00 PUJA COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Unjal (Swing) Seva $ 31.00 --- [If you have any question or suggestion about temple activities
Upakarma (Thread changing) $ 51.00 --- contact Senthil Karmegam 304-610-2823, or any EC Member or
the Temple at 513-528-3714]
Upanayam/Brahmopadesham/
1. Archana performed during temple hours by sponsorship.
Vahan Puja $ 51.00 ----
2. No Archana on Sundays between 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Wedding ($ 251.00 Advance Deposit required) 3. Outside Pujas and other religious services will be
$301.00 $501.00 conducted by appointment only.
4. To schedule any Puja please contact Meena Sondhi at least
Funeral (Last Rites) $ 201.00 one week in advance.
Yearly Shradham (Barkhi) $101.00 $151.00 5. Food and Prasad : To bring to the temple please contact
Puja Committee chairperson .
6. Pujas performed outside the temple will be rated according
** Rates of Mata Ki Chauki performed at another temple will be to the number of Pujas performed
50% of the money collected at the temple or a minimum of 7. Puja Samagri- for convenience of devotees, the temple
$1001.00. can provide Puja Samagri for a donation of $ 21.00 for any
Puja, and $ 31.00 for any puja including Havan/Homam
** Rates of Mata Ki Chauki performed at the residence which is 8. Cancellations of Puja should be done 3 days in advance,
greater than 50 miles away from temple, charge is $501.00. otherwise full fee for the Puja will be charged.

Rates are subject to change without notice. Rates of Pujas Priest Dakshina
not listed above and requiring less than four hours of
priest’s time will normally be $ 101.00 (inside the temple)
The rates for Puja and Priest services DO NOT include Priest
and $ 151.00 ( outside of temple). Rates of Pujas/ wedding
Dakshina. Sponsors (devotees) are encouraged to provide
out of Greater Cincinnati area are as follows:
Priest Dakshina of their own volition and satisfaction. The
a) Up to 50 miles - $151.00, b) 50 - 80 miles - $251.00
dakshina goes directly to the Priest. A reimbursement of
c) 80 - 110 miles - $351.00, d) More than 110 miles - $501.00.
travel expenses for the Priest during outside puja is required
e) Wedding - $1,001.00
at 0.50 cents/mile.

Aradhana January 2023 Page 3

 2023 Executive Council

A. Vinod Sudhakar Ajay K. Munsif Saravanan Sakthivel Ramesh Sondhi

President Vice President Secretary Treasurer

Krutarth Jain Mitesh Patel Rani Dhamija Senthil Karmegam

Long range planning Property Manager Fund raising Puja Committee

Sampath Rallapalli N. Ganesh Yadlapalli Kanupriya Sharma Haresh Kumar Baldevbhai

Communications Religious Education Cultural Activities Patel
Membership/Volunteering

Subhas Bhandari Kamlesh Singh Neetu Verma Jiten Keswani

Technology Committee Raghuvanshi Youth Engagement Events Committee
Sports Committee

Aradhana January 2023 Page 4

 December 2022 General Body Update and
Request for Responses
In the General Body meeting held on December 11th,2022, the following updates were pro-
vided by Executive Council

Financial Update
2022 Accomplishments
1. Front Project – Jump Start
2. Anniversary Celebration
3. Pioneer felicitation
4. Student Government
5. Nepal, Bhutan Flags
6. Mela, Taste of India, Naach Sitare
7. Independence Day – flag hoisting
8. HMEC in Cincinnati
9. Ramlila
10. Loan Payoff on Diwali

2023 Plans
PROJECTS EVENTS
1. Front Project – Break ground 1. Mela / Naach Sitare over 2 days
2. HVAC replacement / geothermal 2. Constitution review
3. Solar 3. Sports + 5K
4. Member Database 4. New Pujas
5. Phone System 5. Volunteer events
6. Temple (Church) Mgmt System 6. Karaoke events
7. Youth events
8. Adult Gita / Upanishads

After the above updates and with the explanation of the upcoming work the present General Body mem-
bers were requested to vote on 5 additional EC positions for the year 2023.

The justification was: “The past year saw a tremendous growth in the attendance and events at the tem-
ple and despite all the efforts by EC members, certain goals could not be accomplished.”

In response to this the General Body members present voted unanimously to approve the posi-
tions:
1. Technology Committee Chair
2. Membership and Volunteering Chair (carved out responsibilities from Fundraising committee)
3. Youth Engagement Chair
4. Sports Committee Chair
5. Event Committee Chair

Since the present members totaled 38, the vote was termed a provisional vote and the EC is there-
fore seeking all members to send in their vote via email to hsgc2022@yahoo.com.

If a member does not send in their vote by January 6th, 2023 such a member’s vote will be consid-
ered a Yes vote.

Aradhana January 2023 Page 5

 Regular Programs
For more details, please call Senthil Karmegam 304-610-2823
or Priests 513-528-3714
Daily Aarti Everyday Evening 7:30 pm

Weekly programs
Monday 6:30 pm Shiv Mahimna Stotram
Tuesday 6:30 pm Hanuman Chalisa Path
Thursday 7:00 pm Vishnu Sahasranam Parayan
(contact: Usha Mokkapati 409-354-3629)
Friday 6:30 pm Venkateswar Puja

Monthly programs
Satya Narayan Puja Abhishekam / Kalyanotsavam for
Every Purnima of the month 6:30 pm
Sponsorship $51
LORD SRI VENKATESWARA
Contact Senthil Karmegam or Temple Priests Every Fourth Saturday 10:00am to 12:30 pm
To sponsor and details please call any of the following
Anand Konda 732-423-1539
Purushottam Naam Stotra Parayan Vasundhara Dasari 513-827-5160 / 777-3353
Suseela Paturi 513-867-8591
Every Second Wednesday 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm Sunitha Manukonda 513-900-0605 / 770-0255
For details please call: Meena Mehta 513-574-6763 Pandit Bhattar 513-488-2986

Navgrah Puja Sunder Kand Path

Every First Saturday Every Third Sunday 10:30 am to 1:00 pm
Sangita Patel 513-791-0855
Sponsors needed for Puja $51 Acharya. Kailash Sharma 513-652-5382
Contact Senthil Karmegam or Temple Priests
Shri Ganesh Puja & Atharvshirsha
Sai Bhajans Path
Every First Saturday at 6 pm to 7:30 pm Every Fourth Sunday 11:00 am
Dr. Ganesh 857-719-1500; Rajan 513-331-2058 This puja is dedicated to each month’s
Sankashti Chaturthi to Lord Ganesh
For more information & to sponsor the puja please call
Murugan Abhishekam/Puja Padmaja Patkar 513-847-7918
Senthil Karmegam 304-610-2823
Normally on Second Saturday
(Follow the schedule on page #8.)
Pandit Muthu Meenakshi Shivachariar 513-488-2986 Shri Jagannath Puja
Saravanan Sakhtivel 513-376-3050 Sunday October 23rd, 11:00 am
Natrajan Thavamani 818-523-1631 For more information & to sponsor the puja please call
Rajesh Padmanabham 513-226-4279 Suchitra Mishra 513-573-9775
Contact Senthil Karmegam or Temple Priests Contact Senthil Karmegam or Temple Priests

1008 Gayatri Jap (once a month) Gurukul Activities

Any Saturday or Sunday of the month. Every Sunday 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Please check the calendar Contact: Dr. Ganesh Yadlapalli 857-791-1500
Contact Dr. Ganesh Yadlapalli or Temple Priests Priya Dayal 513-508-8866

Aradhana January 2023 Page 6

Aradhana January 2023 Page 7
 January 2023
Jan. 1st Sun New Year Ganpati Homa/Havan 11am .
Sponsorship $51
Jan. 1st Sun. Bhajans 6pm Aarti 7:30pm Temple open
9am to 8pm
Jan. 2nd Mon. Vaikunth Ekadashi Vaikunth dwaram Puja
10am
Jan. 7th Sat. Ayyappan Abhishekam 10am
Jan. 7th Sat. Navgrah Puja 3pm Sponsorship $51
Jan. 7th Sat. Mata Ki Chouki 3:30pm
Sponsored by Dr. Premshankar and Kiran Verma Family.
th
Jan. 8 Sun Sunderkand Path 10:30am
Jan. 10th Tues Sankashti Chaturthi Puja 6pm
Jan. 13th Fri Lohri Celebration 6pm
Jan. 14th Sat. Goda Kalyanam 10am
Jan 14 Sat. Makar Sankranti /Uttarayan
Jan. 14th Sat. Ayyappan Abhishekam 5pm
Jan 15th Sun. Murugan Abhishekam 9am
Jan. 21st Sat. 1008 Gayatri Japa 10am
Jan. 22nd Sun. Ganesh Puja and Atharvashirsh Path 11am
Jan. 26th Thur. Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja 10am
Jan. 28th Sat. Venkateshwara Abhishekam 10am Sponsor-
ship $51
Jan. 29th Sun. Jagannath Puja 11am

Aradhana January 2023 Page 8

 February 2023
Feb. 4th Sat Navgrah Puja 3pm Sponsorship $51.00
Feb. 4th Sat. Murugan Abhishekam 4pm
Feb. 4th Sat. Ayyappan Abhishekam 10am
Feb. 5th Sun. Vasant Panchami celebration 11am Spon-
sored by Agrani
Feb. 5th Sun. Satya Narayan Puja Purnima 5:30pm Spon-
sorship $51
Feb 8th Wed. Sankashti Chaturthi Puja 6:30pm

Feb. 11th Sat. Sai Bhajans 6pm

Feb. 12th Sun. 1008 Gayatri Japa 10am
Feb. 18th Sat. Maha Shivratri celebration 9am to 6am next
day.
Feb. 19th Sun. Sunderkand Path 10:30am
Feb. 25th Sat. Ayyappan Abhishekam 5pm
Feb. 25th Sat. Venkateshwar Abhishekam 10AM
Feb. 26th Sun. Ganesh Puja & Atharvashirsh Path 11am

Feb 27th Mon. Holastak Begins

Aradhana January 2023 Page 9

NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
Saturday - January 1st, 2023
Temple open 9am to 8pm

11:00 am Ganpati puja Havan / Homam

1:00 pm Maha Mangal Aarti

Sponsorship $51.00

Evening Program 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Bhajans followed by Mangal Aarti.

Aradhana January 2023 Page 10

 VAIKUNTHA EKADASHI CELEBRATION

Monday, January 2nd,2023

10:00 am to 11:30 am
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Suprabhatam, Vaikuntha Dwara Puja,

Mantra pushpam, Archana.

Aarti, Archana all day, During temple hours

10:00 am to 11:30 am
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Prasad (Dinner)

Sponsorship: $51, $21.

For details, please call:
Temple 513-518-3714,
Sri Srinath Bhattar 513-488-2986.
Anand Konda 732-423-1539.

Aradhana January 2023 Page 11

 MATA KI CHOUKI
Saturday, January 7th, 2023
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Devi Puja

4:30 pm - 7:00 pm Mata Bheten
7:00 pm Bhog Aarti. Prasad (Dinner)

Sponsored by: Prem Shankar and Kiran Verma

Family

Aradhana January 2023 Page 12

 Lohri Celebration
Friday, January 13th, 2023. 6:00 pm

For details and sponsorship, please call Rani Dhamija 513 324-0606 and
Temple 513 528 3714.
-
Significance of Lohri
Lohri is an agricultural festival, filled with merry-making. It is celebrated in the state of
Punjab celebrated day before Makar Sankranti. Lohri is celebrated to denote the last
day of the coldest days of winter. The festival of Lohri is celebrated outdoors, a bonfire is
lit, and friends and relatives gather around. Singing and dancing form an intrinsic part of
the celebrations. People wear their brightest clothes and come to dance
the bhangra and gidda to the beat of the dhol. The prasad comprises of five main things:
til, gazak, gur, moongphali (peanuts), and phuliya or popcorn. An offering is also made of
this Prasad to the sacred fire. Lohri is celebrated throughout the country in different
forms, as a harvest festival. It is called Pongal in the South, Bhugali Bihu in Assam, Bho-
gi in Andhra Pradesh and Sankranti in the central part of the country.

Aradhana January 2023 Page 13

Aradhana January 2023 Page 14
 Vasant Panchami Celebration
Sunday February 5th,2023
10:30 am to 1:00 pm

10:30 am to 11:30 am Saraswati Puja

11:30 am to 11:45 am Vidyarambha Puja (For Children)
11:45 am to 12:00 pm Pushpanjali Offerings
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Bhajans, Pravachan & Aarti,
Prasad ( Lunch)

Event is sponsored by: Agrani Bengali Group.

For Details, please contact:

Temple 513-528-3714.

Aradhana January 2023 Page 15

 Raise Money For Our Temple
By enrolling Kroger’s Community Services Project
Thanks to all members who have used their Kroger Plus card to raise money
for the temple. For years Kroger has been helping local schools, churches and
other qualified nonprofit organizations earn millions of dollars through their
Kroger Community Rewards Program! Our temple “Hindu Temple of Greater
Cincinnati” has been registered as a non profit organization with Kroger’s
Community Services Project.

Easy Steps for Enrollment: (takes less than 5 minutes)

1 A digital account is needed to participate in Kroger Community Rewards.

Once you have the Kroger’s digital account, Simply register online at
wwwkrogercommunityrewards.com Be sure to have your Kroger plus card
handy so you can register your card with our organization “Hindu Society of
Greater Cincinnati” or the NPO number “JN240”
2 To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization’s name
on your page. REMEMBER, purchase will not count for your organization
until after you register your card.
3 You must swipe your registered Kroger Plus card when shopping for each
purchase to count.
4 Simply follow Kroger’s new and easy steps for ….Community Services Pro-
ject to Donate Money without costing you a single dime!!!

Please take a few minutes to…..Help our Hindu temple of Greater Cincin-
nati…...simply by shopping!

Aradhana January 2023 Page 16

 OM
Gurukul
The Hindu Society of Greater Cincinnati

Dear All

Religious education to all age groups is an important mission of Hindu Soci-

ety of Greater Cincinnati. We thank our Gurus who are willing to share time
and other resources to give religious and spiritual education for students.
We thank Youth Group for Indian Cultures (YGIC), Dayton, Ohio for allowing
us to adopt their curriculum.

Thank you

HSGC

Detailed information is available on the website under “youth” menu.

Aradhana January 2023 Page 17

Aradhana January 2023 Page 18
 PRSRT STD
US Postage
PAI D
Permit #6398
Cincinnati, Ohio

Directions to the Hindu Temple From I-275 take Exit 63A (32West) - Stay on left at the exit- turn right onto
OLD 74 –take first right- after 1/4th mile turn left at the first Traffic light onto Summerside Road. After
approximately one mile turn right onto Klatte Road and then right on Barg salt Run Road. About a mile or so turn
left into temple road. From UC: Take E McMillan to Columbia Pkwy to Beechmont Ave to Route 32 East (to
Batavia). Turn left on Old SR -74. Temple phone no.+1 (513) 528-3714.

The temple’s newsletter “Aradhana” is Pub-

lished Monthly and Circulated to approximately
2000 Families
Monthly Advertising Rates
Aradhana Full Page-$300; Half Page-$150;
Quarter Page- $100 & 1/8th page- $50
(A 10% discount is given for 12 consecutive repetitions of the same ad-
vertisement.)

The advertisement rate for each Email Blast is $100.00

The Temple website advertisement rate is $100.00/month

The payment is due at the time of the advertisement.

Your comments or suggestions to improve Aradhana or website are always welcome. Please
contact at 513-765-0527 or email at hsgc.aradhana@gmail.com

Aradhana January 2023 Page 19