Houston Durga Bari Society
State Texas
Website: https://durgabari.org
The Houston Durga Bari Society (HDBS) is a community organization in Houston, TX, primarily supported by devotees with roots in Bengal, dedicated to serving the greater Hindu and Indian community. It holds the distinction of being the first Durga temple in North America. In eastern India Durga Bari mean home of Goddess Durga. This temple is primarily maintained by Bengali community of the Houston area. In Bengal region Durga Puja is the biggest festival of the year an millions of devotees participate and wait for Durga puja every year.
Key Aspects of HDBS:
- Mission: To serve the Hindu community by promoting religious, cultural, educational, social, and charitable activities, including inter-faith understanding.
- History: HDBS was founded in 1995 with the vision of a temple cum community center. The temple was officially inaugurated in September 2000, and the first Durga Puja was celebrated there that same month.
- Durga Puja: HDBS is well-known for its vibrant and large-scale Durga Puja celebrations, considered the largest in North America, attracting thousands of visitors and featuring elaborate concerts, cultural programs, and more.
- Facilities: The facility sits on six acres of land and includes a main temple, an auditorium, a multi-purpose education center (Kala Bhavan), sports fields, and an external kitchen/pavilion.
- Religious Activities: HDBS conducts weekly pujas, celebrates all Hindu festivals, and holds monthly religious discourses. They also offer various services like Batsaric, Anniversary, Birthday, and Marriage pujas.
- Cultural and Educational Programs: HDBS offers a variety of cultural and educational programs, including a Bengali language school, where Bengali language and literature are taught, and recitation and drama classes at Kala Bhavan.
- Community Focus: HDBS serves as a community hub, fostering a sense of unity and connection among those interested in Indian heritage. They also provide opportunities for volunteering.