Temple's fifth anniversary brings traditions of Hinduism and India to Utah
By Jessica Ravitz
Adopted from India and brought home to Utah early last year by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and his wife, Mary Kaye, little Asha seemed to relish the colorful celebration and crowds that surrounded her at South Jordan's Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple. She, her parents and most of her siblings came to the temple for the first time last week to commemorate its fifth anniversary.
"She kept reaching out for the Indian women," Mary Kaye Huntsman marveled later. "There's something deeper that we can't understand. . . . We will come out here often."
| Hindu Temple celebration  |
Hindu priests greeted Utah's first family with Sanskrit blessings, and those gathered around, in vibrant saris and other customary clothing, sprinkled their guests with holy water and flower petals as they walked inside to stand before golden shrines. The governor, his head wrapped - turban-style - in a traditional crown of royalty, stood with Asha in his arms as the priests presented Lord Ganesha, the elephant-faced deity who removes all obstacles, with offerings of food, incense and chants. Community leaders honored the family with sweets and auspicious markings on their foreheads and then guided them through the temple to its various gods and goddesses, including the ones for strength, learning and wealth, and its shrine for the nine celestial beings.
Outside, beneath blue skies, the governor helped unveil the temple's two new granite pillars before thanking the crowd of hundreds, a mere sampling of the nearly 5,000 Utahns with ties to India, for bringing the traditions of Hinduism and their native country to Utah.
"By doing so, you make us a better and stronger state," he said. "Thank you for honoring us, and we hope in return we're honoring you."
The Huntsmans enjoyed a traditional dance, performed for them, as firecrackers sounded in the background. Before heading off, the governor helped bless an ornate chariot, replete with statues and offerings, with a traditional coconut breaking - a symbolic releasing of the ego. Re-enacting an Indian festival, in which deities are taken out of the temple and brought to worshippers' homes, the community circled the grounds - the chariot in tow - in a procession rich with dances, costumes and songs.
Music blared from outdoor speakers as the crowd stopped for performances, along a decorated pathway, to honor India's various states. Their folk dances told stories, including one of a horned-demon being overtaken by Goddess Durga, and their costumes represented regions. The people chanted, clapped and cheered as they slowly circled the temple.
Little girls, bejeweled and dressed in their traditional finest, ran across the temple lawn and flew high on nearby swings. Women carried covered brass pots of milk and water, meant to bring good luck to families, Kusum Dhiman, of North Ogden, explained.
They feasted on vegetarian dishes, including curried chick peas, rice and lentil cakes and mango ice cream, as kids in costume prepared to take the outdoor stage. Most were dressed as gods and goddesses. There were twin toddlers dressed as Lord Rama, with prop bows and arrows slung over their backs. Shreya Harikumar, 5, of South
The Kavadi dance, a tradition of the state of Tamil Nadu, is performed during the celebration, which featured customs from various regions of India. (Chris Detrick/The Salt Lake Tribune )
"I am Goddess Andal," she said, draped in green and golden accessories and with a cardboard lotus and parrot in hand. "I am wife of Lord Rangathana. I wrote thirupavai [poems] for my lord."
The adults applauded when they weren't taking video or photos. Seeing their children take pride in Indian culture and Hindu traditions was something to smile about.
India, a country that had been ruled for centuries by outsiders - including the Arab incursions of the eighth century and later the British - developed a people with an "ethos of not being able to celebrate their own heritage," said Indra Neelameggham, the temple administrator. Because of this, festivals took on special significance, offering excuses to dress up, decorate and perform.
Back in India, Sampath Prahalad, a pediatric rheumatologist of Sandy, said playing a central role in festivals wasn't easy for everyone. It was more competitive, and political connections came into play. But in Utah, on land where snow-capped mountains loom in the background, the Indian and Hindu community is for all people.
"Here, everyone has a chance to participate," he said.
And that includes the governor's daughter.
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* JESSICA RAVITZ can be reached at jravitz@sltrib.com or 801-257-8776. Send comments to religioneditor@sltrib.com.
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