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Community members eating lunch on the picnic tables outside the temple. |
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Community members eating lunch on the picnic tables outside the temple. |
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One of several tents set up outside the main temple to accommodate the thousands of attendees. |
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Intergeneration community members. |
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Two friends tying Raksha Bhandan thread (a symbolic affirmation and establishment of family and social relationship) on each other's wrists. |
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Community members enjoying dinner in the tent. |
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Two young boy-scout volunteers resting after helping collect twigs for the havan (auspicious invocation of fire). |
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Attentive volunteers and organizers. |
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Children dressed in colorful Indian clothes eager to participate in the ceremony. |
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Children dressed in colorful Indian clothes eager to participate in the ceremony. |
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Children dressed in colorful Indian clothes eager to participate in the ceremony. |
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Dr. Krishnamurthy, a learned scholar and professor, came from India to attend the opening ceremony. Here he is explaining the meaning and purpose of the rituals. |
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The President and his wife leading the board of trustees into the temple. |
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Community members enter in lines to see the ceremonies. |
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Grandmother explaining the ceremony to her grandchild. |
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Community members sing aarti (prayer) at the conclusion of the havan (auspicious invocation of fire). |
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Community members singing aarti at the conclusion of the havan (auspicious invocation of fire). |
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The President of the Temple Association, Dr. Sarma and his wife Dr. Patibanda, lead the community members into the temple. |
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"Shanti Priya" (the adopted calf of the temple) enjoys loving attention from the community members. |
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Community members sit in the tent outside observing the havan (auspicious invocation of fire). |
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Priest circulating objects to be offered in the havan (auspicious invocation of fire). |
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Community ladies engrossed in the ceremony. |
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Joyful Children. |
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Ladies carrying Kalash with water. |
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President of Temple explaining to Delaware Senator Biden, Delaware Senator Carper and other local dignitaries the design and the significance of the temple. |
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Welcoming committees greets the dignitaries and community members at the opening ceremonies. |
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Community members enjoying the Indian food. |
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Community members enjoying the Indian food. |
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Visitors from India enjoy this once-in a lifetime opportunity to witness the opening celebrations of a temple. |
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Community members carefully watch the rituals. |
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Ladies excited to participate in the temple activities. |
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Members of all ages join in the festivities. |
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Ladies carry Kalash of water on their heads. |
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Temple President supervising the weekend ceremonies. |
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Community members anxiously gather around the temple. |
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So many people in the community came to attend the weekend festivities, that the temple had little sitting or standing room. |
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Children and adults enjoy socializing with each other. |
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Community members await the arrival of the helicopter to shower flower petals over the temple ground. |
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Members participating in rituals outside the temple. |
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People of all ages gather to catch a glimpse of the priests conducting the ceremonies. |
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People of all ages gather to catch a glimpse of the priests conducting the ceremonies. |
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Grandmother and grandchild enjoy the eating and relaxing outside the temple. |
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Previous Temple President, Arjun Sau, enjoys talking to the community members. |
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Children and adults enjoy receiving temple "goody bags" filled with sweets, and other auspicious objects to remember the installation of the temple. |
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Family members enjoy the periodic "Potluck Dinners" |
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Mother and daughter enjoy a tasty Indian meal at the temple. |
