A Pushti Marg Temple in Pennsylvania

Atul Parikh, a highly respected Indian architect, in front of the new temple (haveli) at Vraj which he designed.

Images (murti) of Hindu deities for sale in a bazaar during the long series of dedicatory events, May 25 - June 16, 2002.

Entrance to the bazaar.

Paintings and furniture for home shrines for sale in the bazaar.

Musical instruments for sale in the bazaar.

Approaching the bazaar where Indian vendors display their wares.

As the procession approaches the new temple (haveli) a spontaneous outpouring of emotion and dance takes the form of a bhajan.

Looking across a pond named Chandra Sarovar (literally, "moon lake") at the new temple.

Dancers portray both cultural and Indian national values.

Dancers performing at Vraj trained in the United States in a variety of forms of Indian classical dance.

Dancers portray both cultural and Indian national values.

Backstage at the Cultural Center erected on the Vraj property for public performances.

A comedic play portrays east-west conflict in a middle class Indian family.

Impromptu remarks by Dr.Allen Richardson on stage at the Cultural Center at Vraj.

Dr. Catherine Cameron and Dr. Allen Richardson on stage at Vraj awarding gifts to performers.

Priest attending to the needs of Sri Nathji during a darshan at the new temple (haveli) at Vraj. A hindola or swing is also provided for the deity.

Long shot of the worship area of the temple. The picture shows the verandah of Shri NathjiÌs haveli with a pond erected in front for a special darshan. The haveli has been constructed within the temple.

Pilgrims congregating for prasad, food blessed by the deity and offered at no charge to devotees.

Vraj leadership offering gifts to a visiting Goswami on stage at the Cultural Center. The Goswamis are spiritual leaders of the faith who are direct descendents of its founder, Vallabhacharya (1470 - 1532 C.E.)

View from the temple across the Chandra Sarovar as bus loads of pilgrims arrive at Vraj for the dedication.

Entrance to exhibit of baithaks or traditional places of pilgrimage established during VallabhaÌs lifetime. The exhibits serve as symbolic references that are identified with VallabhaÌs own journeys to holy sites in India.

Example of a baithak showing Vallabha.

Tents erected for food vendors during the dedication ceremonies.

Hungry pilgrims purchase traditional Gujarati food from vendors.

A throng of pilgrims surrounding the Goswamis during the procession to the new temple.

Researchers (Richardson and Cameron) in an audience with visiting Goswamis who explained the special darshans that were conducted during the dedication.

Helicopters landing near the temple bring priests from New York, New Jersey and Houston to the dedication.

Helicopter dropping flower petals on the new temple as an expression of worship (puja) as throngs of pilgrims press toward the temple carrying banners.

Helicopter circling the temple in a traditional sign of respect and worship.

First helicopter landing carrying a priest from another pushti marg temple in the United States for the final day of dedication ceremonies.

Assembled masses eagerly await the approach of the first helicopter carrying a priest.

The procession halts on the ramp entrance to the new temple with helicopter hovering above.

Beaming priest in saffron shirt leaving helicopter arrives for the dedication.

Arrival of third helicopter carrying a priest for the dedication.

Decorative swing called a hindola for sale in the bazaar. In the Vallabhacharya tradition, the hindola is also employed as a seat for the image of Krishna as a child.

Decorative swing (hindola) outside of the bazaar which also sells books, musical instruments and Ayurvedic medicine.

Humanitarian drive for blood marrow outside of old temple (haveli). The structure was originally built as a family resort in Schuylkill County.

Food being brought out from kitchen for those who will partake of prasad, food blessed by the deity.

Brightly colored royal procession moves toward the temple with flags and parasols.

Thronging crowd at the ramp entrance of the new temple. Vraj crew is filming the ceremonial procession.

Procession of the first day conveying the deity, Shri Nathji, to the temple.

Palanquin carrying deity crosses bridge on the way to being installed in the new temple.

Palanquin holding deity carried on shoulders of devotees on the way to the temple.

Horse-drawn carriage conveys religious pictures in the procession to the temple.

Pilgrims in the procession struggling to get a view of the palanquin bearing the deity.

Saffron-colored canopy covers the palanquin bearing deity.

Crowds press close to palanquins carrying deity to his new home.

Devotees bearing second palanquin processing toward the temple.

People process with moving vehicles.

People gathering on the road behind the temple compound on the first day of the dedication.

Rolls Royce conveying prime Pontiff to the new temple on the first day of the dedication ceremonies.

Roll Royce conveying prime Pontiff follows palanquin with deity and carriage with pictures of dignitaries and Shri Nathji.

Devotees meander past Chandra Sarovar on their way to the new temple.

Devotees gather waiting for dignitaries who will lead the procession.

Joyous crowds walk in the procession with carriage bearing image of deity.

Saffron flags in honor of the occasion rise above a crowd of devotees while a circle of women perform a bhajan.

Devotees milling on the terrace of the new temple on the last day of the dedication ceremonies. The landscaping is to be completed as donations come in.

A view across the Chandra Sarovar showing crowds which swelled to over 18,000 on the last day of the dedication, June 16, 2002.

Devotees in traditional patterns of north Indian dress entering into the sacred space of the temple compound.

Standards used in the procession showing lotus imagery.

Local marching band plays outside of old haveli at the start of the procession on the first day (May 25, 2002).

A family of pilgrims walks toward the temple compound.

Side entrance to the new temple showing rack where devotees must leave their shoes before entering the haveli.

Women leaving the grounds after receiving prasad (food blessed by the deity) at the end of the day.

Pink lotus petals reflected in the Chandra Sarovar.

Side view of the new haveli showing dome and spire above the home of the deity.