First temple in USA dedicated to Bhagwati Durgaji.

The place of worship for people of all Hindu faiths

Religion shapes beliefs, values, and daily life, fostering spiritual growth and community through shared worship spaces.

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About Us

A Legacy of Faith, Culture, and Community

Since its founding, the Hindu community in the Washington Metropolitan area has reflected the nature and philosophy of attracting immigrants to the United States from all over the world. Buoyed by this country's freedom, liberty, and opportunity, countless people have come here.

A Short History

Since 1999, the Hindu community in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area has embodied the American ideals of freedom, liberty, and opportunity. Drawn by these promises, immigrants from India have enriched the cultural landscape of the region. Their diverse food, languages, music, and Hindu traditions have become vibrant threads woven into the Indian American tapestry. This multicultural society continues to flourish, fostering a dynamic and enriching community.

The Establishment of Durga Temple

Hindu migration to the United States increased significantly following the independence of South Asian and other former colonial nations in the mid-20th century. The Washington D.C. metropolitan area attracted numerous professionals, some of whom started successful businesses under American law. These professionals and entrepreneurs united to establish Siva Vishnu, Hindu, Jain, and Rajdhani temples. In 1989, with the support of pioneering Hindu businesspeople, the Durga Temple was founded, becoming a vital center for the growing Hindu community.

Our Journey of Faith

From vision to devotion—how Durga Temple came into being through unity and perseverance.

Challenges in the Growth Process

Like any volunteer-based organization, Durga Temple faced difficulties in aligning diverse personalities and viewpoints around a shared mission. This process was time-consuming and, at times, contentious,

Foundation Ceremony and Construction

After much anticipation, the foundation ceremony took place in October 1994 with grand festivities and religious rituals. Construction commenced in October 1996, financed by a $2.5 million loan from First Virginia

The Blessings of the Lord

A wiseman once said, “In all adversities, there is always a treasure of spiritual blessings secretly hidden in its depth.” For Durga Temple, this treasure was Dr. Jai N. Gupta assuming the role of construction manager. His

The Philosophy of the Temple

The Opening of the Temple

The temple's inauguration on March 21, 1999, was a joyous occasion celebrated with religious ceremonies and rituals. Thousands of devotees gathered to witness the auspicious unveiling of the Durga Mata idol.

Spiritual Guidelines

Poonam Bansal

Trustee

Varun & Neha Chudiwale

Trustee

Mahendrasinh &
Naline Chudasama

Trustee

Our Members

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Suresh C. &

Adarsh Gupta

Chairman

Raj & Asha Kapoor

Vice Chairman

Madan &

Monica Gupta

Treasurer

Kusum L. Taneja

Secretary

Poonam Bansal

Trustee

Varun & Neha

Chudiwale

Trustee

Mahendrasinh &

Naline Chudasama

Trustee

Rajinder &
Kiran Garg

Trustee

Akhil &
Madhu Govil

Trustee

Ved R &
Kailash Goyal

Trustee

Asit N. Gupta

Trustee

Chand & Sunita Gupta

Trustee

Ram & Rashmi Gupta

Trustee

Ravi & Anjali Gupta

Trustee

Girish & Indu Jindia

Trustee

Amit & Michelle

Kapoor

Trustee

Chander &

Shashi Narang

Trustee

Rajiv Kumar Narang

Trustee

Dr.Brajnandan &

Rupa Sahay

Trustee

Sajan & Pushpa Saraff

Trustee

Rani Sharma Harnal

Trustee

Madhulika &

Dr Dharam V Singh

Trustee

Sudhir & Sharda

Oberoi

Trustee

Ved & Urmil Bansal

Trustee

Rattan Chand &

Urmil Dadoo

Trustee

Prashant Gaur

Trustee

Kuldip & Shashi Goyal

Trustee

Krishan Gupta

Trustee

Dr. Sushil Jajodia

Trustee

Anirudh Kulkarni

Trustee

Ramendra &
Champa Kumar

Trustee

Bobby & Sonia

Makheja

Trustee

Ramesh Raj

Trustee

Dr. Soma Reddy

Trustee

Pawan Singh

Trustee

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee Emeritus

Raj & Asha Kapoor

Vice Chairman

Kusum L. Taneja

Secretary

Varun & Neha Chudiwale

Trustee

Rajinder & Kiran Garg

Trustee

Ved R & Kailash Goyal

Trustee

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Chand & Sunita Gupta

Trustee

Ravi & Anjali Gupta

Trustee

Amit & Michelle Kapoor

Trustee

Dr. Om Chhabra

Trustee

Rajiv Kumar Narang

Trustee

Sajan & Pushpa Saraff

Trustee

Madhulika & Dr Dharam
V Singh

Trustee

Ved & Urmil Bansal

Trustee

Prashant Gaur

Trustee

Krishan Gupta

Trustee

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Anirudh Kulkarni

Trustee

Bobby & Sonia Makheja

Trustee

Dr. Soma Reddy

Trustee

Dr. Suresh C. & Adarsh Gupta

Chairman

Madan & Monica Gupta

Treasurer

Poonam Bansal

Trustee

Mahendrasinh &
Naline Chudasama

Trustee

Akhil & Madhu Govil

Trustee

Asit N. Gupta

Trustee

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Ram & Rashmi Gupta

Trustee

Girish & Indu Jindia

Trustee

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Ramesh Raj

Trustee

Pawan Singh

Trustee

Chander & Shashi Narang

Trustee

Dr.Brajnandan & Rupa Sahay

Trustee

Rani Sharma Harnal

Trustee

Sudhir & Sharda Oberoi

Trustee

Rattan Chand & Urmil Dadoo

Trustee

Kuldip & Shashi Goyal

Trustee

Dr. Jai N. Gupta

Principal Trustee
Emeritus

Dr. Sushil Jajodia

Trustee

Ramendra &
Champa Kumar

Trustee

Mahendra Chudasama

President

Sarda Sistla

Vice-President

Mini Pillai

Deputy Treasurer

Ranjna Sachdeva

Secretary

Viny Frontin

Executive Member

Naveen Gupta

Executive Member

Manjit Shahjpal

Executive Member

Amol Sharma

Executive Member

Darshana Thakral

Executive Member

Jay Kumar Vedapuri

Executive Member

Sonia Wadhwa

Executive Member

Sarda Sistla

Vice-President

Ranjna Sachdeva

Secretary

Naveen Gupta

Executive Member

Amol Sharma

Executive Member

Jay Kumar Vedapuri

Executive Member

Mahendra Chudasama

President

Mini Pillai

Deputy Treasurer

Viny Frontin

Executive Member

Manjit Shahjpal

Executive Member

Darshana Thakral

Executive Member

Sonia Wadhwa

Executive Member

Acharya Omkar Sharma

Performing various Hindu religious pujas, Yagnas, Temple Kumbhabhishekam, Preaching Ved path, Durga path, Geeta path and Shanthi path. Also performs Jyotish vidya and prepares computerized Janam Kundali. His Mother tongue is Hindi. Can speak other languages like English, Sanskrit, and can understand Punjabi.

Acharya Shanti Vashisht

Shanti Ji is fluent in Hindi, Sanskrit, Punjabi and English. He is expert in various Hindu rituals. His specialized skills include Mata ki Chowki, Sundarkand Path and Bhajans.

Pandit Kamal Bhatt

Kamal Bhatt Ji is fluent in English, Hindi and Punjabi. He can perform various hindu rituals. His specialized skills include Ganesh Puja, Navagrah Puja, Satyanarayana Puja etc.

Pandit Karthik Shivachariyar

Fluent in Sanskrit, Hindi, Telugu and English. His mother tongue is Tamil. He is expert in various Hindu rituals. His specialized skills include Chandi Homan, Rudrabhishekam, Brahmotsavam and Kumbhabhishekam. He is well versed in Pooja, Aaradhana for Lord Shiva, Parvarti Devi, Durga Devi, Ganesh, Subrahmanya, Ayyappa Swamy, Navagraha and also performing all outdoor kriyas.

Satyanarayana Ravada

Temple Manager

Bharat Patel

Temple Manager

Bal Gokulum

Kusum Taneja, Madhuri Prasad,
Saurabh Thakrar

Cultural Activities

Mini Pillai, Kamini Patel,
Monika Chopra

Education-Hinduism

Sampath Vanamamalai,
Sai Ramana, Valadi Kannan

Finance & Accounting

Madan Gupta, Mini Pillai,

Poonam Bansal

Fundraising

Karuna Gulati, Monika Chopra,

Sapna Rohatgi

Health Clinic

Karuna Gulati, Monika Chopra, Sapna Rohatgi

Flowers & Mala

Madan Gupta, Kusum Taneja,

Manju Sangraula

Interfaith/intercultural

Diversity

Vani, Rashmi, Yogita Shah

Photos & Videos

Dhaval & Dishant Shah,
Ashwini Lata, Rajesh Khatri

Sat & Tj School Prep.

Monika Chopra, Meena Srinivas

Maintenance & Upkeep

Chander Sharma, Valadi Kannan,

Romal Patel

Parking Accommodations

Raj Kapoor, Pankaj Wadhwa,

Chander Sharma

Senior Citizens

Sapna Rohatgi, Karuna Gulati,
Madhulika Sharma

Sound Systems

Naveen Gupta, Saurabh Thakrar,
Bhusan Desai

Volunteer Coordinator

Sarada Sistla, Bhusan Desai,

Rupa Patel

Yoga Sadhana

Jay Kalathil, Dhananjay Shevlikar,
Shaishav Shah

Bhandara & Kitchen

Darshna Thakral, Anu Agarwal,
Amol & Manjeet Sharma

Decorations

Sarada Sistla, Rupa Patel,
Madhvi

Facility Rentals

Mahendra Chudasama,
Naveen Gupta, Praful Patel

Flyers

Sarada Sistla,

Sai Ramana, Sangeeta

Gita Discourse

Jay Kalathil, B. K. Kishore,

Kamal Bhatt

Human Resources

Jay Kalathil, B. K. Kishore,
Kamal Bhatt

It - Internet & Network

Mahendra Chudasama,

Ranjna Sachdeva

Jagran & Mata Ki Chowki

Naveen Gupta, Pankaj Wadhwa,

Saurabh Thakrar, Bhushan Desai

Newsletter

Raj Garg, Karuna Gulati, Sudhir Oberoi

Religious Activities

Sai Ramana, Ashwini Lata,

Sakshi Sharma

Safety & Security

Mahendra Chudasama, Raj Kapoor,
Naveen Gupta, Pankaj Wadhwa

Social Media

Mini Pillai, Ashwini Lata,
Gaurav Sharma

Vendor Coordinator

Mahendra Chudasama,
Rupa Patel, Sejal Soni

Website Administrator

Sarada Sistla, Bhusan Desai,

Rupa Patel

Youth Outreach

Anu Agarwal, Suniti Sharma,
Sakshi Sharma

Bal Gokulum

Kusum Taneja,

Madhuri Prasad,

Saurabh Thakrar

Bhandara & Kitchen

Darshna Thakral,

Anu Agarwal, Amol
& Manjeet Sharma

Cultural Activities

Mini Pillai, Kamini

Patel, Monika

Chopra

Decoration

Sarada Sistla,

Rupa Patel,

Madhvi

Education - Hindusim

Sampath Vanamamalai,

Sai Ramana,Valadi
Kannan

Facility Rentals

Mahendra Chudasama,

Naveen Gupta,

Praful Patel

Finance & Accounting

Madan Gupta,

Mini Pillai,

Poonam Bansal

Flyers

Sarada Sistla,

Sai Ramana,

Sangeeta

Fundrasing

Karuna Gulati,

Monika Chopra,

Sapna Rohatgi

Gita Discourse

Jay Kalathil,

B. K. Kishore,

Kamal Bhatt

Health Clinic

Madan Gupta,

Kusum Taneja,

Manju Sangraula

Human Resources

Mahendra Chudasama,

Ranjna Sachdeva

Flowers & Mala

Vani, Rashmi,

Yogita Shah

Interfaith / Inter-

cultural Diversity

Chander Sharma,

Valadi Kannan

IT - Internet &
Network

Naveen Gupta,

Pankaj Wadhwa,

Saurabh Thakrar,

Bhushan Desai

Jagran & Mata

Ki Chowki

Raj Garg, Karuna

Gulati, Sudhir Oberoi

Maintenance &
Upkeep

Raj Kapoor,

Pankaj Wadhwa,

Chander Sharma

Newsletter

Sai Ramana,

Ashwini Lata,

Sakshi Sharma

Parking

Accommodations

Himanshu Patel,

Mitesh Patel,

Manish Shah

Religious Activities

Sarada Sistla,

Mahendra Chudasama,

SAT & TJ

School Prep.

Monika Chopra,

Meena Srinivas

Safety & Security

Mahendra Chudasama,

Raj Kapoor,

Naveen Gupta,

Pankaj Wadhwa

Senior Citizens

Sapna Rohatgi,

Karuna Gulati,

Madhulika Sharma

Social Media

Mini Pillai,

Ashwini Lata,

Gaurav Sharma

Sound Systems

Naveen Gupta,

Saurabh Thakrar,

Bhusan Desai

Vendor Coordinator

Mahendra Chudasama,

Rupa Patel,Sejal Soni

Volunteer
Coordinator

Sarada Sistla,

Bhusan Desai,

Rupa Patel

Website
Administrator

Sarada Sistla,

Bhusan Desai,

Rupa Patel

Yoga Sadhana

Jay Kalathil,

Dhananjay Shevlikar,

Shaishav Shah

Youth Outreach

Anu Agarwal,

Suniti Sharma,

Sakshi Sharma

Photos & Videos

Dhaval & Dishant

Shah, Ashwini Lata,

Rajesh Khatri

The Philosophy of the Temple

The concept of God plays a central role in our Vedas and Upanishads, serving as a guiding principle toward a deeper understanding of the divine. Constructing a temple serves as an initial step in the journey to connect with the deeper aspects of the divine. This progression from the material to the spiritual realm mirrors the journey from the earth to water, fire, air, and ether - a journey that recognizes the presence of all five elements within us.

Embracing this path helps us transition from the material to the spiritual, although the material world is more easily understood. This approach enables us to transcend cultural and religious...

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