Indo-Caribbean Mariamma Hindu Temple Fights To Stay Open
India-West Staff Reporter
QUEENS, NEW YORK — The Sri Shakti Mariamma Hindu Temple, a haven of faith and inclusivity in Richmond Hill, is facing imminent closure unless it can raise more than $150,000 for urgent repairs required by the city.
For years, this Indo-Caribbean temple, said on its GoFundMe page, has offered refuge to women in crisis, celebrated same-sex unions rejected elsewhere, and provided food, clothing, and comfort to the community’s most vulnerable. But now, the building that houses these efforts is under threat—from both city mandates and an uncooperative neighbor.
“It’s more than just a temple. It’s a home,” writes Pandita Chandni, the temple’s presiding priestess and one of the few women in such a role in Hindu religious leadership. “We’ve helped people escape violence. We’ve fed the hungry. We’ve celebrated Pride. And now we’re being asked to leave unless we can afford to stay.”
The trouble began with noise complaints from a neighbor. What followed was a city inspection that determined the temple—housed in a building zoned for manufacturing—must register as a community facility. That designation comes with a steep price: major upgrades to electrical systems, plumbing, fire safety, and ADA accessibility. A bathroom renovation and wheelchair ramp alone could cost tens of thousands.
At the heart of the temple is a six-foot-tall murti of the fierce goddess Mariamman, known for protecting the vulnerable. Fittingly, this temple has also protected those overlooked by society, say temple devotees.
Despite serving hundreds, the temple has never asked congregants for money, an Associated Press report said. Its rituals have been sustained by individual donations tied to specific prayers. But now, for the first time, leadership is turning outward for help.
