GANESH TEMPLE, FLUSHING

by Kevin Walsh

THE Ganesh Temple of the Hindu Temple Society of North America on Bowne Street just north of Holly was opened on July 4, 1977. As the first Hindu Temple in North America composed of largely imported materials, and constructed by artisans from India, Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthãnam (or the Ganesh Temple) is one of the most impressive and historically important Hindu temples in the West. Flushing, Queens was chosen as the location for the Ganesh Temple based on three criteria: it was the gateway of the U.S.- all Indian immigrants came here and there was a large concentration of Hindus in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut; it was within walking distance for many, or one bus or subway fare; and the possibility existed to purchase a suitable site. Its strength and influence outside of New York is proven by the fact that the temple has served as a model for many other Hindu communities. 

Bowne Street itself is named for a leader in religious freedom. Bowne House, on Bowne Street north of 38th Avenue in Flushing, Queens, was built in 1661 by English settler John Bowne. Peter Stuyvesant, continuing his reign of terror against religious dissenters, had Bowne, a Quaker, arrested in 1662. Before the construction of the Friends Meetinghouse on Northern Boulevard (already a colonial-era route in the late 1600s) Bowne’s house was the primary site for Quaker services. Sentenced to pay a hefty fine, Bowne refused and was jailed; he was subsequently exiled to Holland. While he was there, Stuyvesant’s bosses at the Dutch West India Company reversed Stuyvesant’s non-tolerant policy, claiming that the colony needed many immigrants to ensure economic expansion, no matter what faith they were. Bowne returned home to Flushing in 1664; the British sailed into New Netherland five months later, and Stuyvesant surrendered without a shot being fired.

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6/8/23

6 comments

Kenneth Buettner June 9, 2023 - 5:22 am

The official stance of the New Netherland colony was made clear in Stuyvesant’s 1656 ordinance against religious meetings outside of the Dutch Reformed Church. Quakers, Baptists and others met secretly in defiance. Outraged by the governmental prosecution of these groups, a band of some thirty Dutch citizens, who were not Quakers, signed The Flushing Remonstrance in 1657. It was a call for religious freedom which was met, by Stuyvesant, with a heavy hand. Many signers were arrested and imprisoned on short rations. Eventually many recanted. In protest, John Bowne allowed Quakers to meet in his home, which led to his arrest and banishment to Holland. Bowne petitioned the Dutch West India Company, which eventually allowed him to return to New Netherland and which ordered Stuyvesant to end religious persecution in the colony.
The Flushing Remonstrance is regarded as the precursor to the First Amendment to the Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights.

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redstaterefugee June 9, 2023 - 10:25 am

Hmm, Peter Stuyvesant’s reaction to the Flushing Remonstrance bears an uncomfortable resemblance to 21st-century American political culture especially in academic territory.ective
Please refer to the link below for a better perspective:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ecclesiastes%201:9&version=NIV

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Mike Olshan June 9, 2023 - 11:13 am

I have visited this temple and extensively photographed it. If l can find that package of prints and negs you can borrow it for use to make a nice page.

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therealguyfaux June 9, 2023 - 11:20 am

Rather noticeable is the netting that I suppose is there to prevent the bane of NYC, pigeon nesting… 😉

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Josh W June 9, 2023 - 4:07 pm

You left out the best part: the basement of this temple has a canteen, featuring the best dosas found in the entire city. Theyre also cheaper than most other places that serve dosas (Jackson Heights, northeast Staten Island).

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Andrew August 6, 2023 - 7:58 pm

The site was previously a large lot with a small wooden church, the Russian Orthodox Church of the Annunciation which moved to 147th St south of Sanford Ave.

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