Hindu Temple Society of Greater New Orleans

The Hindu Temple of Greater New Orleans is located in Metairie at the intersection of Kawanee Avenue and Transcontinental Drive. The Temple consists of two floors: the main hall on the ground floor has a newly imported altar with separate niches for various deities. The consecrated icons represent Shiva and his consort Parvati, Ganesh, Rama, Sita, the Devout Simian Hanuman, Radha-Krishna, Mahavir Swami, and Jhulelal Maharaj standing about three feet tall, these brightly colored images appear, even to outsiders, most approachable as they evoke the prayers and offerings of the Hindu community. Like most temples, the prayer halls have very little furniture, thereby enhancing the prominence of the altar located against an inner wall of the temple. Worshipers and guests alike receive the tilak, a red dot place on the forehead, and a piece of fruit or sweet which has been offered at the altar (prasad). The top floor, newly renovated in 2018, houses the priest and his family.