LAKSHMI: A GODDESS GROWS IN QUEENS is my humble attempt to put this online public history exhibit into a book. The exhibit may not be online forever but you can get to know Lakshmi in book form.
PAPERBACK
EBOOK
Lakshmi is an ancient goddess who presides over material and spiritual wealth. She was born in India, but she is worshipped around the world.
This goddess is also widely celebrated in Queens, a borough of the City of New York that is considered one of the most ethnically diverse urban areas in the world. She is worshipped and beloved by the many tight-knit Hindu communities that are a vital part of the borough.
The sights and sounds of Hindu worship can be heard in many of the local temples. Colorful traditions have seeped into daily life. And Lakshmi comes alive here.
You can find her at spiritual services, community celebrations, and in stores and supermarkets. Her statues and images abound. And she walks among us all during Diwali celebrations, when women and young people dress up like the goddess of fortune. Some sit in life-size lotuses to honor her.
She is celebrated not just at Diwali but throughout the year and people of all backgrounds are invited to take part.
Author Laurie Sue Brockway is an interfaith minister, public historian, and a widely published writer. She has made many local pilgrimages to temples, stores, celebrations, and the streets of Queens. She shares her research and