Hindu gurus began bringing their teachings here in the 1800s and 1900s, but the earliest Hindu immigrants faced discrimination and rejection in this foreign land.
The 1965 Immigration Act in the United States changed everything. It enabled Hindus to bring their families to the US and establish roots here. Immigration numbers increased and the population of Hindus began to swell. The numbers of individuals and families are now number in the millions.
They brought their colorful customs and rituals with them, and along with all the gods and goddesses came Lakshmi. Her worshipped was transplanted here in many ways.
Temples grew in the communities that were being developed by Hindu immigrants and then by their children. But these places of worship had a shaky start. Lavina Melwani wrote about this topic for Hinduism Today and shared the following. "One thing is certain: through difficult days and trying circumstances, many Hindus have held fast to the faith of their forefathers and the rituals they grew up with. The earliest temples built by this pioneer community were makeshift, low-profile shrines in people's homes and basements. Diwali was celebrated in isolation. To wear a bindi on the forehead or a sari was to attract unwelcome attention."
Things have changed dramatically. Hindu worship has become such an important part of the multicultural and multireligious makeup of the United States. It is the fourth leading world religion and it is the third leading religion in New York. "Over the years things have changed for Hindus in America," Melwant writes. "Many of the scattered storefront temples and humble basement gatherings have metamorphosed: there are now close to 450 temples across America, attended by many different denominations of Hindus, with hundreds of Hindu priests to guide growing congregations. Hindus are a highly diverse population. They come not only from India but many countries, ranging from Nepal to Malaysia to the Caribbean. Different groups have embraced the faith in different ways. Many have lived here for five decades, while others are fresh off the boat. Many Hindus have intermarried with Americans of other religions and must now rearrange and adjust their faith. Hindu children, growing up among many different religions, races, and cultures, also see Hinduism through a different lens."
The holy books and scriptures of Hinduism have many prescriptive ways to honor Lakshmi and all aspects of the divine. Some of these traditions are practiced in a precise and traditional way. But in some cases, Hindu families have adjusted worship and rituals. As we see the first, second, and third generations of American-born Hindus, we see the relationship to faith and the way it is practiced change.
But Lakshmi remains a constant and Diwali is the one holiday that many Hindus celebrate in the United States, Queens, and around the globe. It also crosses faiths and is celebrated by Jains, Buddhists, and people of other traditions.