The Hindu Center of Charlotte is one of the oldest temples in the Southeast. It is located at 7400 City View Drive in Charlotte, North Carolina. What is its story and how does it serve the community?
The first Indian families settled in Charlotte in the 1960s and 1970s. By 1981, there were about 350 families. These families, driven by a desire to preserve their cultural and religious heritage, felt the need for a place that would educate their children and serve as a hub of community and worship. The Hindu Center of Charlotte was born out of this collective vision as a place that would embrace not just Indian families but also all who practice Hinduism and the larger Charlotte community by fostering a sense of inclusivity.
In the Spring of 1981, Duke Power Company opened the McGuire Nuclear Plant in Huntersville, North Carolina, where they hired many engineers from India. Hundreds of Indian families came to Mecklenburg County and needed a place to gather. The founders initially debated whether this place would be a cultural or religious facility. They decided to focus on both religion and culture and selected a name that reflected this dual focus, omitting the word temple and opting for the Hindu Center of Charlotte.
The founders quickly created a constitution for the Center that was accepted by the community and fundraising immediately started. While the temple was being constructed, families met at local YMCAs, Bombay Palace (a local Indian Restaurant), and in homes.
In November 1981, the founders purchased 2.4 acres of land, and just five months later in April 1982, they laid the cornerstone of the Center. On July 24, 1982, the Hindu Center of Charlotte opened to the community. The project was completed at a cost of about $170,000 and took fifteen months to plan. The Hindu Center of Charlotte is built upon four pillars: religion, culture, education, and health.
By 1984, there were 350 to 400 Indian families in the Charlotte area, and all but a few were Hindu. Across religious differences, the Hindu Center was a place where people of Indian ancestry and others interested in learning more could find culture and community through events sponsored by the India Cultural Association (ICA). The ICA is the sister organization to the Hindu Center that plans and coordinates holiday celebrations, concerts, and lectures. The Hindu Center provided a reason for many families to stay in Charlotte; in 1984, the closest priests were in Pittsburgh and New York.
In 2014, the Hindu Center of Charlotte constructed a new temple. The new temple is 20,000 square feet and 81 feet tall. It is a temple for thirteen life-sized deities carved from marble. This new temple accommodates more people and costs $3.2 million; it was completed in 2015.
The Hindu Center of Charlotte continues to focus its work on its four pillars. In recent years, the Hindu Center has worked with the Universal Institute for Successful Aging for the Carolinas (UISAC) to provide meals, fellowship, and worship for seniors. One of the Center’s many volunteers, Nimish Bhatt, serves as the director of UISAC. Monday through Friday, over 80 lunch boxes are prepared for and delivered to seniors and refugees who are having trouble adjusting to life in the United States.
The Hindu Center prepares meals like roti, dal, basmati rice, aloo matar, and mango semolina. These meals do more than satisfy hunger; they provide the tastes and smells of home, a familiar comfort in a foreign land. The lunch program for seniors came from the Hindu Center’s outreach during COVID-19, where they packed lunches and delivered them to homeless shelters and healthcare professionals.
The Center also serves as a monthly health clinic. Many doctors in the community offer free consultations and basic healthcare, and some pharmacists also volunteer to offer free basic medicine to seniors or those who cannot afford health insurance.
They offer all sorts of programming for the community. One program is called the Children’s Religious Oriented Program (CROP). CROP is a K-12 educational program for children that teaches them how to better themselves and develop the characteristics to become great community members.
The Center offers religious and cultural programs and events to people of all ages and backgrounds. Some events are from specific sectors of Indian culture, and there are some events like Kite Festival, Holi, Diwali, and Navratri. The events bring everyone together, and all are welcome; 3,000 to 5,000 people attend those events on any given day. The Hindu Center also hosts Mela (fairs) where people come and participate in classical dance, Bollywood dance, or Hollywood dance. Melah is for two days; they see between 1,500 and 3,000 people. Melah includes food, clothes, jewelry, and other vendors.
Currently, the Hindu Center of Charlotte has more than 3,000 families in its network. The American Community Survey estimates that in 2022, there were 35,724 Indian immigrants in Charlotte. The growth of the Indian community has necessitated the need for a new temple. The organization has been working diligently with the city and vendors to construct one. They are hoping to see it open in early 2025.
