Take away your sneakers, open the door, ring the bell thrice and stroll towards the altar to wish. That’s what Hindu devotees do each time they enter the Southwest Hindu Temple on El Paso’s West Facet.
Colourful lights hold on the altar. India’s flag is on the fitting aspect and the united statesflag on the left. Within the heart of the temple is a brass tray “puja thali” with rice, turmeric, chandan and incense.
The Southwest Hindu Temple is a vital place for El Paso’s Indian group to protect their faith and traditions. The temple first opened in 2007 however sits empty in the present day due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The trustworthy should make an appointment to return in and may solely keep for 15 minutes.
The temple’s priest, Rounur Venugopal, was born and raised in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. He got here to El Paso in 2008 on a visa for spiritual staff. His spouse and son joined him two years later.
“It was very totally different to maneuver right here first, however it’s OK now. The individuals of this city are pleasant and I get pleasure from serving as a priest for my group,” Venugopal mentioned.
In El Paso, members of the Asian Indian group say they’ve discovered a spot to name dwelling due to the thriving job market in schooling, well being and technical sectors; academic alternatives; and the nice and cozy climate just like their nation.
In line with the Migration Coverage Institute, as of 2019, about 2.7 million Asian Indian immigrants reside in america. There may be not a exact estimate on the variety of individuals from India residing in El Paso. The U.S. Census Bureau says individuals of Asian descent, which incorporates Indians, signify about 1.4% of the El Paso inhabitants, or about 12,000 individuals.
Whereas many El Pasoans go away city on the lookout for higher wages, many Indians transfer into the town due to the work alternatives. UTEP and Texas Tech College Well being Sciences Middle are two hubs for hiring professionals and enrolling college students from India.
Chintalapa Ramana is an affiliate professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Middle for Superior Supplies Analysis on the College of Texas at El Paso and serves because the chairman of the board of trustees on the Southwest Hindu Temple. He and his household moved from Michigan to El Paso in 2008. Ramana got here in 2002 to america to pursue his Ph.D.
“I’ve lived in lots of cities within the U.S. earlier than transferring to El Paso, however it is a excellent place to reside. The group could be very pleasant with us, we really feel protected and I used to be lucky to return to work at UTEP,” Ramana mentioned.
Greater schooling attracts Indians to El Paso
Indians say they really feel welcomed by the Hispanic inhabitants and suppose they’ve a lot to share relating to meals and tradition.
“We eat lots of rice, Mexican individuals too. We love spicy meals, they do too. We cook dinner with many spices and Mexicans do the identical. I feel now we have quite a bit in frequent, and we love to do huge gatherings and potlucks; they do too,” Ramana mentioned.
Arvind Singhal was born and raised in Rourkela, India, and is a UTEP professor of communication. Singhal got here to america in 1983 to pursue his grasp’s diploma. After 17 years residing in Ohio, he and his household moved to El Paso.
“The bilingual expertise, to expertise the distinctive attributes of the college and the atmosphere of the border, and the job provide from UTEP have been among the many high components for us to maneuver right here,” Singhal mentioned.
Pratyusha Basu is an affiliate professor of geography and director of Asian Research at UTEP. Basu was born in Lucknow, India. Her father was a part of the army they usually constantly moved throughout India. She arrived in El Paso in 2015 after she and her husband accepted job affords from the college.
Beforehand they lived in Florida. Basu got here to america in 1995 to pursue her Ph.D.
“It was a type of moments when everybody was coming to the united statesfor schooling. I used to be a part of that increase. Quite a lot of college students from India have been coming right here to finish their schooling,” Basu mentioned.
A grocery retailer anchors a group
For Basu and Singhal, the accessibility to merchandise from their dwelling nation is a plus that they didn’t anticipate finding in El Paso.
When Basu lived in different cities throughout the nation, it was irritating for her to not discover Indian merchandise. However when she moved to El Paso and located the RV Worldwide Grocery retailer, it gave her a way of the significance of the Indian group in El Paso.
“Entry to the meals that you simply want is essential as a result of that’s the place to assemble. You may maintain your group alive in case you have entry to their conventional meals,” Basu mentioned.
RV Worldwide Grocery sells primarily merchandise from Asia, particularly Indian goodies. The cabinets are full of colourful merchandise with tags written in numerous languages. On the entrance, it’s laborious to overlook the large posters of Indian Bollywood actors.
RV is the place Indians can discover the substances to cook dinner their favourite meals and the place they will socialize and meet others who is perhaps new to city.
Venugopal’s son works as a cashier at RV. Sheshashayee Venugopal is a junior enterprise administration scholar at UTEP. He got here to america when he was 12.
“Oh sure, everybody who’s new on the town, they arrive right here they usually begin making buddies. You understand, India is a giant nation, however even typically individuals discover right here somebody from their state or metropolis,” Sheshashayee mentioned.
RV is in a shopping mall at 4700 North Mesa St., a few miles from UTEP. The proprietor declined to be interviewed by El Paso Issues however allowed interviews and pictures within the retailer.
One other place to fulfill individuals from India is the Indian Pupil Affiliation at UTEP, which has round 25 members this spring semester. Jeevarathinam Senthilkumar, 20, is the present president. He’s pursuing his grasp of science in engineering. He got here to El Paso in 2018.
Senthilkumar discovered about UTEP by a buddy in India. He was excited to return to a spot the place individuals from his hometown had completed their schooling. He knew he might make this place his dwelling.
“I really feel comfy in El Paso, the temperature is just like my hometown, and persons are very pleasant to us,” Senthilkumar mentioned.
COVID-19 impression
Like some other group, Indian society has tailored to the COVID-19 restrictions. At the start of the pandemic, Venugopal and some temple members performed a “Havan.” In line with Venugopal, it is a hearth ritual carried out by a Hindu priest to purify the air and produce peace to the atmosphere.
However as COVID-19 instances exploded in El Paso throughout October and November, Diwali was canceled. Diwali is without doubt one of the most vital festivals for the Indian group. It takes place between October and November. El Paso’s Indian group often celebrates Diwali at Southwest Hindu Temple with a giant potluck.
“The hardest was to not have fun Diwali, I’ve no phrases to precise how I really feel about it. It was devastating for me, my household and the group,” Ramana mentioned.
Pandemic journey restrictions additionally made it inconceivable for many Indians in El Paso to return to their native nation to go to household.
“Due to the pandemic, I haven’t been in a position to go to India for a complete yr. My mother and father are outdated, having to reconcile with the truth that I won’t be capable of see them,” Basu mentioned. “I lastly notice what it means to be an immigrant. The pandemic confirmed me that, not with the ability to journey.”
Singhal used to journey 4 instances a yr to India. Final yr, in March, he was set to journey for spring break, simply because the pandemic hit. He initially postponed the journey, then canceled his journey plans.
“That’s the hardest a part of residing removed from dwelling as a result of my mother and father are outdated, however we needed to adapt,” Singhal mentioned. “I used to talk a few times per week with my mother, however now we converse twice a day, so possibly this might not occur if it was due to COVID.”
Singhal’s household determined to cook dinner a giant conventional dish as soon as per week and delivered it to different Indian households to maintain the group collectively in difficult instances whereas practising social distancing. Others did the identical.
“I made a decision to cook dinner one thing in a giant batch, and I break it into small bins and ship them to my buddy’s dwelling. I textual content them that I’m coming, and if they’re dwelling, they open the door, we put on masks and stand 10 ft away and discuss for about 10 to 15 minutes,” Singhal mentioned.
When on the lookout for concepts to remain related in the course of the pandemic, the Indian Pupil Affiliation moved their conferences on-line. They keep up a correspondence by Whatsapp.
“You understand, many college students don’t have a automobile, and now it is very important have one to go and get your groceries. Within the group chat, we assist one another along with her groceries, so that they really feel safer,” Senthilkumar mentioned.
Cowl photograph: Members of El Paso’s Indian group celebrated the competition of Diwali in 2019. The normal celebration didn’t happen in 2020 due to the pandemic. (Picture courtesy of the Southwest Hindu Temple)
This text first appeared on El Paso Issues and is republished right here beneath a Artistic Commons license.” data-src=”https://elpasomatters.org/?republication-pixel=true&put up=8916&ga=UA-158587614-1″ />
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