Braj Mandir Sri Radha Bhakti

This is the near by temple from my home. This temple is not very big but people are very welcoming. This place is calm and provide much needed peace. On some days they provide food which is really good. One suggestion — before going to temple please call them to check when they are open. Also, for special events you can check temple site.

What an open community!
I play in an orchestra with a woman who attends this temple and she invited my family and me to join her and her family to celebrate Holi. My boyfriend and I went to India last November so I was really excited to go to a Holi Fest. So last Saturday we went to the temple around 12pm and ate some breakfast (beans and rice) and watched a couple dancing ceremonies, listened to a woman sing songs, and met with the Priest. It was lovely. Very crowded though! Reminds me of a Catholic Church where a lot of members don’t attend year round but on Christmas Eve and Easter everyone comes out! The place was packed and the parking lot was full so we parked on the side of the street.
They then served lunch and the line was so long — so many people were cheating and joining the line ½ way like sideways style so those of us actually waiting in line had to wait forever. I’m pretty sure I moved one foot in 30 mins. Anyway eventually we got served — rice, beans, cauliflower/​potatoes, raita, and rice pudding. I skipped the last two things since I’m vegan. They had some chutneys to put on it and you could get Chai tea if you wanted to. They only serve vegetarian meals and want to do more for the community by providing healthy food to elders, poor, etc.
After we ate it was dye throwing time! This is why we came. Everyone got a cup full of powdered organic vegetable dye — purple, pink, yellow, green, blue, red, etc. colors. And you throw it on your friends or rub it into their skin. It’s crazy! So much fun. But you have to be careful — you can get hit in the eye or mouth and the powder does get in your lungs. My friend warned me about not wearing good clothing, so I was so the ugly American wearing my overalls with paint stains — everyone was starring at me and laughing! But no one warned me about my hair! The pink dye is still in my hair and I can’t get it out! AHH. This would be ok if I was 18, but I’m a lot older now and really don’t want pink hair at my job. Unfortunately I just got highlights last month so I’m not due for another 2 months and can’t justify the expense. So note to self — next time wear a hair net if you have light blond hair like me!
Everyone should experience this — it’s really fun. If the kids are bored at the ceremony they can go downstairs and play games.
It was just such a welcoming friendly place to have strangers like us who aren’t Hindu coming to their temple, eating their food, using their dye, but being received so pleasantly. We did give a donation for the food, but they gave us so much more in return with this experience.