The streets of Sharjah, UAE, are filled to the brim with magnificent architecture, delicious cuisine, and vibrant communities. The city is a living, breathing relic still standing in the modern world with old temples across the street from construction sites. The inhabitants have learned to navigate this liminal world and express their love for their complex, unique city. This video, shot and directed by Mike Beech, explores the different facets of Sharjah, entrancing the eye, making it hard to look away.
Asian Pacific American Heritage: How to Eat Like a Hindu God
There’s no place that combines reverence and community in the sacred and secular to encompass worship quite like the Ganesha Temple in Queens, New York. It’s a Hindu temple—with a restaurant.
The cultural touchstone for the Hindu community in New York has a full-service, A+ Indian restaurant tucked away through a side entrance, down a few staircases and hallways, and into the basement. The Temple Canteen is not hidden on purpose, according to Uma Mysorekar, the president of the Hindu Temple Society of North America. It was just kind of an afterthought that took on a life of its own.
When the temple was built in 1977, it was one of the first of its kind outside India. It quickly became an important site for both the local Hindu community in Queens and the religion’s devout throughout the United States. As pilgrimages increased from both national and international visitors to attend worship services and cultural workshops, they needed a place to eat, so the temple opened a cafeteria in its basement serving some of the most authentic South Indian cuisine around as a taste of home. Soon, word of the incredible food spread, and now the Temple Canteen is an institution in its own right.
Mysorekar says not all visitors are Hindu and the restaurant is open to the public. Indeed, as accolades from The New York Times, New York Magazine and Anthony Bourdain have attested, the Temple Canteen is the spot in Queens for some of the world’s very best vada, idli, sambar and dosas, still made by a team of 10 South Indian chefs and served affordably every day. For Mysorekar, going out to eat should be a joy, and as you can’t make a prayer to the Hindu gods without an offering of food, both the religious and those who praise the culinary arts have a home at the Temple Canteen.
THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GREAT BIG STORY
Thailand’s Modern Take on the Buddhist Temple
Wat Pha Sorn Kaew offers a modern take on the Buddhist temple. Built in the early aughts, this peaceful place of worship—known as the Temple on the Glass Cliff in English—is most notable for its five white Buddhas. You can see them for miles around. They are nestled together in meditation poses, arranged in descending order from tallest to smallest. The striking figures sit atop a five-level pagoda shaped like a lotus flower and covered in colorful mosaic tiles, stones and pottery. See why this temple is worth the five-hour drive from Bangkok.
China’s Architectural Wonder Has Been Standing for 700 Years
The Guanyin Pavilion was built to last. And last. And last. This temple has sat atop a large reef rock in the middle of China’s Yangtze River in Ezhou for 700 years. When the water rises and covers the foundation, it looks like the structure is floating. Also known as the Goddess of Mercy Pavilion, the temple isn’t open to the public nowadays. But we’ve captured a glorious bird’s eye view of this historical treasure, holding its own against the swirling current.
INDIA: Phoolon Wali Holi
Holi, known as the Festival of Colors, is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in India and surrounding areas. Colors and water are thrown on each other, amidst loud music and drums to celebrate. Kieran Mellor, the videographer, comments on his work “Since witnessing the insane celebrations of Holi inside Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, I knew that these celebrations deserved their own little film. Hours before the temple doors open, thousands upon thousands of devotees gather to take part in the 20 minute flower and colour throwing celebration of Phoolon Wali Holi. As the doors open, an unstoppable surge begins as the crowd funnels inside and the chanting and applause becomes thunderous. Many people carry offerings which they will bring to the front of the temple to devote to the deities, others pray as they enter through stone archways. For me, however, the most intense part comes when the entire temple unites in raising their hands, and yelling in unison as colours and flowers surround them.”
BURNING MAN: The Temple
Sifting through the cultural phenomena that is Burning Man in search for its meaning and place in the world is a daunting task. Fortunately, Michael Marantz (Founder of Already Alive)'s short film 'The Temple' does exactly that. In his own words, "'The Temple' explores modern spirituality in a contemplative and personal manner touching on the ideas of self-discovery, letting go, and meaningful human connection that transcends simply a party in the desert."