South Dakota Hindus Worship in former church

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Hindus worship in former church

Elk Point center draws area families

Judith ZwolakFor the Argus Leader

published: 03/15/05

Kamali Muthukrishnan places flowers on a statue of the Hindu god Krishna Sunday

before a prayer service at the Siouxland India Cultural Association in Elk

Point. Preparing more flowers are her daughter, Meera, and Malathy

Ramakrishnan.(photos by christopher gannon / argus leader)As far as Malathy

Ramakrishnan knows, no immigrants from India live in Elk Point, a town of 1,800

people in the southeast corner of South Dakota.But that didn't stop the

Siouxland India Cultural Association from locating in the tiny hamlet."We have

a small community of Indians in this area that are

scattered far and wide," said Rama-krishnan, who lives in nearby Burbank. "Elk

Point is a central place for all of us to meet."The nonprofit association meets

once a month in the former Immanuel Lutheran Church, which had moved to a new

location a few years earlier.Last year, the Indian association bought the empty

building, which stands two stories high and holds a kitchen, meeting hall and

about eight other rooms. Members had previously congregated at each other's

homes.Participants were organized by a via e-mail and total about

100 families from Sioux Falls, Dakota Dunes, Vermillion and Yankton. Others

come from parts of Iowa, including Sioux City, as well as Nebraska. At the

monthly meetings, 30 to 50 worship together in a Hindu service called a

pooja."We wanted a place where we could get together and worship and impart our

culture to our children and to others in our community," said Ramakrishnan, an

accountant who moved to South

Dakota 12 years ago and has lived in the U.S. for 23 years."Here, we are so far

scattered," she said. The children now "might be able to interact with other

Indian children, other Indian families.""They haven't had any exposure to our

culture," she said.Her husband, Kumoli Rama-krishnan, is a dean in the

University of South Dakota's School of Business in Vermillion.The

Ramakrishnans, along with Rikush Patel of Vermillion and Sankar Muthukrishnan,

a Dakota Dunes resident, gathered donations to establish the association and

purchase the former church building."Most of us are first-generation

immigrants, and our children have grown with some knowledge of India," Malathy

Ramakrishnan said. "A group of us thought it would be good to have a place of

our own so we can get together where we can do our cultural practices, but also

to open it up to the rest of the community and educate people about India's

history and rich heritage."Gathering

for a poojaOn a recent Sunday, the Ramakrishnans and 17 others gathered for a

pooja and a meal.In the main sanctuary, pews were pushed aside to make room for

quilts on which members sat and kneeled while they sang bhajans, or songs of

worship.At the altar were statues and colorful pictures depicting the different

forms of the Hindu god. After almost 45 minutes of singing, each group member

approached the altar to give personal offerings to the deities.Following the

ceremony, people adjourned to the common room for a gathering that

Midwesterners know well - the potluck. Instead of casseroles and pie, however,

vegetarian offerings of spicy lentils, turmeric-seasoned rice and savory

potatoes graced the table.Getting together with others who share culture and

religion is especially important in a state such as South Dakota, where Indian

Americans make up a small percentage of population, said Mahendri Raidoo, a

physician from Sioux Falls who

has lived in the state for three years."In the Hindu religion, you can worship

at home, but there is a lot to say for worshiping together," she said. "There

is a feeling of belonging, and we're retaining our culture."Establishing an

anchorThe Elk Point group hopes to expand programs at the cultural association

to include classes in yoga and public cultural celebrations. They also plan to

establish a public library and historical archive, all within a year.To sponsor

events joining the Indian and non-Indian community, they continue to look for

outside dollars. The group has asked members to contribute books for the Indian

library. Their hope is to attract more general interest and more Indian

families.Recently, the Ramakrishnans donated entertainment equipment to their

newfound home. They hope to meet on a more regular basis for Indian movie

showings and other get-togethers outside of prayer meetings.So far, the group

has heard

little from the people who live near the association building on Douglas Street

near the Elk Point-Jefferson High School.Judy Quam, an accountant who works

with Ramakrishnan, said Elk Point residents are open-minded about different

cultures."Not many people know about it, but I'd like to think Elk Point is a

friendly community," Quam said. "We're happy to have them."The city does not

have a figure for exactly how many, if any, Indian immigrants live there, said

Elk Point's city administrator, Dawn Glover. She said that she knew the

purchase was made but did not know its intended purpose.South Dakota ranks

nearly last in the United States in the number of Indian-Americans, with 727.

Montana has 521 and Wyoming has 429, according to 2000 U.S. Census figures.

Nationally, just more than 1.9 million people identified themselves as

Indian-American.To get involved with the center or for updates on future

events, contact Ramakrishnan at

624-2658.Reporter Nancy Kelsey contributed to this report. Reach her at 331-2328.

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050315/NEWS/503150317/1001

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