LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky teacher is sharing her Hindu heritage this month by making the journey from the Commonwealth to New Jersey. The fifth-grade teacher took part in the opening of a Hindu temple in the Garden State. Now back in Louisville, she talks about how the city has grown.
“It’s definitely changed over the years,” said Neha Patel.
When she first moved to Kentucky, she said, “There were very few Indian families, and many were far apart, not a lot in the city.”
Patel said in the decades since she’s moved, she’s seen an expansion.
“Then as time has grown and people have moved here to the city, there are a lot more families here,” she said.
Earlier this month, Neha made the journey to New Jersey to attend the opening ceremonies of a new temple.
“This was part of my Guru’s last wish to build this here,” Patel said.
Her guru, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, envisioned building the Hindu place of worship called the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Jersey.
“I think it’s something that will be here for generations upon generations,” Patel said. “I was fortunate to have a small part in helping and volunteering a few years ago and you know walking into there on Saturday for the first time was just there are no words to describe. (It’s) that feeling of knowing that you contributed.”
It’s the contribution she’ll carry into her classroom, sharing her values with the next generation.
“I think one of the biggest reasons for me wanting to become a teacher was not only for my love for kids but also growing up, I did not have any teachers that look like me,” Patel said. “And to have a representation to feel for other Indian students, to feel comfortable in a school setting and feel like that they can identify with somebody or any teacher in their school.”
It’s one of the primary reasons why this landmark of art and architecture is important to her.
“I’m super excited to share this with the community here and hope that everybody leaves as inspired as I have been,” Patel said.
Akshardham also represents more to Neha, who hopes her friends can learn about her Hindu heritage.
“I share a lot of things with them (her friends), but for them to have that firsthand experience of experiencing the art and architecture of India and, you know, to learn about Hinduism is you know, there’s a sense of pride in that and being able to share that with others,” Patel said.