New Hyde Park Desi news — 2026-09-22
New Hyde Park Mayor Denounces Vandalism of Sikh Gurdwara
New Hyde Park's mayor publicly condemned the vandalism of a Sikh temple in the village, calling those responsible "idiots" and pledging that the community would stand with its Sikh residents in the wake of the attack. The mayor's sharp rebuke came after graffiti was found at the gurdwara, an act that alarmed the substantial South Asian community on Long Island. Nassau County has one of the largest concentrations of Sikhs in the northeastern United States, and New Hyde Park's gurdwara serves hundreds of families from across the region. Local law enforcement opened an investigation, and interfaith leaders gathered to reaffirm the community's commitment to protecting religious institutions. The incident followed a national pattern of increased vandalism targeting South Asian places of worship, including the wave of Hindu temple attacks in the Bay Area earlier in 2024. Community members noted that the swift mayoral response was significant, reflecting the political weight of the Sikh community in the area. Elected officials from Nassau County also voiced support, and legal aid organizations offered assistance to gurdwara leadership in understanding hate-crime reporting processes. The temple resumed normal activities within days, with volunteers organizing community cleanups and a solidarity prayer gathering attended by members of multiple faiths. [1]
Kerala Diaspora Gathers in New Hyde Park for Annual Onam Festival
Hundreds of members of the Kerala immigrant community in New Hyde Park and across Long Island came together for the annual Onam festival, a celebration that State Senator Kevin Thomas described as a meaningful affirmation of South Indian cultural identity in America. Onam, which marks the end of Kerala's monsoon season and the rice harvest, is tied to the legend of the benevolent King Mahabali, whose spirit is believed to return to the land each year during the festival. The New Hyde Park celebration featured a bejeweled performer representing Mahabali leading a traditional procession. Nassau County Legislature Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello and State Senator Anna Kaplan attended, highlighting the political visibility of the Kerala diaspora on Long Island. Aniyan George of Edison, New Jersey, founding secretary of the Federation of Malayalee Associations of America, explained that while Onam has Hindu roots it is observed as a cultural celebration across all Keralite communities. "Onam is not just any festival for us in Kerala," he said. The event featured a traditional vegetarian Onam sadya feast, classical dance performances, and the lighting of traditional lamps. Participants noted the festival's role in bridging the 8,500-mile distance between Long Island and Kerala, keeping cultural memory alive for second-generation immigrants growing up in Nassau County. [3]
Jain Temple of New York Expands Community Presence in Floral Park
The Jain Temple of New York, a cornerstone institution for the Jain community in the New York metro area, has been developing plans for a new facility at 259-16 79th Avenue in Floral Park, Queens — a neighborhood directly adjacent to New Hyde Park and home to a significant South Asian population. The Jain community, which traces its roots to western India, has maintained a presence on Long Island for several decades, drawing families from Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra who settled in Nassau and Queens counties during the technology and professional services boom of the 1990s and 2000s. The planned facility would expand the community's capacity for religious instruction, meditation programs, and social events that bring together Jain families from across the tristate area. Jainism, one of India's oldest religions, emphasizes non-violence, truth, and spiritual discipline, and the New York metro area community has worked to maintain these traditions while raising children in the American context. The Floral Park location — close to the dense Indian American residential belt running through New Hyde Park, Floral Park, and Jamaica — positions the temple to serve the community more effectively. The project reflects broader South Asian community investment in building permanent religious and cultural infrastructure in the New York suburbs. [4]
Sources: [1] CBS News · [3] The New York State Senate (.gov) · [4] New York YIMBY