The founder and president
of Siddhi Vinayak Mandir in
Atlanta, Pundit Gyan Prakash
Upadhyay, has been actively
involved in various nonprofit
as well as religious organizations.
In February, he was one of
the 10 global awardees conferred with
the prestigious U.P. ‘Apravasi Bharatiya Ratna’ award at
a glittering ceremony at the UP Investors Conference
in Lucknow, India, which attracted dignitaries such
as Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Over 5,000 people
including industrial leaders, overseas representatives,
political representatives, and academicians were
in attendance.
Pundit Gyan Prakash Upadhyay was bestowed the trophy and certificate by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, V. K. Singh and NRI Minister of UP, Smt. Swati Singh.The citation on the trophy reads,
‘Most aptly depicts the rising of Diaspora’
The Stars of Now
Uttar Pradesh
Apravasi Bharatiya Ratna Puraskar – 2018
Gyan Prakash Upadhyay
22 February 2018, Lucknow
He was born in Pratapgadh, UP in January 1976. After priestly training, he immigrated to the USA in 2008. After a seven-year stint as a priest at the Shiv Mandir, he founded the Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Global Mall, Norcross, Georgia, in 2015. He is well versed in Vedas, Upnishad, Purana, astrology, and rituals such as Shri Ganesh Pooja, Navagrah Shanti, Vivah, Shri Satyanarayan Katha, Vastu Shanti, vahan pooja, yagnopavit, antim sanskar (final rites), and yoga and meditation, for example. He also conducts poojas on Maha Shivratri and Holi festivals as well as at the annual Global Mela.
He is actively involved with various nonprofit organizations such as Ekal Vidyalaya, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Sewa International, World Hindu Foundation, World Hindu Economic Forum, USHA, etc. He has not only held top posts, but also devoted many years of dedicated and committed service in some of the aforementioned organizations.
The genial Pundit is married to Smt. Prema. They have two sons, Vivek and Swatantra, and a daughter Shraddha.
[The article above contains additional material not in the print and digital issues.]