History of Houston Durga Bari Society (HDBS) 1995 -200 – Click here!
Summary of Historical Dates and Events – Milestones for Monumental Work
A group of community members thought about building a place of our own community activities. Gradually, the ideas started crystallizing and we formed “ a Houston Durga Bari Society” (HDBS). The following historical dates and events were collected from the HDBS official documents and minutes of the meeting (1995 – 2006) . The details of works and activities on HDBS were published in the form of book. The monumental works are :
September 29, 1995 – First sitting / meeting on Mahalaya day at 7683 Cambridge Street , Houston, TX 77054 ( Residence of Dr. Subroto & Mrs. Jyoti Gangapadhyay).
October 01, 1995 – Second meeting was held at 7687 Cambridge , Houston, TX 77054 (Residence of Dr. Ganesh & Mrs. Chhabi Mandal ). Society’s name was selected as Houston Durga Bari Society (HDBS) by Dr. Kumud Majumder.
October 1995 – During Durga Puja day at Gandhi Center, signatures were collected for the support of HDBS.
December 17, 1995 – First Public Meeting Proposing the concept to the General Community Members at Memorial City Hospital.
March 14, 1996 – Application submitted for Registration as Non-Profit Organization.
April 14, 1996 – In witness where of , we have here run to set our seals in duplicate originals this the 14th day of April, 1996.
May 01, 1996 – Article of Incorporation of Houston Durga Bari Society has been approved by the Secretary , State of Texas.
July 22, 1996 – Employer identification number ( EIN) has been assigned by the Department of Treasury, Austin, Texas
August 03, 1996 – Working Committee for the Society was formed. Dr. Bhaskar Roy was selected as Working Committee President.
September 05, 1996 – P.O. Box was taken at Almeda Post office, Houston.
October 14, 1996 – Sale Tax Exemption Number has been assigned by the Department of Comptroller of public Accounts , Austin, State of Texas.
July 18, 1997 – HDBS Working Committee has agreed and confirmed by a letter dated 07/18/97 to name the main Assembly Hall in the Memory of Dr. Sudha Sur’s late husband. As per Dr. Sur’s request , the Board has agreed to name Auditorium only (a 60×100 ft. ) as “ SUR AUDITORIUM “.
August 15, 1997 – Bank Account for HDBS has been opened at IBC Bank, Houston, Texas.
September 04, 1997 – Land (6.20 Acres) for HDBS has been purchased at 13944 Schiller Rd, Houston, TX77082 at the cost of $114K with cash.
March 28, 1998 – Constitution drafting effort started.
April 30, 1998 – First HDBS Brochure completed for publicity.
August 19, 1998 – HDBS has been granted exemption as a Religious Organization under Section 11.20(a)(5) of the Texas Property Tax Code on the property at 13944 Schiller Rd.
November 14, 1998 – Foundation Stone lay out
December 12, 1998 – Ground Breaking Ceremony was held.
April 03, 1999 – EPI, Inc of Mr. Saha donated the sign frame of steel structure to HDBS and installed with the help of HDBS members and his employees.
April 13 & 14, 1999 – Four out of twelve Working Committee members resigned.
April 17, 1999 – First Baishakhi Mela was held in the open ground of HDBS.
April 22, 1999 – Emergency Meeting was called and new working committee was formed. Mr. Dilip Dutta was selected as Working Committee President.
October 06, 1999 – Construction plans Approved.
December 04,1999 – Construction of Octogonal Temple Building was approved by the General Body.
February 19, 2000 – Construction permits obtained and Construction started.
April 22, 2000 – First Constitution and by – Laws of HDBS was adopted.
May 21, 2000 – Second Baishakhi Mela was held.
June 22, 2000 – Constitution was approved by members, adopted and in effect.
July 03, 2000 – Partial Auditorium Construction planned with a generous donation from a community members.
July 24, 2000 – Construction work of Auditorium started.
September 03, 2000 – Executive publication (EP) was approved by the Working Committee and adopted.
September 21, 2000 – Partial landscaping and General Grading started.
September 28, 2000 – Construction of temple completed, Auditorium construction in useable form completed, Pavilion building completed, Basic infrastructure s and parking lot completed. First phase installation of electrical plans completed.
September 30, 2000 – was a big day for the HDBS and the Houston Hindu Community . On this auspicious day Durga Mandir / Temple was inaugurated by Swami Shanta Rupananda, Senior Monk of Ramkrishna order.
September 30, 2000 – First Mahalaya puja was performed by Swami Shanta Rupananada assisted by Dr. Manas Chakrabarty
September 30, 2000 – First Life Mayalaya Celebration Program was held at the Temple lead by Dr. Salil Banerjee with local artists.
October 6-9, 2000 – First Durga Puja was held at HDBS temple.
October 14, 2000 – First Lakshmi Puja held in the Temple.
October 21, 2000 – First annual Kali puja was held in cooperation with Houston puja Committee.
November 12, 2000 – Barbed wire fencing on the East, West and North side was approved.
December 07, 2000 – First HDBS election was held for 2001-2002.
January0 7, 2001 – First elected Executive Board and Council of Trustees took charge.
January 14, 2001 – HDBS First Elected Executive Board was formed and office bearers were elected. Dr. Satya R. Chaterjee was elected as a president of HDBS.
March 03, 2001 – First annual Saraswati puja was held in co-operation with Houston puja committee.
March 10, 2001 – First wedding ceremony of Mr.Neel Mustafi was held at Durga Mandir
March 11, 2001 – First Dole Purnima / Holi khela was celebrated at the temple complex.
june 2001 – First School / College Graduation puja was performed by Dr. Manas Chakrabarty .
June 23, 2001 – Art school by Indranil Sen was started at HDBS Pavilion building.
September 2001 – First Annaprasan ( Rice Eating Ceremony ) was performed at HDBS Temple.
September 29, 2001 – HDBS Elona Memorial Children Library was inaugurated.
April 25-27 , 2002 – First One Act Drama Competition held. Ramlal Dasgupta initiated this Drama Competition.
July 2002 – First Drama ( Mahabharat) was staged and performed by 2nd Generation. Drama was directed by Som Mukherjee and Soumitra Sarkar.
January 05, 2003 – 2nd Executive Board was formed for 2003-2004. Mr. Subir Kumar Saha was elected as president of HDBS.
March 03, 2003 – HDBS new Bangla School started .
November 25 , 2003 – Dr. Bishnupada Goswami from Delhi Kalibari joined as permanent priest of Houston Durga Bari Temple.
August 7-8, 2004 – First Summer Camp for the kids started at HDBS initiated by Dr. Jaideva Goswami and Dr. Manas Chakrabarty.
May 2004 – HDBS Play Ground was ready to play for sports / Soccer/Cricket
December 04, 2004 – 3rd Executive Board of HDBS was formed for 2005-2006. Dr. Ganesh Mandal was elected as a president of HDBS.
January , 2005 – Dr. Alak Ray was elected as 1st Council of Trustee Chair of HDBS.
March 04, 2005 – HDBS was exempted from the Federal Income Tax under section 501©(3).
November 28, 2005 – Priest’s application for Permanent Residency status submitted .
January 2006 – HDBS EB approved Mr. Gautom Paul as the Sculptor for the Austodhatu Deities.
November 30 – December 2, 2006 – Abhishekam and Pran Prothista for new Austo dhato Deities were established.
December 03 ( Sunday) , 2006 – Old deities ( clay) were immersioned at Prem Sagar of Barshona – Dham Sree Sree Radeshari Mandir, Austin, Texas .
Sources : The above data are collected from the HDBS official documents and minutes of the meeting.
Ganesh C Mandal / one of original founders of the HDBS Project.
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