Strengthening Mandirs, Strengthening Community:
HMEC Conference Update
Recent Webinar: Sunday, August 31, 2025, 1:00 pm PT / 4:00 pm ET / 1:30 am IST (Sept 1)
About the Webinar:
Hindu temples are not just places of worship—they are living centers of culture, education, and community empowerment. Hindu University of America (HUA) and the Hindu Mandir Empowerment Council (HMEC) share a common vision: to strengthen this ecosystem by fostering learning, leadership, and cultural continuity.
In this special session, representatives from HMEC will join HUA’s weekly webinar series to share updates on the upcoming HMEC Conference, a landmark gathering of mandir leaders and community builders from across North America. Together, we will explore how mandirs and HUA can work in a symbiotic relationship—temples serving as community anchors and HUA providing educational resources and thought leadership—to sustain and expand the Hindu experience for future generations.
Join us to learn how your mandir can be part of this growing partnership, and gain a preview of the themes and initiatives that will shape this year’s HMEC Conference.
Get to Know panelists
Smt. Tejal Shah
Smt. Tejal Shah, President of VHPA, holds degrees in Electrical Engineering from Sardar Patel University and Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ. A long-time community volunteer, she has served in leadership roles with VHPA since 2016, including organizing national HMEC conferences and leading the historic Shree Ram Lalla Rath Yatra that connected 800+ Hindu mandirs across North America. Professionally, she worked at IBM for 23 years and now serves as a Business and Service Delivery Manager. Guided by her Guru, Brhamlin Maharshi Punitachariji Maharaj, she lives in New Jersey with her supportive family.
Smt. Vallabha Tantry
Smt. Vallabha Tantry, a Minnesota resident of over 22 years, works as a Regulatory Affairs Associate in a leading Medical Device Company in Minneapolis. Vallabha also serves as program convenor for the Hindu Mandir Empowerment Council. Additionally, she is the Coordinator of the Hindu Heritage Month initiative in Minnesota. The team successfully celebrates Diwali at the Minnesota State Capitol with Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan in attendance. Vallabha has served as the President of the Hindu Temple, Maple Grove, for the years 2018 & 2019.
Sri Ronur Murali Bhattar
Sri Ronur Murali Bhattar is the 13th-generation priest in his family. He is the Chief Priest at the Hindu Society of Minnesota. He has been in the USA for the last 27 years and performed Kumbhabhishekam all over the USA.
Sri Murali Bhattar has been associated with HMPC since day one. He represented the Priests of North America at the World Hindu Congress in New Delhi, India. He is a Member of the Hindu Mandir Executives Conference, coordinates the Hindu temple Priest Conference, and was recognized as Archaka Bhushana at the Hindu Temple Priests Conference.
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