Street in Ozone Park Section of Queens Co-named in Honor of Guyanese-born Hindu Leader

New York City lawmakers joined the Guyanese American community at the Bhuvaneshwar Mandir in Ozone Park last month to name a street in honor of Prakash Gossai, who founded the temple in Brooklyn in 1984. Caribbean Life newspaper says the Guyanese-born Hindu leader migrated to Queens in the 1980s. After establishing the first temple in Ozone Park, he “quickly became a leader in the NYC Hindu community.”

The sign commemorating the street co-naming Gossai sits on 86th Street at the southwest corner of 101 Avenue in Ozone Park. In 2018, Councilman Eric Ulrich, representing district 32 in Queens, sponsored legislation in the New York City Council, legally giving 86th Street between 101 Avenue and 102 Avenue a second name: “Shri Prakash Gossai Way.”

Speaking at the July 18 naming, Ulrich described Gossai as “a dear friend,” and “a deeply respected religious leader, across all faiths.” Ulrich said Gossai “was also a community leader who helped make Richmond Hill and Ozone Park better places to live, work, and raise a family. It’s wonderful that this street will now forever bear his memory and name.”

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar also addressed the gathering. “As the first Hindu-American ever elected to a New York State Office, I am honored to support the historic naming of Shri Prakash Gossai Way,” she said. “A great Hindu kindness. I stand on his shoulders and hope to honor his legacy through my public service,” she said.”As the Hindu-American community grows in influence, the next step is to make Diwali a school holiday in New York City. I have introduced legislation in the State Capitol to make that happen.”

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Others who spoke at the naming were Gossai’s wife Acharya Leila Gossai, New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., and community leaders Latchman Budhai and Richard David.