NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Dr. Romesh K. Japra defends the temple’s 43-year legacy of religious and community service, says major festivals have already been moved to larger venues.
FREMONT, CA, November 2, 2026: Dr. Romesh K. Japra, founder and chairman of the Fremont Hindu Temple and Cultural Center, has called for mutual respect and constructive dialogue following complaints from nearby residents about noise, late-night celebrations and large gatherings at the temple in California’s San Francisco Bay Area.
In a statement issued October 31, Japra defended the temple’s 43-year history of religious, cultural and community service, expressing disappointment over recent NBC Bay Area coverage that focused on neighborhood complaints during the Navratri festival.
“It is therefore deeply disappointing to see the recent NBC coverage portraying our beloved Temple primarily through a neighborhood noise dispute,” Japra said.
The controversy follows an October 28 NBC Bay Area report in which residents living near the Fremont Hindu Temple, also known as Vedic Dharma Samaj, complained that loud music and celebrations had disrupted their sleep and daily routines.
According to the report, neighbors have filed more than 25 noise complaints with Fremont’s code enforcement department over the past year. Residents alleged that some celebrations continued late into the night, with amplified music and large crowds affecting the surrounding residential neighborhood.
The complaints included concerns about a recent event for which the temple had obtained a special permit. Residents alleged that music continued beyond the permitted 9 p.m. cutoff and that hundreds of people remained at the venue later in the evening.
Residents interviewed by NBC Bay Area said they were not opposed to religious celebrations but wanted organizers to respect noise restrictions and consider the impact of large events on nearby homes.
In his response, Japra emphasized that the temple had already taken steps to reduce inconvenience to its neighbors.
“Major festivals such as Diwali, Holi, and the Festival of Globe have already been moved to larger venues elsewhere in Fremont to accommodate growing attendance and minimize neighborhood inconvenience,” he said.
Japra said the temple continues to host regular religious services, spiritual gatherings and small to medium-sized traditional celebrations that bring families and children together.
“These celebrations are not merely entertainment. They are opportunities to pass on our heritage, instill values of compassion, discipline, family unity, and community service, and provide our younger generations with a positive sense of identity and belonging,” he said.
Founded under Japra’s leadership, the Fremont Hindu Temple has grown from a small congregation serving Hindu families into a major religious and cultural institution in the Bay Area.
Japra said the community had grown from a few dozen Hindu families in the 1970s into an institution serving more than 70,000 Hindu Americans and welcoming people from different backgrounds. The attendance and community figures were provided by the temple and have not been independently verified.
“For more than four decades, our Temple has been a spiritual, religious, cultural, and social home for thousands of families. It has helped preserve our traditions, strengthen family values, nurture our children, and enrich the multicultural fabric of Fremont,” he said.
The temple organizes religious ceremonies, festivals, cultural education programs, youth activities and charitable initiatives, including toy and blanket drives. Japra said these activities have helped preserve Hindu traditions while promoting community service and cultural understanding.
Addressing the complaints directly, Japra said two residents who moved into the neighborhood approximately 18 months ago had repeatedly raised concerns with city officials, police and the media. He said temple representatives had attempted to arrange meetings with them but had not succeeded.
“We respect everyone’s right to express concerns. However, we have attempted to arrange meetings and engage in constructive dialogue, without success so far,” he said.
Japra also maintained that other neighbors had expressed appreciation for the temple and its contributions to the community. Some families, he said, had chosen to move into the neighborhood because of the temple’s presence.
“We firmly believe that religious freedom and the right of residents to peaceful enjoyment of their homes can and should coexist,” Japra said.
He appealed to residents to work with the temple toward a mutually acceptable solution and urged the media to present what he described as a balanced perspective that recognizes both neighborhood concerns and the institution’s longstanding contributions.
“Our Temple remains committed to being a responsible neighbor, complying with applicable regulations, and working constructively with the City of Fremont and surrounding residents,” he said.
The dispute has also drawn the attention of Fremont city officials. According to NBC Bay Area, city representatives met with residents and temple officials in July to discuss the complaints and explore possible solutions.
The city confirmed receiving complaints about a more recent permitted event and said it was investigating the allegations. In a statement to NBC Bay Area, officials said they would continue coordinating with the temple and neighboring residents, monitoring activities and adjusting future event permissions as appropriate. NBC Bay Area
The temple’s contributions to Fremont have also received official recognition. In October, the Fremont City Council presented Vedic Dharma Samaj Fremont Hindu Temple with a proclamation recognizing Hindu Heritage Month and acknowledging its contributions to the city’s cultural and religious life. Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan commended Japra and the temple for their work in preserving religious traditions and promoting cultural awareness. New India Abroad
The temple’s roots date to the early years of Indian immigration to the Bay Area, when Hindu families began gathering in private homes for prayers and religious observances. As the community expanded, members acquired a building in 1982 to establish a permanent place of worship. The temple’s website states that it has served the Bay Area since 1985. BusinessToday
Japra said the dispute should not overshadow the contributions of Hindu Americans to Fremont’s development, particularly in medicine, technology, education, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and public service.
“Should decades of religious freedom, cultural preservation, and community service be jeopardized by a dispute that could potentially be resolved through respectful dialogue and reasonable accommodation?” he asked.
Concluding his statement, Japra invoked the Hindu philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning “The World Is One Family,” and urged both sides to resolve their differences through cooperation rather than confrontation.
“Let us resolve differences through dialogue, not confrontation; through understanding, not division; and through cooperation, not conflict,” he said.
The city has not publicly announced a final determination on the recent complaints. Japra said the temple would continue serving future generations while respecting the rights of its neighbors.
