Pundit Gyan Prakash Upadhyay Bestowed With
Apravasi Bharatiya Ratna Award

By Mahadev Desai

Pundit ji receiving the Award from Hon.V.K.Singh and Smt.Swati Singh

Atlanta’s well known and respected religious leader, social and cultural activist, dedicated volunteer, an ardent follower of Lord Ganesh ji and Founder/President of Siddhi Vinayak Mandir in Atlanta, Pundit Gyan Prakash Upadhyay was one of the ten Global awardees, conferred with the prestigious ‘Apravasi Bharatiya Ratna’ Award, at a glittering ceremony, on February 22,2018, at the momentous and historic ‘UP Investors Conference’, in Lucknow, graced by Hon.Narendra Modi, and U.P.Chief Min. Hon Yogi Adityanath and attended by over 5,000 people including industrial leaders, overseas representatives, political representatives, and academicians .

Pundit Gyan Prakash ji was bestowed with the sparkling Trophy and a Certificate, at the august Conference gathering by India's Minister of State for External Affairs, VK Singh ji and NRI Minister of UP, Smt. Swati-ji s.The citation on the Trophy read: ‘Most aptly depicts the rising of Daispora’

Pundit Gyan Prakash ji was born in Pratapgadh, UP in Jan.1976.After rigorous training in priestly training, he immigrated to the U.S.in 2008. After his seven years stint as a priest at the Shiv Mandir, he founded the Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Global Mall, Norcross, Georgia, in 2015. Punditji is well versed in Vedas,Upnishad,Purana,astrology,and rituals like Shri Ganesh Pooja, Navagrah Shanti,Vivah,Shri Satyanarayan Katha;Vastu Shanti,vahan pooja,yagnopavit,antim sanskar(final rites),yoga and meditation,to name a few.
He also conducts poojas on Maha Shivratri and Holi festivals as well as at the annual Global Mela.



Pundit ji is actively involved with various not for profit Organizations like 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 afore listed Organizations. He is very proud of the immense contributions of the Indian community in development and progress of the adopted land and strongly believes in all beings living in peace and harmony.

Genial Pundit Gyan Prakash ji is married to Smt.Prema ji. They have two sons, Vivek and Swatantra and a daughter Shraddha.