For 9 Nights, This Washington, D.C. Car Repair Shop Is a Temple

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For 9 Nights, His Body Shop Is a Temple

Prayer Offered Up In New Garage

The Washington Post [u.S.]

By Val Cavalheri

Special to loudouextra.com

May 1, 2008

 

 

A colorful and elaborate altar, chanting devotees and

burning incense are hardly what you'd expect to encounter

at an auto body garage, but that's exactly what greeted

visitors last week at a body shop just west of Dulles

International Airport [Washington, D.C., U.S.]

 

D & V Autobody, located for the past 22 years in Chantilly,

is moving to an address on Overland Drive off Old Ox

Road, and nothing is being left to chance.

 

Dave Maharaj, the " D " of D & V (the " V " is his wife, Vena),

moved to the United States in 1971 from Trinidad and

Tobago, bringing with him all the culture of his heritage.

When his business outgrew its location, he knew he had a

lot for which to be thankful.

 

Turning the bay area of the newly constructed garage into a

Hindu temple, he invited some friends and brought in a

priest from his native country to observe pooja (prayer) over

nine evenings. Since the ceremonies started April 16, 40 to

100 people have stopped by each evening to wish the family

luck and admire the ornate temple that Maharaj built in

honor of Durga.

 

It took Maharaj a week to complete the altar.

 

" I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do, but I am creative

and prayed for inspiration, " he said.

 

The altar includes statues of the goddess Durga sitting

against an elaborately carved wall. Another wall is covered

with nine images of the goddess, signifying the nine aspects

meditated upon during the nine-day festival.

 

On a recent evening, the service brought out about 60

supporters, most dressed in colorful attire. Some sat at the

altar, playing musical instruments and singing. Maharaj and

his wife joined the priest in paying homage to the goddess,

offering food and flower petals and sprinkling holy water.

 

" When I came to America in 1971, I had the equivalent of a

third- or fourth-grade education, but I came with big

dreams, " Maharaj said.

 

Living at the YMCA in the District for four months and

taking on any job he could find, Maharaj turned to

something he knew: cars. He returned to Trinidad and

Tobago two years later, met Vena and brought her back to

the United States. They have been married for 34 years.

 

" She has always been so smart, " he said. With his skill and

her acumen, the couple opened their auto body repair

business.

 

D & V continues to be family-owned, with sons Ron and

Kevin running the shop while Vena and daughter Jenna take

care of the administrative end.

 

And Maharaj? " Dad chooses to continue to be a technician

and work with cars, " Kevin said.

 

On Wednesday, D & V Autobody will open at the new

location. The statues, the pictures and the altar will be taken

down. The smell of incense will give way to the smell of

paint.

 

Asked if all of these offerings and prayers are meant to

guarantee his success, Maharaj shakes his head.

 

" I'm not looking for benefits, " he said. " I just want to give

thanks for everything that I have received. I have so much. "

 

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