Pankaj Patel (right) is the manager of Alankar Jewelers, in Jackson Heights, Queens. He worships at a shrine located in the store's back office on the top of the closed circuit television.

"When I do my puja (prayers), I think about my God and my family. I ask for my health, my business, my family, support and wealth. Just that my business is good, my family is good-my family is back in India, they will come here next year. The first God in the puja is Ganesha- everything that is new, new store, new house, business, new car, everything, the first puja is always Ganesha."