Churches & Places of Worship in El Monte, CA

“This is one of the Vietnamese Chinese Buddhist temple(Tien Ho, 天后宮） i come when I get chance. The temple is nice, the staff are friendly, and it has enough parking spaces.”

“I grew up going to temples and every year, this is one of the temple that I visit before the Lunar New Years. The reason why we go before the New Years is cause we have to pray for the upcoming year and thank them for the previous year. This place is really clean! They always have someone cleaning like vacuuming or sweeping the floor. Before entering you must take off your shoes, so be sure to wear socks if it's going to be cold. On the right side when you enter is a customer service desk where they can help you, especially if you have questions about how the praying works - thanking the Gods, etc. When you walk all the way inside, you'll see 5 different shrines. One big one in the middle and two on each sides. Each one represents something different - health, love, wealth, and I forgot the last one. So how do you pray? Just to mention first that I am no expert and you may pray to the Gods in anyway you wish to. But this is how I learned as a child - first you mention your full Chinese name if you have one, if not then you English name. You then say your Chinese age, which usually is the age you are now plus one. But for me I add two because I was born in the year of the horse on the Lunar calendar but born in the year of the Goat for American calendar. A bit complicated, you can always ask the people in the front for help. Then you mention what Zodiac animal you are. Last you may then pray for what you may wish to pray for, but please be specific with what you wish to pray for. (: GOOD LUCK! The parking lot isn't too big, but big enough for people to park, I think if I remember correctly the back has more? Sorry if I am wrong, but I do know the back area does have a couple of big pots, or well that' what I call them haha. You burn those papers in them for good luck. I remember burning my hand a little bit one time. :( So be very, very careful!”