Indo American News

Tag: India

How to Apply for College Without Going Gray in the Process

Best in Class Education Center offers tips for parents and students to make the college application process as stress-free as possible

Eager high school students (and their parents) are in the midst of spending many late nights and weekends writing essays, organizing forms, and waiting on pins and needles to find out if they’ve been accepted into their dream college.

Between the tuition fees, complex questions about future goals, and challenging essay topics, the process of applying to college can be quite daunting for all parties involved.

Best in Class Education Center has some key tips on how to make the process as stress-free as possible:
•Before you begin applying, sit down with your family to have an open discussion about finances. Is your family able to help you with expenses? See how much your family will be able to help you, assess what your scholarship opportunities might be as well as what type of financial aid you’ll be able to secure, and use this information to guide you toward how many schools to apply to and which colleges you would realistically be able to attend, should you be accepted.

•Research scholarships early. Many college application essays andscholarship essays will overlap and you’ll be able to use them for multiple purposes or applications. Also, if you have an idea of scholarship money that might be coming your way, this could open the door for additional school options for you to consider.

•Take your SATs/ACTs early enough so that you can retake them if necessary. Spend lots of time preparing for these tests and seek help if needed.

•The personal statement is a point of stress for many students. Remember, the goal of the statement is to show colleges who you are beyond your grades and test scores. It should sound like you. Share something unique about yourself and read the statement aloud to make sure it sounds like something you would say and also to help catch mistakes.

•For your personal statement, rather than writing for a review board – write for a specific person. For example, imagine you’re writing your essay for your high school English teacher and keep him/her in mind throughout your writing process. This will help make you feel comfortable with your writing, and also help you maintain a professional and academic tone.

Best in Class offers a variety of programs tailored toward college preparation and applications; one thing that can make the process less stressful is knowing that you’re not alone. Seek assistance if you’re feeling stuck.

For more information about Best in Class services for your student, or about current franchising opportunities, visit www.bestinclasseducation.com or call toll free at 1.888.683.8108.

Best in Class is targeting the addition of 20 more units in 2014. The state of Texas has been identified as a key state for growth. The current team behind Best in Class is looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to join this premier franchise family and ensure our youth will excel academically.

October 16, 2014
MassMutual Honors Diwali and Business Tradition of Chopda Pujan

From left: Nimesh Trivedi, Lalit Jallan, Adam Segal and Vikesh Amin.

No-Cost Seminars Help Business Owners Secure Their Futures and Protect the Next Generation

SPRINGFIELD, MASS: Almost three million Asian Indians in the United States are preparing to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, on Oct. 23. For the more than 300,000 Asian-Indian owned firms* in the U.S., the holiday takes on an added dimension, as the celebration marks the beginning of a new business year. To help business owners prepare for the New Year ahead, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) is offering a series of free, no-obligation business seminars in five cities across the country this Diwali.

In a special Diwali ritual for businesses known as Chopda Pujan, new account books are opened and blessed. Business owners use this time to reflect on the past year while looking ahead to new opportunities for prosperity and wealth. It is said the goddess of wealth, known as Lakshmi, visits the homes of devotees on this day, and lamps light the way to welcome her.
A MassMutual study** found that although 77 percent of Asian Indian business owners believe financial planning for their business is very important, only 43 percent are concerned about who will run their businesses if they or another owner leaves, becomes disabled or dies; only 46 percent have a formal retirement plan.

“Entrepreneurial businesses are vital to our growing economic recovery, so it is concerning that so many business owners seem to be sacrificing their own and their family’s financial future,” says Nimesh Trivedi, Asian-Indian Market lead at MassMutual. “With help, business owners can look past the seemingly overwhelming day-to-day demands of running their businesses and establish and meet their long-term financial goals.”
To help Asian Indian business owners open their new books this Diwali and plan for a prosperous new year, MassMutual is offering a series of free video-based seminars featuring stories shared by real business owners. The vignettes explore critical business planning topics, such as passing ownership on from one generation to the next, preparing for the unexpected, the death of an owner, retaining key employees, and proper estate and retirement planning.

Seminars addressing these topics critical to Asian Indian business owners will be presented in the following cities across the country this Diwali:
Houston, Oct. 14
Atlanta: Oct. 18
San Jose, Calif.: Oct. 24
Edison, N.J.: Oct. 29
Chicago: Nov. 6
For more information on the multi-city business owner seminar tour, contact Nimesh Trivedi, 413.744.1244. For more information on planning for your businesses’ and families’ financial futures, visit massmutual.com/asianindian
*2007 Survey of Business Owners Summaries of Findings, U.S. Census Bureau. This information is the most current data available.
**MassMutual’s Business Owner Perspectives: 2011 Insights in an Uncertain Economy, conducted by GfK Custom Research North America for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), 2011.

About MassMutual
Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyowners consistently since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company’s strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.
MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+ and Pinterest.

October 16, 2014
Mama’s Punjabi Recipes: Atte Da Halva (Whole Wheat Flour Halva)

For Punjabis, atta (whole wheat flour) is the carbohydrate of preference, and rice is less of a staple dish. Hence, lots of dishes, including many sweets like pinnis, poodras and halwa, are made of atta. It helps that whole wheat is preferred by dieticians for health reasons, even though excessive carbohydrates consumed are equally not healthy.
Wheat flour halva is often served at religious functions and is always served at the temples after services. Although this sweet dish is considered mostly a Northern Indian confection is associated with Punjabi cuisine. The same halva made with a slight difference can be used to make atta di pinniya.
This is a fairly easy recipe and you can find the ingredients easily in your home. You can add the amount of sugar to your choice, but I try to keep the halva not too sweet.
If you prefer, you can use brown sugar or gur (jaggery). Olive oil gives a better taste and is healthier than ghee. You can add more ghee if you like, but using less ghee makes browning the atta more difficult.

Ingredients:
Half cup of ghee or cooking oil
Half cup of atta (medium coarse wheat flour)
Half cup of sugar
Two cups of water

Directions:
1. Heat the ghee or olive oil in a kadai or wok over low heat.

2. Throw in the flour and brown it, stirring often, as you don’t want to have the flour get too brown as it may give a burnt smell. Don’t brown over high heat as the flour does not come out as tasty.

3. In a saucepan, boil the water and throw in the sugar, stirring till it is completely dissolved. Keep the mixture to the side for later use.

4. After the flour is slightly brown, pour the syrup and stir continually and turn the heat to medium.

5. When the ghee starts to percolate up along the edges then turn the heat off. This should be eaten warm for best taste.

Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the old-fashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her mid-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share some of her delectable Punjabi recipes.

MAMA’S TIP OF THE WEEK

FOR A COMFORTABLE LONG NIGHT FULL OF SLEEP, TRY SOME WARM MILK

Many people often complain about occasionally not being able to get a good nights sleep and resort to medications to help them get some rest. As long as this is not associated with some other illness of temporary problems, there is an age-old remedy for a good, comfortable night’s sleep and that is drinking a warm glass of milk up to an hour before retiring for the night.

Since long ago, this remedy has been used in rural and agrarian areas in India and it still continues to work. The thought was that the milk allowed for the stomach to relax and then help in digestion, which then induces relaxation and good sleep. Although a lot of new scientific research finds no real basis for this effect, it seems to help many people so it may be all psychological.

October 16, 2014
Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra Fast Becoming a Tradition at Durga Bari

Bahuda Yatra celebrations at the Houston Durgabari Society on Saturday, July 5.

HOUSTON: With much pomp and ceremony, Rath Yatra was celebrated at Durgabari on June 29. Well attended by more than 1000 people, this year marks the 3rd year in a row and it’s fast becoming a tradition at Durga Bari.

People flocked to the temple early morning that day and waited patiently as Mahamahopadhyay Dr. Bishnupada Goswami of Durga Bari, Sri Srikiran Narayanam from India Cultural Center and Temple, Memphis and Dr. Amrit Achari from Durga Bari conducted the Puja. After the Puja, Pahandi Bije started, in which the deities were brought from the temple on to the Rath. This was completed with the help of several eager devotees who were delighted having the chance to hold the deities. After all the deities including Nrushingha and Lord Ganesh were situated properly on the Rath, a ceremonial King Indradyumna, Dr. Raghu Dass performed the Chhera Panhara(brooming) ceremony to cleanse the path of progress for the Rath. Kirtan, led by Sripad BV Tirtha Maharaj from Sri Govindji Gaudiya Matha, Chants of Maha Mantra and Jai Jagannatha filled the air as devotees started pulling the Rath. With great enthusiasm, the devotees pulled the Rath three times within the temple premises to symbolize the journey of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra to their aunt’s house (Gundicha Temple). Once the Rath pulling was complete, devotees made a bee line to climb onto the Rath to see their beloved Lord and have a chance to touch them and do pradakshina around the singhasana of the deities. After that it was time for the devotees to get to Kala Bhavan to get lunch Prasadam, which was prepared so lovingly by Durga Bari volunteers.

Then on July 5, Bahuda Yatra or Return Rath Yatra was celebrated. Bahuda Yatra is the return journey of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from their Aunt’s house to the main temple. It is significant in the sense that it completes Rath Yatra. This is the only day in the year when Rasgulla is offered to the Lord. As per the rituals in Puri, Rasgulla is offered by Lord Jagannatha to Goddess Laxmi to enter into the temple.

Char Dham Hindu temple and Houston Durga Bari Society are truly grateful to all the devotees and volunteers for participating in the festivities and making it a grand success.

For further information visit, www.greaterhoustonrathyatra.org or www.skaifoundation.org

July 10, 2014