The Museum of Peace, which is located within the Sarhad restaurant complex, less than two kms from the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar, is arguably India’s first open-air, walk-through, storytelling museum, with no entry fee. It has 48 large panels mounted on high pedestals that depict pre-Partition Punjab in three sections, beginning with the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the British colonial period, and the bloodshed in Punjab in the months preceding the Partition.
Credit: indianexpress.com
Amidst all the joyous chaos, Cheteshwar Pujara and Jasprit Bumrah, the chief protagonists of the 137-run victory over Australia in the third Test that took India 2-1 to the final game in Sydney, scrambled to collect souvenir stumps.
MELBOURNE: When the decisive blow arrived — Ishant Sharma getting Nathan Lyon to top-edge a catch — the entire Indian team swarmed into a huddle to the backdrop of thunderous applause under a slaty sky. Mohammad Shami, who was stationed the farthest, ran across half the massive Melbourne Cricket Ground to join the celebrations. Even those on the bench and the support staff were leaping and hugging each other near the boundary ropes.
Credit: indianexpress.com
Washington: Notwithstanding irritants on trade issues, India and the US made “landmark” progress in 2018 to bolster their strategic and defence ties – from holding the maiden trilateral meeting with Japan to the first-ever 2+2 dialogue during which they signed the long-pending COMCASA agreement that would open the way for sales of more sensitive US military equipment to India.
The trade disputes posed bumps on the road as President Donald Trump called India a “tariff king” in September. However, two months later, he praised Indians as tough negotiators as the two countries started talks on a bilateral trade deal.
Credit: livemint.com
Related News Growing constraints on capacity could push the investment cycle next year Primary market mobilisation falls 60% to Rs 63,744-crore Non-food bank credit grows by 15.07 per cent, deposits by 9.66 per cent The country is expected to witness strong economic growth in 2019, after it has emerged as the fastest growing major world […]
The country is expected to witness strong economic growth in 2019, after it has emerged as the fastest growing major world economy this year despite growing global vulnerabilities, industry body CII said Sunday.
Credit: indianexpress.com
MUMBAI: Indians residing in Canada are taking their immigration journey a step forward, with several thousands opting for Canadian citizenship, after having lived in the country for the specified duration as permanent residents.
Responding to a request from TOI, Canadian authorities shared some statistics. During the 10-month period ending October 2018, nearly 15,000-odd Indians obtained citizenship. If compared with 2017, it’s a steep rise of 50%.
Credit: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Indian-American Rajesh Subramaniam has been named as the president and chief executive officer of US multinational courier delivery giant FedEx.
Subramaniam, currently the executive vice president, chief marketing and communications officer of FedEx Corporation, will assume his new role on January 1, 2019.
Credit: economictimes.indiatimes.com
DHAKA: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party won Sunday’s controversial general election, local TV said.
Hasina’s Awami League-led ruling coalition had won 241 seats in the 300-member parliament, results on local TV channels showed. The main opposition National Unity Front Alliance, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), had secured just seven seats.
Credit: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The three islands — Ross Island, Neil Island and Havelock Island — will now be called Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep, respectively, said Modi at a public function in Port Blair.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday renamed three islands of Andaman and Nicobar as a tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The three islands — Ross Island, Neil Island and Havelock Island — will now be called Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep, respectively, said Modi at a public function to mark the 75th anniversary of Bose’s declaration of the formation of the Azad Hind government in 1943.
Credit: indianexpress.com
By Vanshika Vipin Varma
STAFFORD: As the month of Christmas celebrations set in, it was time for yet another enticing show by the talented artists at Infused Performing Arts. The much anticipated event, in its 8th year, “Infusion 2018 – A Magical Christmas Bollywood Spectacular “ was organized at St. Joseph’s Auditorium on Saturday, December 8.
An elixir of Bollywood, Disney and Magic; Infusion 2018 was a magnificent show choreographed and directed by Kiron Kumar and Tina Bose-Kumar, founders of Infused Performing Arts. Astonishing performances by the Infused Dance Company & students, a total of 200 performers, left the audiences stunned.
Since its inception in 2009 by the adept choreographer couple, Tina Bose-Kumar and Kiron Kumar, Infused Performing Arts has been amusing the audiences through numerous shows. It was their passion for arts and their zeal to popularize the affluence of Indian art forms across USA that led to the provenience of their Dance Company. With time, Infused Performing Arts gained popularity and today they are acclaimed for their originality and innovation in each of their performances. This is a result of the meticulous selection of dancers by the founders themselves coupled with their diligent training. The choicest of the artists that form Infused Dance Company, have regaled audiences at over 500 shows across USA since 2011, with over 100 this year. Some of their remarkable shows comprise Houston Rockets halftime Show, World Film Festival, Houston’s Urban Nutcracker and gazillions of Bollywood concerts with Katrina Kaif, Govinda, Farhan Akthar, Preity Zinta, Zack Knight, Dileep and Suresh Gopi.
As the audiences eagerly waited for the show to set about, the Kumar’s gave it a distinctive beginning by showcasing DJ Dholi Deep’s latest Love Mashup music video featuring the couple themselves, and directed by Rockstar Zain. The video received nonstop applause by the audience.
The theme of the show was about Prince Antoine, charmingly enacted by Keith Larue Alix Jr, who was cursed to become a robot. He could get rid of this execration only if he carried out 3 acts of kindness. In order to do so, he resorts to Anna, beautifully played by Shalini Patel, who helps him on his journey down 3 distinctive fairytales to achieve his mission. The concept was seamlessly sectioned into seven scenes and dance performances. To correlate well to the theme were stunning scenes on the LED backdrop. The show was a mixed bag of performances in the likes of various dance styles & languages, opulent costumes, magical illusions; jaw dropping stunts and the fire and sparkler effects.
The enchanting acts of magician Merlin played by Kiron Kumar, through his magical illusions, awe-strucked the audiences. Getting his magic wand out of fire, he showcased 4 distinct magical illusions. The abrupt appearance of Prince Antoine out of thin air as fire flames shot up left the audiences open-mouthed.
Turning into a Queen from rags, Tina Bose cursed Prince Antoine into being a robot. The vanishing act of Snow White (played by Keerthana Varma), the sleeping princess who appeared as floating in the air, was amusing to watch. However, the audiences were wonder-strucked as she appeared from midst of the crowds. The very charming Cinderella (played by Smriti Korampally) gets bolted in a chest targeted with swords. However, she appears to be in her prince’s arms (played by Umair Qureshi) unscathed. The audiences were completely bowled over. Other actors included Janki Prajapati (Step-Mother), Priyanka Athavale (Step-Sister), Aria Amin, Sophie Patel, Nytza Yaseen, Ava Ridley, Sofia Patel, Alisha Bakshi, and Riya Sekharan.
Dance performances were beautifully fused in with an introductory classical performance on Mi Gente Classical Remix & Kuttanadan Remix by Vidya Vox. The medley featured Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyatam & Kalari. Another beautiful dancing act was Chogada, featuring the real life couple Vanshika Vipin Varma and Sushil Varma as Beauty and Beast. It was no less than a real-life like performance with amazing chemistry and graceful moves. The folk dance on the medley of songs like Ghoomar, Udi Udi Jaye, Zhingat and Khalibali had the audience’s grove in, especially the females as the Infused men on the stage performed. Each performance was better than the best and the enjoyment was felt throughout. Last but not the least, a Western dance performance on Medley of Muquabala Remix, BomDiggy/ Magenta Riddim Mix, DJ Tamim’s Dilbar Remix, and Peg Peg Peg by DJ Dholi Deep stole hearts. The finale featured all 200 performers on the stage. It was a sight to watch as they tapped their feet to Rangtari and Hard Hard Nachengi.
Besides, there were scintillating performances by girls across age groups on Ghagra, Sajna Ji Vaari, Nachde Ne Saare, Kaun Nachidi with fans, streamers and stunts. Upbeat performances by the boys displaying energy and buoyancy on songs like Tu Meri, Mein Tera Bf, Prem Leela, Mundiyan, and Badtameez Dil captured the hearts of the crowds. What also amazed the audiences was a zestful performance on Kamli featuring 25 girls. Their props superbly combined with their jaw-dropping flexible moves. The audiences requested to see more of their performance especially after watching the youngest batch of dancers, aged 3-5, dancing like rock stars on the very famous song from Judwa- chalti hai kya nai se barah, tan tana tan tan tan tara.
The marvelous event stole everyone’s hearts. Shows like these are a hit because of tireless efforts from the organizers. The backbone of this show did a fabulous job in order to make the event a success. The script and dialogues were by Yaksha Bhatt, while the lighting and LED was by Sage Productions. The major sponsors of this event were Shri Sita-Ram Foundation (Arun & Vinni Verma), and Brask Inc (Sangeeta & Dinesh Bakshi).
Upcoming Events:
1) Rockets vs. Spurs Halftime performance on March 22, 2019. YOU can be a part of the halftime performance. Auditions will be held for experienced dancers ages 7 & up to perform at the halftime.
2) BollyX & BollyZumba Glo Fitness Party will be held on Friday, January 4, 8-9:30pm, at Infused Performing Arts. This will feature a master class of five amazing fitness instructors.
For details visit www.infusedperformingarts.com or call 72-INFUSED-8 (724-638-7338).
Classes are now open for registration. Dance school locations are in Stafford, Pearland, & Dallas.
By Jawahar Malhotra
HOUSTON: What could be better on an overcast, cold day than a chance to while away the afternoon in the company of like-minded friends? And it is an especially warm coziness when they come together to make a difference in the community they live in. This time around, the members of Club 24 Plus wanted to show their concern for the little young ones among us who are less fortunate and may not find a toy to play with come Christmas eve.
C24+ tried a new way to show the involvement of Indians with the community they have flourished and made their homes in. In an idea borrowed from the Holiday Spirit, for the first time, the C24+ members each brought along a toy for a drive to collect colorful and entertaining objects for disadvantaged kids. The drive was organized by Joya Shukla and coordinated by others in the outreach committee, including Mary Grace Landrum, wife of Judge Michael Landrum of the 113th Civil District Court of Harris County.
About 50 couples attended the Holiday lunch held by the C24+ at Brio Tuscan Grill in City Centre on Sunday, December 9 on the terrace behind heavy canvas to hold back the chill of the afternoon before retiring for lunch indoors and photos (by Bijay Dixit of Unique Photo Images) in front of the brilliantly decorated Christmas tree in the lobby.
C24+ President Manisha Gandhi spoke of the programs that the group has participated in during the year and how much she has enjoyed being part of this dynamic group that has among its members many who also support the community’s premier charity, Pratham. “The true passion of the members is to serve the greater community,” said Gandhi as she recognized her other Board members and other key individuals like event co-organizer Nimal Bhagat.
After the luncheon, Gandhi, Shukla and Landrum packed the toys into cars and drove down to the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA on West 34th (near the Hare Krishna Temple) which is a collection point for toys and a distribution center to get them to the kids most in need.
Stream your favorite shows anytime, anywhere, on any device only on Hotstar
NEW YORK: Hotstar, the go-to streaming platform for the South Asian Diaspora, will now be the exclusive destination in the US to watch your favorite shows from the Star India network including hit titles such as Koffee with Karan, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, among many others. The entire Star India network, including Star India Plus, Star India Gold, Star Vijay, Maa, Asianet and MoviesOK, will no longer be available on any cable TV provider in the US including Dish TV, Sling TV, Comcast, Verizon starting January 5, 2019. For fans of Star India’s TV content offering, a Hotstar subscription is, more than ever, a must-have.
Hotstar has an attractive annual subscription for $99.99, which will give consumers complete access to the entertainment library and cricket calendar throughout the year. Log onto us.hotstar.com and use promo code HOTSTAR40 to get 40% off on the annual pack.
“Now, more consumers will be exposed to Hotstar’s premium product interface and cutting-edge streaming experience,” said Ipsita Dasgupta, President of Hotstar International and Strategy at Star India. “We are extremely excited to continue to bring the South Asian Diaspora their favorite entertainment content. Newcomers to the platform will quickly feel the benefits of being able to watch their beloved shows anytime, anywhere.”
Apart from its robust entertainment library, Hotstar is home to an unrivaled sports content offering. The platform offers a highly enhanced live cricket experience that includes HD quality, commentary in 8 languages, expert analysis, predictions and highlights.
Live cricket events to look forward to include the Paytm India vs. Australia Series in February 2019, the VIVO IPL in April 2019, and the ICC Cricket World Cup in May 2019.The platform is also home to exclusive surround cricket content with shows like Breakfast with Champions, Follow the Blues and Game Plan, making for a truly immersive experience for the cricket enthusiast.
About Hotstar:
Hotstar, India’s largest premium streaming platform for Indian dramas, movies and live sports, is now also available in the US, Canada and UK.
A subsidiary of Star India and 21st Century Fox, Hotstar was launched in India in 2015 and became the fastest app to reach a million downloads. The platform offers a bouquet of rich and diverse content encompassing the latest movies, popular TV shows, documentaries and live sports. By delivering premium, on-demand content across devices and in multiple languages, Hotstar ensures South Asians across the world are never too far from their favorite entertainment.
Hotstar can be accessed through us.hotstar.com, ca.hotstar.com, uk.hotstar.com or via iOS AppStore, Google Playstore, Roku, Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Android TV.
Press Release
HOUSTON: Move over ‘Desi Girl’ Priyanka Chopra, we have Houston’s very own International media star Ruchi Mukherjee bridging the gap between the ethnic and the mainstream. Decked out in a sultry black sari, Ruchi mesmerized the crowd at her LCAHouston International Society News Magazine Winter Cover Reveal Party, hosted by Neiman Marcus in the Houston Galleria.
Nearly two decades after taking the helm as an international correspondent with media giants, including The Times of India and The Statesman, Ruchi has worked tirelessly for the community with her media promotion skills. She is popularly known as the “Lights Camera Action Girl” for readers of her publication which started in 2009 and is now one of the leading online and print lifestyle magazines in H-Town.
“The mainstream community needs to be aware of all the fabulous things the South Asian and other ethnic communities are doing. Whether it’s in the fields of fashion or charity, we are taking the center stage,” said Ruchi.
This has been the exact vision of her publication and its most recent Winter Edition Cover. “We decided to feature some of Houston’s dynamic and diverse gentlemen from various walks of life,” adds Ruchi. The Men of Distinction on the Cover features Houston media icon Dave Ward, along with Shafik Rifaat, Gordon Quan, Kevin Murray, Dr. Waqar Khan and Travis Torrence.
“It has been a pleasure to host LCAHouston’s special Winter Edition Cover Reveal Party at Neiman Marcus. It’s about diversity and inclusion“, shared Stephen Brunelle, the new VP-General Manager of Neiman Marcus which sponsored the event, proceeds from which went to the SPCA. The event was held on Wednesday, December 12 at Chanel Couture Salon on Level 2 of the store, with about 50 exclusive friends of LCAHouston.
The evening was an elite crowd of Houston’s most fashionable men and women sipping champagne, enjoying holiday cheer and previewing LCAHouston’s new launch of its ‘Social Butterflies: Art of the Scarf’ Collection, where fashion meets tradition.
“It has been my dream for a long time to present to the world the elegance of a silk sari with a fashionable practicality of a French scarf,” said Ruchi. Walking through the streets of India and France, she found herself in a paradise of weavers transforming paper designs to gorgeous silks.
“It’s not just about building a fashion business. It’s our goal to empower women by providing opportunities to skilled artisans in rural West Bengal, India. It’s an honor to host a trunk show at the prestigious and world renowned Neiman Marcus,” Ruchi added.
Among the well-dressed guests attending this exclusive affair were: Dave Ward, Alice Mao, Travis Torrence, Dr. Waqar and Sarah Khan, Maha Rasheed Khan, Mona and Wasay Khan, Gordon Quan, KPRC Meteorologist Justin Stapleton, Swati Narayan, Kevin Murray, Kent Schaffer and Shara Kuy.
Krupali Laxmidas
contributed to this report
By Dr. Venugopal Menon
PEARLAND: As the very first Shakthi Temple outside India, and the earliest one to install an Ayyappa Sannidhi, Sri Meenakshi temple has also gained the privilege of building the Holy Eighteen Steps – the sacred Pathinettampadi – offering its Sri Sastha devotees a hallowed opportunity to observe all the authentic Pooja traditions of Sabarimala, without even leaving the city of Houston.
For the last 36 years, we have been conducting the most auspicious Mandala Pooja at our temple Ayyappa Sannidhi, with an ever-increasing number of devotes participating in the celebrated annual event. Now they can even undertake the blessed climb on our newly constructed, panchaloha (five metals) made Pathinettampadi.
Perhaps no other concept of Divinity exemplifies the ‘it is all one’ hypothesis of ‘Advaita’ philosophy, that ‘all’ are just an infinitesimal extension of the Ultimate Consciousness, as extolled by the sublime principle of Dharmasastha, the protector of Righteousness, consecrated at the shrine of Sri Ayyappa atop the sacred hills of Sabarimala, in Kerala. Sri Ayyappa is the personification of unity, blending the differences on many planes, many beliefs, many rationales, and many principles into a gigantic acceptance and accommodation of reverence bringing humans together, bonding their minds and blending their devotion to ultimate submission.
Ayyappa or Ayyappan is also referred to as Hariharaputra, Sasthavu, Dharma Sasthavu, or Manikantan. He is the son of Shiva and Vishnu, uniting the Shaivite and Vaishnavite traditions, a celibate yogi God, who can be attained only through penance of self-control, the epitome of Dharma extolling the virtues of rectitude, an incarnation of Buddha, reaching beyond the tenets of Hindu faith, and with his friend a Muslim, accomplishing harmony of religions. Even His devotees are elevated to the level of divinity, calling each other ‘Ayyappa’, transcending the notion of ‘Aham Brahmasmi’, ‘I am the Ultimate Reality’.
Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha temples in the world, situated on a 3000 feet hilltop in the state of Kerala. Millions of devotees undertake their pilgrimage during the Makaravilakku in the month of January, making it one of the most active pilgrimage sites in the world. Sri Ayyappa of Sabarimala is unique and special, installed, consecrated and invoked as a Naishtika Brahmachari, a celibate forever, in total control of his senses and detached from worldly life, utilizing all his power to a higher level. And in that form, a Naishtika Brahmachari has some peculiarities and requirements to be respected and followed by the devotees who are desirous of visiting Him.
The intensely dedicated devotees observe the obligatory penance, ‘Vritham’ for 41 days, the Mandala Pooja time, starting from the first day of Malayalam month Vrischikam, around mid- November, the day on which Sri Ayyappa was born, and lasting till the end of December. The significance of the Vritham is to observe austerity and abstinence in life, seeking a merger with the Ultimate. The devotee embarks on the sacred mission with the blessings of his elders and the Guruswamy who has attained a status through several visits to Sabarimala. They wear a garland, the mala, made of Tulsi or Rudraksham beads guided by the Guru in the environs of a temple. During the Vritham, the devotees surrender to Sri Ayyappa, being an ascetic, in thoughts, words, and deeds, taking bath early in the morning, praying and offering poojas, following strict sattvic vegetarianism, avoiding sensual pleasures and offering themselves to the service of others. At the conclusion of the 41-day Vritham, under the guidance of the Guru, they perform the Kettunira, preparing the sanctified travel kit termed Irumudi Kettu, a twin pack, the front one, munmudi containing offerings to Sri Ayyappa and the Pinmudi with items for the devotee’s personal needs. The offerings include coconuts filled with ghee, betel leaves and nuts, coins, jaggery, turmeric, camphor, kumkum, vibhhothi and such. At the conclusion of the pooja, each of the Ayyappa pilgrims takes the Irumudi on his head and embarks on the journey to the sacred Sannidhaanam, the Sanctum. On their way, the devotees would be paying their visits to several temples, and reaching the base of the holy hills, dipping in the sacred waters of Pampa river and start their climb of about three miles. They are usually in groups, family and friends led by their Guruswamy and throughout the trip will be devoutly chanting ‘Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa’ and other such praises of the God.
Every Ayyappa devotee, before he reaches the Sanctum Sanctorum, has to lay his footsteps over and climb the sacred 18 steps, the Pathinettampadi. The significance of the ritualistic procedure is a symbolic way of shedding the personal ego, as expressed through the steps. Eighteen is traditionally propitious in Hinduism, as noted from the Vedic age, from the number of chapters in the first Veda, the number of days of the Kurukshetra war, or the chapters in Bhagavad Gita. And the 18 Holy steps in Sabarimala symbolize the five sense organs or Panchenrdriyas, the eight passions, the three natures or Gunas and the last two being Vidya or knowledge and Avidya or ignorance. By climbing the eighteen steps the devotee is getting detached from all the above-mentioned worldly ties and qualifying to attain the divine premise.
Sri Meenakshi Temple inaugurated this year’s Mandala Pooja with the Sapta Sudhi Pooja on November 16th, the daily pooja starting the following day. The day starts with Abhishekam and Malar Nivedyam at 9 am, then the Usha Pooja at 9.45 am, Uccha Pooja at 11.45 am, Deeparadhana and Bhajans at 6.15 pm, Sahasranama Archana at 7.30 pm, with Seeveli (procession) at 8.15 pm and culminating in reciting Harivarasanam, singing the God to His celestial sleep, before closing the Nada for the day. Every Saturday during November and December, there would be Ashtabhishekam. The first Padi Pooja was observed on November 17th and the next one on December 8th evening along with Akhandanamajapam during the whole day and Annadaanam at noon.
A few devotees would be ascending the Pathinettampadi on December 15th and 22nd, along with Ghee Abhishekam Laksharchana and, Deeparadhana followed by the procession on the twenty-second. On December 26th, is Kalabhabhishekam and the following day the Mandala Pooja would culminate in Abharanam (celestial ornaments) procession & Charthu (adorning), Deeparadhana, Pushpabhishekam and Harivarasanam. On the fourteenth of January, the festival of Makaravilakku Pooja on Makar Sankranthi would be performed, coinciding with the major annual celebration at Sabarimala.
Every devotee of MTS and Sri Ayyappa is privileged and invited to participate in the Mandala Pooja observed and celebrated adhering to all the authentic traditions of Sabarimala and performed by our priest Sri Parameswaran. Please sponsor and attend the auspicious poojas with your family and allow the blessings of Sri Sabarimala Ayyappa be showered upon you.
Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.
HOUSTON: Members of the BITSAA International – Houston Chapter met at Nirvana restaurant on the city’s westside on Saturday, December 15 to celebrate the Holiday season with a luncheon. It also provided an opportunity for the young Bitsians who moved to Houston recently to meet with the senior Bitsians living in Houston. The event was coordinated by Nikhita Punna.
The eminent Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) is a private institute of higher education and a deemed university established in its present form in 1964 in Pilani, Rajasthan. The institute’s transformation from a regional engineering college to a national university was backed by the late Indian philanthropist Ghanshyam Das Birla or the industrialist Birla family.
The institute is one among the 6 Indian ‘Institutes of Eminence’ recognized by the Government of India. It has expanded to campuses at Goa, Hyderabad and Dubai across 4 campuses and has 15 academic departments. It focuses primarily on higher education in engineering and sciences and on its management program.
Though accurate numbers are unavailable, it is estimated that there are more than three hundred Bitsians living in and around Houston greater metropolitan area, mostly employed in the oil and gas, IT, engineering and financial fields.
BITSAA (BITS Alumni Association) International is a not-for-profit organization registered in New Jersey with several chapters throughout the US. The local Houston chapter was officially launched on BITSAA Day, August 2, 2013 by then erstwhile Indian Consul General Parvathaneni Harish who himself was an engineer before becoming a diplomat.
BITSAA’s mission is to “maximize the potential of BITSians and BITS Pilani”. It engages in charitable and educational activities by raising funds for setting up endowments, creating scholarships, rewarding teaching and research and generally promoting the development of resources at Birla Institute of Technology and Science at Pilani, Dubai, Goa and Hyderabad campuses. The Government of India has recently named BITS-Pilani as one of the six Institutes of Eminence in India, a special category.
BITSAA International aims to strengthen the ties, friendship and communication amongst former students, alumni faculty and friends of the Institute. BITSAA International provides a number of channels for people to stay connected with each other and with Birla Institutes of Technology & Science.
For more information, please visit BITSAA at www.bitsaa.org/page/about-bitsaa-international or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/BITSAAHouston. For information on BITSAA Houston chapter, call Krishna Vavilala at 713-795-5169.
By Rubendra Bains
HOUSTON: A wise man once said that education is a “great equalizer” of the conditions of men and women. The directors of Sikh National Center plainly had this advice in mind when they created an independent division called Sikh National Education Institute to spearhead education-based programs for the Sikh Panth (path).
SNEI was created to spearhead education-based programs for the Sikh Panth. Under the leadership of President Dawinder Khehra, Vice President Gurmeet Saini, and Treasurer Ruben Bains, the SNEI has already successfully implemented a Punjabi school as well as a kirtan (religious chanting) school (together referred to as the Guru Nanak Khalsa Schools). These schools initially started out with a handful of students but the attendance has burgeoned into nearly 200 students today!
The kirtan school has enjoyed tremendous success under the leadership of Bhai Hardeep Singh, Bhai Kuldeep Singh, Bhai Khazan Singh, and Dr. Amrita Bains. These instructors are classically trained in instruments as well as singing. The school holds classes for classical string instruments (such as dilrubah, taos, etc), tabla, and raag kirtan. Classes are held weekly where students from ages of 5 through 18 learn kirtan in raags as well as musical instruments.
The training and preparation of the Guru Nanak School’s students was on full display on Sunday, December 9 during the Sikh National Center’s youth dewaan (assembly). The entire program, from the beginning ardaas (prayer) to hukam naama (divine order) was conducted by Sikh youth. The students delivered inspiring and insightful speeches as well as performed heart-touching kirtan. Nearly 100 participants partook in the program, from all across the Metroplex.
The dewaan hall was packed with sangat (worshippers) and the organizers were delighted by the large attendance of young Sikhs. The sangat appreciated the program by the youth and encouraged the Sikh Youth as they took the stage/podium confidently, one after another.
While SNEI’s current programs have enjoyed tremendous success, SNEI’s mission doesn’t just end with the Punjabi and Kirtan School. SNEI is seeking to expand its education-based programs to other areas as well, including developing leadership skills in Sikh youth, providing career counseling, teaching public-speaking skills, just to name a few.
For more information about the SNEI, contact Davinder Khehra at 832-256-1988 or Gurmeet Saini at 281-217-7944.
MANVEL: The 11th Annual Namadwaar Madhura Utsav (sweet celebration) of bhakti and Bhagavata Dharma will be held at New Life Plaza at 3945 CR 58, Manvel TX 77578 this year, from December 24 to 30.
The event is conducted annually by Global Organization for Divinity with the blessings of His Holiness Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji.
This year’s event will include 2 days (Dec 28-29) of “Sri Dasamam Shatakratu” – an extremely auspicious and rare event where 108 devotees will together do parayan (read) the 10th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam that narrates all of Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s leelas. It is a unique opportunity to participate in this Shatakratu and devotees are invited to come, be one of the 108 fortunate ones. The event will be led by Smt. Shobha Parasuram from Atlanta. One has to only be able to sit and follow Bhagavatam as others read. Enactment of the different leelas of Bhagavan will also be performed during the parayan, and it will be a very enjoyable event.
The week-long Utsav will also be filled continuously with celebration of Bhagavan through song, dance and listening to His stories, and will include special events for children also.
Some highlights of the Utsav include daily morning 11 am and evening 6:30 pm discourses on Srimad Bhagavatam, a special Children’s Day with games and special lunch on Dec 25, Procession of Bhagavan daily at 10 am led by children, Ashtapadi kirtan-Sampradaya bhajans in the afternoons, cultural programs and concerts, and a grand Radha Kalyanam (Radha-Madhav Vivah) on Sunday Dec 30 starting at 9 am.
These seven days will immerse everyone – young and old – in a joyful world filled only with love and service of the Lord, and away from the anxieties of worldly life. Come, enjoy your time with your family in Bhagavan’s and devotees’ presence.
All events are free and open to the public. Breakfast, lunch and dinner mahaprasad will be served on all the days.
Prasadam seva and general sponsorships are welcomed for this auspicious event. If you find this divine cause worthy of your generosity, please call 281-402-6585.
This year’s Utsav is being held at a different location away from Houston Namadwaar because a new Namadwaar hall is under construction. We request your generous support to help build and complete the construction of the new hall that will house the deity of Sri Srinivasa Perumal (Sri Balaji) along with Sri Radha-Sri Krishna who already reside there. To support the new Namadwaar construction and to see the different ways in which you can support the project, see houston.godivinity.org.
For more information about the event or about Global Organization for Divinity or Namadwaar, please call 281-402-6585, email houston.god@godivinity.org or visit houston.godivinity.org.
Although beetroots are commonly available in India, they are not often used to make any dishes due to their sweet taste and hard texture which make cooking them very time consuming, almost like turnips, but they are eaten as a salad, in pickles and mostly juiced. Below is a reprint of Mama’s Chukandar da Salad recipe, reprinted with some additional information and directions.information and directions.
Beetroots are not commonly used in Indian cuisine as a main dish though it is eaten sometimes as a salad. When I was a young girl in our ancestral home in Lyallpur, we used to boil the chukandar (beetroot) and then peel it before eating it. Our hands and towels would be red with the effort!
These days, when people are obsessed with organic foods and antioxidants, it is easy to forget that some basic vegetables provide really good benefits and protection for the body. High on that list is chukandar (beetroot), a most misunderstood and unloved vegetable that has amazing curative powers and stores a lot of energy. Chukandar belongs to the same family as shalgum (turnips), palak (spinach) and chard.
In north India, the common belief is that eating chukandar is very beneficial as it helps to increase the blood in the body. They are high in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3 and C, minerals (especially potassium, magnesium and phosphorus) and folic acid. Beetroot is considered good for the heart, lowers blood pressure and betacyanin (which gives the purple color) is a powerful anticancer agent that inhibits tumor formation. The red coloring is also used in tomato paste, sauces, deserts, jams, jellies, ice cream and other foods.
It can be peeled, steamed and eaten warm with butter; cooked, pickled and eaten as a condiment or peeled, shredded raw and eaten as a salad. Beetroots are commonly used in East European countries to make a stew called borscht and in Serbia as the popular cvekla, a winter salad, seasoned with salt and vinegar, with meat dishes.
Beetroot juice is considered a healthy tonic by many people. A large portion of the crop is turned into pickles and yellow, sugar beetroot is used to produce 20% of the worldwide sugar supply. The vegetable has also been used to make ethanol, a fuel additive, due to its high glucose content.
Ingredients:
• 10-12 medium chukandar (red beetroot) – only two are needed for this recipe
• 1 large nimbu (lemon) – cut in half
• 1 large lal piyaaz (red onion) – peeled and finely chopped
• 1 medium adrak (ginger root) – peeled and finely chopped
• 2 large hari mirch (green chillies) – finely chopped
• 1 tsp ajwain (bishop’s weed or carom seeds)
• 2 tbsp dhania (fresh coriander leaves) finely chopped
• 1 tsp amchoor (dry mango powder)
• Spices (to taste): namak (salt), mirch (red pepper)
Directions:
1. Cut the ends of the chukandar, wash and dry with a towel and keep to the side to the side.
2. Take a baking tray and cover it with foil. Coat the beetroot with a thin layer of vegetable oil then place them on the tray.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 deg on bake, then the tray inside for 30 minutes. Take out the tray, turn beetroot over and place back in the oven for another 30 minutes.
4. Take the tray out of the oven and let the beetroot cool down.
5. Peel the chukandar and cut into small pieces. For the salad, you will need only one or two beetroots. Keep the rest in a bowl in the refrigerator for use later.
6. Throw the chukandar in a large bowl, and then add the onions, ginger, chillies and all the spices. Squeeze the juice out of the lemons over the mixture. You can also use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh lemons.
7. Stir the mixture thoroughly and then chill in the fridge for 30 minutes, Sprinkling the dhania before serving.
MAMA’S TIP OF THE WEEK: KEEP SUGAR, SALT AND OTHER SPICES DRY AND EASY TO USE
When cooking over the stove, people, especially the young and inexperienced, usually just pour or sprinkle the salt and spices straight out of the bottle. The steam from the dish usually makes the grains of the spices sticker to the container and gets into the shaker or bottle. To avoid this, it is best to take a spoonful of the spice and pour it into the dish. This is why we use the namak daani (spice container), a round bowl or rectangular box divided into sections, for cooking Indian dishes. It also allows you to use your judgment on the amount of spice used.
Another method to keep salt and black pepper dry in shakers, especially in humid areas, is to put some grains of white rice in them, as the rice will absorb the humidity.
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 (since renamed Faisalabad) 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 late-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share her delectable Punjabi recipes for future generations.
HOUSTON: Pratham Houston’s Holiday Luncheon 2018 on Friday, December 7th at The Junior League of Houston was a resounding success from every aspect: large attendance, excellent entertainment and most importantly, record breaking fundraising – $180,000 towards women empowerment programs.
As with previous years, the funds raised at the Luncheon are donated to Pratham’s Women Entrepreneurship program the Beauty and Wellness vocational training program.
Under the hardworking leadership of Pratham Houston’s President, Asha Dhume, the event was well organized, entertaining and focused – “Give Women a Chance – Unleash their Potential.”
The Mistress of Ceremonies Rekha Muddaraj, TV anchor from KHOU 11 News welcomed the guests and invited Asha Dhume for her opening remarks. Asha thanked the guests for supporting the cause and for their generosity in donating for so many years. She mentioned how Pratham USA was started over 20 years ago with the initial support of Mr. Vijay Goradia and has now grown into a large organization helping millions of underprivileged children in India. Asha emphasized that Pratham USA has been named one of the top charities by The Houston Chronicle and has earned the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for eight consecutive years – placing it in the top 3 % of American charities.
The Co-Chairs of the Luncheon, ABC -13 Women Of Distinction, Farida Abjani, Shawntell McWilliams and Dr. Sippi Khurana took to the stage to share their perspective. Farida Abjani and Shawntell McWilliams mentioned they were grateful for this opportunity and spoke briefly on their personal reason to support Pratham and why women empowerment is important. Dr. Sippi Khurana, Pratham Houston Advisory Board member, shared her interaction over video-conferencing with students and alumni of Pratham’s vocational training programs. She mentioned that it was gratifying to see so many people in India being benefitted by Pratham programs.
Dr. Marie Goradia, Pratham USA National Board member, conducted a meaningful pledge drive in her convincing and compassionate style – urging guests to donate generously. She narrated the story of a young woman alumnus of Pratham’s entrepreneurship program, who fought against the oppression of her abusive husband and the challenges of society to emerge successfully with her own small business.
During a delectable lunch, guests including prominent Houstonians and community stalwarts networked and enjoyed the holiday event. The event’s grand finale was a spectacular fashion show produced by Lenny Matuszewski for Sak’s Fifth Avenue, models by Neal Hamil followed by a surprise Kendra Scott giveaway of 50 surprise boxes of jewelry – proceeds of which were donated back to Pratham.
The afternoon ended with Mr Swatantra Jain, Pratham USA National Board member and CFO, handing a token of appreciation to the co-chairs Farida Abjani, Dr. Sippi Khurana, Shawntell McWilliams and announced a personal Facebook matching campaign.
The volunteer team had done a tremendous job just like they do every year to ensure that the event was executed in a meticulous way. The Pratham USA team including Vikas Bahl, Mani Surkari, Dimpal Kalani and Manasi Pendharkar contributed to a successful event.
Please mark April 20, 2019 in your calendars for Pratham USA’s 20th Anniversary Gala celebrating and honoring Mr. Vijay Goradia, founder of Pratham USA. It promises to be another elegant, entertaining and amazing event. Please reach out to Vikas Bahl at vbahl@prathamusa.org for sponsorship opportunities.
To learn more about Pratham and the organizations work please visit www.prathamusa.org.
By Jawahar Malhotra
SUGAR LAND: A fierce storm had blown in over the afternoon, dumping sheets of rain over the whole metropolitan area and by evening time, the downpour only promised to be more severe. The wet roads glistened under the streetlights like black oiled ribbons and cars pulled into the Madras Pavilion parking lot, their wipers furiously sweeping large drops off the windshields. Guests made a mad dash under hastily unfurled umbrellas to the safety of the covered archway and sheltered front door.
This was the setting that poets yearn for, when the fury of Mother Nature unleashes the pent up creative juices of minds that take pleasure in the flow of words and the harmonizing of feelings and emotions.
Though the deluge kept some people at bay in the comfort of their homes, a decent number of patrons – about 100 – of the International Hindi Association, Houston braved the elements on Friday, December 7 to hear lovers of poetry recite lines from some beloved poems and others reveal their own creations. All the nine poets, save for one – Palav Neeraj of San Francisco – were from the Metroplex.
They marked the celebration of Hindi Diwas or Hindi Day, a program produced in collaboration with the India Culture Center, which, not coincidentally, counts many of the same directors as the IHAH does, as, with good reason, they also love their Mother Tongue. The celebration began with a buffet dinner and lots of hot chai.
Dinesh Singhal emceed the event which began with introductions from IHA National President Swapan Dhairyawan, ICC President Nisha Mirani and IHAH President Dr. K.D. Upadhaya. They dedicated the event to the memory of the late poet Gopaldas Neeraj (who died in Delhi this past July 19 at the age of 93), whose grandson Palav Neeraj (along with his wife and two children) attended the celebration and read some of his grandfather’s poems. Palav has lived in San Francisco since 2012 and works in the IT sector. Amit Khanna from the Indian Consulate also attended the celebration.
The evening opened with the devotional Kathak dance Ganesh Vandana by Eesha Dhairyawan, Saanvi Mistry, Aditri Singhal, all young students of Shiva Mathur’s Shivangini Academy in Sugar Land. Then the poets had their turn to show their skills, beginning with Bankim Bhavsar (the father of ICC Director Rajiv Bhavsar) who sang the devotional Bhakti ras to Krishna and Radha. He was followed by poetry read in fluent Hindi by 13 year-old Arjun Singhal (both Singhals are children of the emcee).
Sangeeta Pasrija, a founder of the IHAH and 20-year resident of the area shared Urdu poetry that her dadi (paternal grandmother) would recite to her, and explained the meaning. Palav Neeraj read poems that his grandfather had become famous for. Gopaldas Neeraj was a renowned poet in Hindi and Urdu, some of which were used in Hindi movies. He was also a Professor of Hindi Literature in Dharma Samaj College, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, He had been awarded the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Bhushan in 2007.
Sarojini Gupta continued with her bubbly personality and radiant to match, presenting a hasya n vyang poem. She and her husband Subash were later felicitated for their dedicated efforts to promote the IHAH. More lighthearted poems followed from Fateh Ali Chatur who is well-known for the twinkle in his eye and the chance to turn a phrase into a limerick. Dr. Nik Nikam, a cardiologist, host of the online NNN podcast, frequent community photographer and author of two books, continued the vein in Hindi, which is not his mother tongue and one which he usually doesn’t converse in.
Sanjay Sohoni added more light hearted poems to the lineup, which was bookended by Dr. Nausha Asrar whose skillful delivery of three poems he sang reminds you that, apart from his profession as a material scientist, his avocation of Hindi and Urdu poetry has made him a star in demand at many mehfils across the world. Alka Raj followed reading vatsalya ras on her mother. And Sarita Mehta, a professor of Hindi literature, entrepreneur and much admired and skillful poetess read a dedication to Gopaldas Neeraj, which she hastily wrote early in the morning when the weather was still calm.
By Anish Nagar
HOUSTON: The IACCGH NexGen Exchange had their Fall 2018 Young Minds Panel at the University of Houston on Wednesday November 14. In partnership with UH CEO (Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization), NexGen invited three young and successful entrepreneurs to speak and answer questions on the panel. The panelists were: Franceska McCaughan (Founder of Franzie’s Flower Design and CEO of Franzie’s Flower Friends), Bonnie Treece (Owner of The Brain Domain), and Prasanth Chilukuri (Co-Founder and CFO of Sparkplug Studios). The event was moderated by Anish Nagar (Business Development and Growth Manager at Governance360 Enterprise Solutions Inc.).
The audience was packed with young professionals and students with a commonality of interest in business and entrepreneurship. The panelists discussed reasons they chose to become entrepreneurs along with challenges they faced along the journey. Collectively, the dream for more time paired with curiosity were the driving factors for why the panelists chose the entrepreneurship route. They also focused on the importance of time management and of building out their team.
“There’s never the right time and you never feel fully prepared. You have to be willing to put in the time and seed money. If you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will. When is the right time? When you are ready to take the jump!” Franceska. The event concluded with a Q&A session and group pictures.
