Monthly Community Paper | www.austinsouthasian.com | 512-828-6709 | Vol. 8 No. 07
What Ramadan 3rd Annual Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt Means To Me
By Sameer Malik (9th Grade)
By Preya Sundaram
What a nice way to spend an evening with a group of likeminded people - the 3rd Annual
Ramadan is a special time of the year for Muslims like me. It is the time during which we fast and don’t drink water from sunrise to sunset and we reflect on the past year, our journey not only physical but spiritual as well. (Continued On Page 05)
International
Day of Yoga
Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt fundraising event is a coming
together of Indian & Jewish community to do the goodness of helping over thousand homeless children with school supplies for upcoming school year in Austin,
Del Valle and Manor for the third year. (Continued On Page 06)
(Continued On Page 18)
By Usha Akella
Matwaala, a South Asian Dias-
pora Poets Festival will be held at Casa De Luz, Austin, Texas on August 2, 2015, Sunday, 9am8 pm. Co-hosted by the Poetry Caravan, ACC and Austin Poets International, the festival is the first project of the collective. (Continued On Page 18)
Kids Get Ready To Go Read IDEAYA Inc By Kumari Samineni
The United Nations General Assembly declared June 21st as the International Day of Yoga on Dec
11, 2014. Addressing the UN General Assembly on 27 September 2014, the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi had said:
Matwaala
IDEAYA Inc. (Immigrants for development and education of
On June 20th, 20 Austin kids and their families met at a pool and pizza party to have fun and learn about Pratham Readathon 2015 that encourages kids to aim to read more books in summer, and help less fortunate children in India (Continued On Page 14)
inside
July 2015
Birthday Party Tips......04 Ramadan...............05,08 Communities Work......06 Gujarati Samaj Picnic..07 Communal Living........07 IDEAYA Inc.................10 Financial Emergency....11 Choice Of Diet............11 Summer Camp............12 5 Tips To Upgrade.......12
August 2015
Back To School Special
512-828-6709
Sri Jagannatha’s..........13 Pratham Austin Readathon Kids Get Ready....14 4 Essential Tips..........15 The Companion Book AWAKE: The Life Of....17 Matwaala...................18 austin youth aid inc.), a 501(c) Predictions.................19 (3) Tax-Deductible Non-Profit Organization; is founded by a Community Calendar...20 group of immigrants, who at one Ah! The Tongue.....21,23 point in their lives (Continued On Entertainment........24,25 Page 10) Gani Garden...........26
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
Tips To Throw Delicious Summer Birthday Parties For Kids
Nothing beats the anticipation of your birthday when you are a child. But once school’s out, it can be tough to gather all your child’s friends due to summer camps and family vacations.
“The moment I would open the fridge door and see that bright red top, my heart would nearly burst from happiness while I let dreams of whipped cream swirl in my head.”
To combat this perennial summer birthday concern, some parents throw a big party during the school year and another smaller family shindig on the actual date.
With this in mind, a favorite easy recipe for birthday party strawberry shortcake gives the dessert a mini makeover with individual frozen shortcake bites, says Ettiene, whose nostalgia for her sweet childhood memories led her to partner with Reddiwip on their summer #PartyReddi promotion, which challenges partiers to create recipes with the whipped topping.
Others make sure the day is full of surprises, including yummy, unforgettable treats. Here are some great ideas to make the day extra delicious, from three lifestyle and entertaining experts: Berry, Berry Good “Every family has their special touches that turn children into excitement charged little bees buzzing around practically giddy with anticipation. For me, that was a can of whipped cream,” writes food and lifestyle expert Coryanne Ettiene, reflecting on her childhood in a recent posting on her “Kitchen Living with Coryanne” blog.
Austin South Asian
Editor: Bala Kumar Marketing: Jayachitra Vijay -512-8286709 / info@austinsouthasian.com Production: Jyothi Mariswaran Admin: Sharada Dayanidhi Publisher: Vidya Kumar Circulation: Vasooda Kumar ©All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof be published without the wirtten consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertisement and article is 20th of every month.
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You can make Ettiene’s frozen bites by slicing strawberries across the waist (so the hole appears in the center), cutting small squares of angel food cake, and stacking them together with colorful paper straws through the middle. Place them in the freezer for up to an hour
and serve with a small bowl of Reddi-wip for dipping. Or for even quicker birthday treats, add a slice of berry and a slice of angel food cake to serving spoons and top with the whipped topping. Sundae Tea Party Inspired by the spirit of the tea parties most girls love so dearly, Dawn Sandomeno and Elizabeth Mascali, co-founders of The Party Bluprints Blog, are sharing tips for a tea party with an ice cream sundae twist. This birthday party idea is perfect for summer and can be hosted indoors or out. Set a table with personal sundae stations for each guest. Each setting should have its own parfait glass with ice cream and three soup spoons or tasting spoons with toppings.
Choose traditional options like sprinkles, mini-marshmallows, and flavored syrups or try something new like fresh fruit, pretzels or popcorn. Then add some fun by placing several cans of Reddi-wip on the table so each child can spritz her sundae herself. J ust beware: whipped topping with real cream can go fast, especially with sugaredup fingers on the button, so have enough on hand. For a fun setting, build your tablescape on a coffee table and provide colorful pillows for seating. Polka dots and stripes can evoke the vibe of a retro sundae shop. Above all, show your child how special he or she is by celebrating the big day together. These memories can be the biggest treat of all. (StatePoint)
Problems With Phone Service Persist Across The Country Whether you’re on the calling or receiving end, problems with telephone service can be frustrating. From problems with failure to complete calls to poor call quality, many of these is-
phone carriers choose to route their calls. Unfortunately, long-distance carriers often choose a call path based on cost rather than quality and calls following the least-costly route can fail to reach their destination or
These issues disproportionately affect calls destined for rural America. Known as “rural call completion,” the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is taking a multi-pronged approach to addressing the issue. Additionally, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is advocating for rules and enforcement to end this practice, as well as uniting local carriers in an attempt to end rural call failures. In the meantime, consumers can help themselves. The FCC recommends reporting these problems to one’s long distance or wireless telephone service provider when they occur. To learn more about these problems and how to report them, visit www.NTCA.org/ callcompletion.
sues are a byproduct of how long-distance
complete with poor sound quality.
As policies change, consumers can look forward to more reliable telephone service. (StatePoint)
5
Chaand Raat Festival At AARC
By
Sumaiya
Malik
On Thursday, July 16, the Muslim Community of Austin will celebrate the Chaand Raat Festival one day before Eid ul Fitr at Asian American Resource Center (AARC) from 7 to 11pm. Traditionally, the last evening of Ramadan is a time to rejoice and pray. It is also filled with excitement over the completion of the Holy Month and the arrival of Eid ul Fitr, a day of festivities. This year, the celebration will be more organized thanks to Jiaa Jabbar.
She would invite small businesses to set up stalls for the general public. Entry would be free and people would come to AARC from 7pm to 11pm, buy Mehndi, snacks, clothing, jewellery, and listen to live music and kids would enjoy balloon twisting, magic shows, and face painting.
Jiaa and her friends, Austinites of Pakistani origin, had been attending Chaand Raat festivities annually. The events were always loosely organized in parking lots outside Desi restaurants or grocery stores where Mehndi and food stalls were set up at the last minute. Someone would put on blaring music and others would sell cultural clothing for the Eid parties the next day. Restaurants like Shalimar would offer finger foods. The party would be chaotic, but it would manage to be fun. Jiaa decided to organize a festival and approached AARC with a more methodical plan.
Taga, the manager at AARC, welcomed the plan. Jia’s friend Anila Moledina helped her reach out to small businesses to become vendors at the event. For the first time at AARC, a Chaand Raat Festival will take place. Halal Churches Chicken and Shawarma Point will be available for purchase in the lobby. While food is not allowed in the main dining hall, there is plenty of space outside and in the lobby
to eat. Since it will be the last day of Ramadan, complimentary dates and water will be available to the guests in case they want to break their fast at AARC. So far twenty vendors are confirmed including Fauzia Khwaja Islamic Caligraphy, Vijaya Lakshmi home décor, Nisha’s Henna Art, Lisa’s Collection Clothing, Bonnie’s Real and Costume jewellery, Leena Bajaj Jewellery, nails art, Jaipur Handicrafts and Footwear, five Henna vendors etc. Hayat Shabaan of Keller Williams Realty, Raw Events Group and Asian Family Support Services of Austin are partial sponsors of the festival. Jia can be reached at 214- 394-2381 for vendor information. The word is already out and with about two hundred people committing to go and six hundred expected to attend. Jiaa recommends that guests go early to get Mehndi and some jewellery. She will be posting additional places to park close to time. Jia’s excitement is infectious. We look forward to an exciting evening.
Austin South Asian | July 2015
What Ramadan Means To Me
(Continued From Page 01)
For me, I have just started fasting. My first fast was two years ago. I fasted once again last year as well. It is an experience I want to talk about. My first Roza was two years ago in Austin. I was thirteen years old. I remember waking up at five in the morning for breakfast and praying fajr namaz. I then went back to sleep and ended up waking at 11:30am. I stayed in bed for the majority of the day only to come out to pray when it was time. While I was lying down I had some time to think about what I was doing. Fasting was hard in the beginning but as the day passed it got easier. I don’t know why it happened but I guess I was looking forward to Iftar. Muslims like me have to fast for a month but the very poor may be fasting for longer because they can’t afford food and drink clean water. Ramadan in my opinion offers us the chance to be in those peoples’ shoes and see how hard it is for them to endure hunger and thirst day after day maybe for months and maybe for years. Once I realized that, it made me thankful for what Allah gave me
and how I am fortunate for what I have. I feel for those who don’t have a chance to enjoy this. I hope society in general tries to help these people gain some of these necessities so they can enjoy their lives. As for the social aspect of Ramadan, it gives us the chance to be in solidarity not only with our families and friends, but with complete strangers that we may never even meet. At every Iftar, I sit with my peers and contemporaries, and we talk about the day and wait for the clock to run out. Finally, when the clock hits zero, there is a blissful mist that overcomes us as we line up to receive our food. After we sit down and eat our food, the Azaan is given for Maghrib. As we line up for prayer, we each calm our bustling minds and bring it back in to prayer. After Maghrib, we go about our way. Some head to Terawia, while some go home to a goodnight sleep to ready themselves for the process once more. Across the world people are already waking up to start the same process. I plan to fast in the coming years and increase the quantity. I hope I can fast the entire Ramadan one day and continue to do that for the rest of my life.
Ramadan Food Baskets By Sumaiya Malik
The baskets includes:
Austin Muslim Relief Committee (Nueces Masjid, ICBC, ICRR & ICGA), has put together a program to distribute baskets of food during Ramadan and another basket of candy before the Eid to families that need assistance.
1. Box of Dates. 2. Bag of Rice (20 pounds) Basmati rice. 3. Bag of Sugar. (5 pounds) 4. Cooking Oil (Vegetable oil) (Family size) 5. Large white beans (for some families) 6. Spices (for some families) – Chicken Masala. Haleem Mix, Beryani Masala etc 7. Black Tea (Red label, Tetley
Amjad Mohammad of the Relief Committee said that each basket costs 200 dollars + 100 for meat.
etc.) 8. Salt 9. Halal meat Gift Card (100 dollar worth of meat) 10. Pita bread /or Naan 11. HEB gift card of 50 dollars for cleaning
ket in the memo).
One can participate in the program by either putting a basket together on their own and dropping it off to the closest drop off point or send a check payable to ICGA (write Ramadan Food Bas-
Drop off points are ICGA (Saturday only between 11am to 2pm), Shalimar Restaurant or Islamic Center of Round Rock. Jihan Sadi, who is helping coordinate the effort, said that the baskets are very easy to apply for. The form is filled just to ensure that the deserving get what they need.
Mail it to: ICGA : 5110 Manor Rd. Austin TX 78723, Attention Br. Amjad Muhammad. Or donate online by visiting: http://austinmosque.org/contact/supporticga/ (click on Sadaqah and note it for Food Basket)
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
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Communities Work Together To Raise Over $20,000 For Homeless Children (Continued From Page 01) It is good to see the most affluent communities taking so much communal responsibility and leading the way to help the needy, which is a big deal! The event was organized by Hindu Charities for America and Jewish Federation of Greater Austin. The evening started off with comedy show by the world’s first Jewish Indian standup comedian, Mahatma-Moses along, Indian and Jewish dance performances by local talents in vibrant hues and delicious Indian food donated by local Indian restaurant owners!
Each year the increasing numbers of generous sponsors, performers, attendees and donors have made the fundraising successful. The stage and table decors were complements of Blueprint Events that made the venue more pleasant! Costa Estos, an attorney said they are picky about what they eat and this was the first time that he and his wife ate Indian food and was surprised that it was so good! The event was attended by many notable guests that included former Mayor Gus Garcia and Manor ISD Superintendent Kevin Brackmeyer. Former Mayer Gus Garcia has
this to say “I really enjoyed visiting with all of you at the event that your organization sponsored”. The Hindu Charities work with Texas Homeless Education Office to identify the school districts and the work with the district officials directly to find out the specific counts and grade levels that need help. Many of these families cannot afford to buy the much needed school supplies. Some families skimp on their life balancing medicine to save for their children’s school supplies. It breaks your heart to see some parent’s compromise to support her kid’s
education. All proceeds go to purchasing of school supplies for over thousand homeless children in Austin, Del Valle and Manor area. On Sunday August 16 at 1pm, volunteers will meet to pack the school supplies at Dell Jewish Community Campus. The volunteers worked tirelessly to make this program possible and enjoyable for the attendees. Harish Kotecha, Founder of Hindu Charities, was recognized by Jewish Federation of greater Austin and honored for his selfless efforts by the White House signed by the President this year!
Though $20 will get the school supply for a needy kid to start the school year, no amount is a small amount and the Hindu charities accept any amount of donation as long as there is a willingness to give and help the needy children. Please visit HinduCharitiesForAmerica.org or call 512.994.4638 for more information. (Pictures courtesy by Ken Nordhauser and Ravi Pothukuchi)
7
Update On Communal Living Initiative For The Seniors In Austin Area!
By Harish Kotecha
As it was reported early in the year, a committe has been formed to explore possibility of Communal Living Facility for those want to have a peaceful living closer to their children, preserving their independence without being a burden to their children. They want to combat loneliness in their golden age, keeping up a fit and an active lifestyle. The result of a survey indicated that the need would be for a common multipurpose hall, kitchen facility, recreational amenities within the proximity of the shopping, medical, and entertainment and transportation facilities. The model is something similar to retirement community, Shanti Nekatan in Florida (http://shantiniketan-us.com/common/index. php) which caters to South Asian community.
A small Committee was formed and the Committee met and has decided to: • Solicit contacts of those folks from the community interested in such facility in Central Texas • Contact Shanti Niketan principals on what they can offer to Austin and under what terms • Hold a General Board meeting prior to scheduling visit by Shanti Niketan officials • Based on the outcome, next steps will be outlined If you are interested, please contact us: Harish Kotecha, Kotecha@yahoo.com, 512.994.4638 or Jayaben Thakkar, Jayathakkar62@ gmail.com, 512.614.1255
Austin South Asian | July 2015
How IT Companies Exploit H-1B Visa Loopholes It hardly needs saying that immigration policy should not undermine Americans’ jobs, wages or working conditions. The problem is that what some companies want -- cheap, exploitable, disposable labour -- is exactly what the system can be twisted into giving them. Former workers at Walt Disney World in Orlando or at Southern California Edison, the power utility, can tell the story. Those two companies recently laid off hundreds of tech employees, who were replaced by temporary workers recruited by outsourcing firms based in India. These are only two of many troubling episodes involving the H-1B programme, which provides up to 85,000 visas a year to foreigners, mainly highly skilled technical workers. The programme was created to allow companies to fill gaps in their workforce with specialized
21th Annual Gujarati Samaj Of Greater Austin Picnic!
Compiled by: Harish Kotecha Gujarati Samaj of Greater Austin
munity Park in Cedar Park. Over 200 people attended to socialize, play games, and enjoy delicious
For starters, Khichi was served accompanied by bhajiua and chatni. The lunch, catered from vegetarian Swad Restaurant, was pav bhaji and chaas and for dessert, sweets and traditional water melon! Both adults and kids played games like cricket and traditional Indian games! Kids had fun with balloons and face painting! Families and friends took time out to reconnect. Both children and adult great time!
held the 21st, Annual Family Picnic at Elizabeth M. Milburn Com-
ethnic Guajarati foods.
Thanks to the Gujarati Samaj Committee members and volunteers to make this event a great success! Membership and other information on Gujarati Samaj is found at: http://www.gujaustin. org/.
employees they cannot find in the United States. But the law has loopholes, and companies here and overseas ruthlessly exploit them. A huge industry has risen to meet labour demand in the information-technology sector, with the imported workers being employees of the outsourcing firms. The Labor Department announced it was investigating two of the largest companies that supply H-1B workers, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, based in India. Senators including Jeff Sessions, R-Ala, and Dick Durbin, D-Ill, asked for the inquiry after reports that Southern California Edison turned to Infosys and Tata for H-1B workers even as it was laying off 540 workers, many of whom said they had to train their replacements.
The New York Times recently reported a similar story at Disney, which contracted with HCL America, a branch of an Indian outsourcer, and laid off 250 workers. Some workers said they were asked to stay on to train the newcomers who took over their jobs. A mass influx of foreigners doing the jobs of the workers they displace is clearly not what the law intended. Congress surely did not want to give companies a more efficient means of slashing payroll costs while pushing more people to the curb. But despite common perceptions about the H-1B law, it does not require companies to recruit American workers before looking overseas.
Innovative Ways People Are Bringing Their Art And Music To Life
When you hear the word “art” you may think of a “do not touch sign,” amid the hushed tones of a gallery or museum. But artistic expression can take on many forms, and these days, artists and musicians are bringing their work to vivid life in innovative and exciting ways. For example, Michael B. Koep, an accomplished visual artist, award-winning poet, swordsman, touring rock musician and author, is an intriguing example of someone doing just that. A Renaissance man, Koep is known in particular for the creative ways he showcases his novels. He makes a point of mirroring his literary fantasy world when in front of an audience by doing everything from using a quill pen, to performing songs based on his book’s themes, to reading aloud near a busy bus stop, to the occasional sword fight. His latest novel, “The Newirth Mythology: Leaves of Fire,” is the second title in a thriller fiction trilogy. The trilogy explores the theme of bringing art to life, imagining a world where paintings hold the secrets to the meaning of life and death; and scribbled words can alter the past and reshape the present. Spanning seven centuries, “Leaves of Fire” tells of how a journal has inadvertently changed history and made myths and their characters real. More information can be found at www.MichaelBKoep.com. With a wider scope of media platforms available for expression, multifaceted artists of all walks of life can use their work to bring communities together, which is what many believe it is for in the first place. “Art should knit us all together. It should inspire, elevate and excite,” says Koep. “I like to think of art as a good conversation that you don’t want to end -- so you order more drinks.” (StatePoint)
8
Austin South Asian | July 2015
Highs And Lows Of Desi Graduations By Sumaiya Malik May, the month of graduations is followed by parties thrown by proud parents in honor of the graduate where faithful friends stand on the stage and reminisce about good times shared with the graduate.
guests giving loving looks to the pretty girl.
long it took the hosts to plan elaborate centerpieces and mementos.
If it was a boy who graduated, his never ending line of friends spoke
I was in awe at one graduation where they whole family had co-
Extravagant menus are served in spacious party rooms amid stylishly clad guests. While suit and tie is the norm for men, the sky is the limit for women with jewelry and clutches to accessorize.
I got to see the most precious moments captured in slide shows I watched before dinner was served. If it was a girl who graduated, the slide show often started with Kabhi Kabhi’s ‘Meray Ghar Aaee Aik Nanhi Pari’. The warmest smiles followed, with
By error, the restaurant had cancelled one and given the room to the other. The management was apologetic but the ‘bereaved’ dad could only see red.
on the mike about s funny moment shared with their graduating friend followed by, ‘I love you man’ and a solid hand shake and partial hug. The boys received tons of advice too with hints towards, ‘It’s time to grow up!’ Guests like us wondered how
ordinated the color of their outfits with the same shade of pink and green on the table runner and cake. To achieve such level of perfection required time and energy and they were all willing to spend that. All, because they were so hap-
Eid Ul Fitr Namaz
By Sumaiya Malik According to Islamic Council of
Two parties later, I happened to pick up dinner at a local desi restaurant when I experienced the lowest moment in a Desi graduation party planning. Two dads were arguing with the cashier at the checkout counter about the party room they had rented for their graduation party. Both men had rented the hall for the same day and time.
I counted at least eight such elaborate dinners in the first week of June. Countless others, I must have missed since my circle of friends is limited. Sometimes there were two graduations in a day. Most parties were planned months in advance and I noticed some high and low moments in all of the merriment.
py that a milestone had been achieved in a timely fashion and their child had secured a seat in the university of choice.
North America, Eid ul Fitr will be celebrated on Friday, July 17.
The day will begin with Eid ul Fitr Namaz. Mosques make special arrangments for Namaz and announce venues about a week in advance. Over the years the Crockett Center on North Lamar Blvd has been a favorite location for Eid Namaz. It has ample parking and room for the prayers. The best way to find out the time for namaz and venue is to go to the web page of the mosque closest to you a week or so before Eid.
He threatened the ‘lucky’ dad who got the party room with words like, ‘main tum ko chorroon ga nahin (I will not leave you alone!)’.
The management was embarrassed and pleaded to the men that this is America and we need to leave ‘desi’ style back where we came from! I left the venue, but not before actually showing sympathy to the bereaved dad. I advised his young graduate sobbing by him to grow up, be her dad’s strength and find another venue or be creative in coming up with an alternate plan. All parties looked at me quite bewildered and then ignored me and went on. I too went on my way. My point is, is it worth it to spend so much time and energy on a graduation party? And how much effort is enough? These are valid questions that every parent needs to ask themselves when they plan because no amount of money or time spent can equal the amount of love they have for their child.
Three Summery Ways To Improve Your Health For the health conscious, there’s no such thing as a summer vacation from making good nutritional choices and getting plenty of exercise. But there’s no reason to let a healthy lifestyle become boring. Here are three ways to let the summer season guide your routine: • Mix Up Movement: After months of indoor exercise, you may be ready for a change of scenery. And summer is the ideal time to take a break from the treadmill and incorporate different types of movement and exercise into your lifestyle. So ditch the gym this weekend and head for greener pastures. From row boating to hiking, you’ll find yourself activating different muscles than you normally would by mixing things up. • Eat In-Season Produce: Take advantage of the summer harvest and plan meals around in-season produce. The USDA lists apples, beets, bell peppers, kiwifruit, carrots, garlic, peaches, okra and cherries, amongst many more fruits and vegetables that reach their peak in the summer months. These items are a chock full of vitamins and nutrients and taste their best in summer. • Summer Sun: Beyond the Vitamin D factor, a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology shows that sunlight may lower blood pressure, which could reduce one’s risk for heart attack and stroke. Some researchers now say the benefits of sunlight could outweigh cancer risks associated with exposure. Don’t forget to take the usual precautions, however. Wear sunglasses, sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat to protect against harmful UV radiation. (StatePoint)
9
Austin South Asian | July 2015
Sundarkand Pravachan by
His Holiness Swami Tejomayanada Discourse on Sundarkand Chapter of Ramayana
July 14th - July 19th, 2015 6:30pm to 9pm
Chinmaya Mission Austin 12825 Burnet Rd, Austin TX 78727 (Next to Fry’s Electronics)
“Sundar” means beautiful, and in Sundarkand all that is beautiful is explained. Swami Tejomayanandaji’s simplicity will disarm you. His bhajans will uplift you.
Discourse is Free. Open to all. For further details: www.chinmayaaustin.org/jnana_yagna/ email: events@chinmayaaustin.org
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
IDEAYA Inc. In 2015: Giving Back To Austin Students (Continued From Page 01) were full of potential, but lacked financial resources.
Mr. Kianta Freeman , and Mr. Norman Davis all from Austin Can Academy, Miss Shadana Bailey from McCallum High, and Miss Salma Hernandez from Austin High.
Their experience motivated them to help academically, financially and socially challenged High School graduates in Austin to attain employable skills.
These students will be pursuing majors of their choice like Early Childhood Education, Nursing, Business, Firefighting, and Truck Driving.
Following the words of Sri Thiruvalluvar in “Thirukkural”( A renouned Tamil Classic), “When help is rendered by weighing the receiver’s need and NOT the donor’s reward, its goodness grows greater than the sea.”-as its motto, IDEAYA Inc. was launched in November 2010 by Mrs. Kumari Samineni and other like minded immigrants.
For this noble cause, IDEAYA Inc. aims to expand outreach programs and donation efforts and reach out to more disadvantaged Austin students.
IDEAYA Inc. is established to give back to the community by helping hardworking and under-privileged youth in Austin through scholarships. The purpose is to fund Vocational/Technical Training in education programs at Austin Community College and in the process give an opportunity to enhance employable skills to the High School graduates. IDEAYA supports the deserving student by donating expenses for tuition and textbooks for up to four semesters, making payments directly to Austin Community College. The eligible student must be a recent High School graduate with a GPA between 2.0 to 3.0 and must have a good attendance record. The selection of the recipients is based on the recommendation of AISD Guidance Counselors, student’s financial background, teacher’s evaluation and the decision of IDEAYA Inc.’s Board of Directors. In June 2011, IDEAYA provided scholarships to a graduate of McCallum High School and a graduate of Travis High School. In June 2013, two Eastside Memorial High School graduates were awarded with this scholarship. This year, in 2015, IDEAYA selected six candidates for the scholarship. On May 23rd, 2015, IDEAYA Inc. presented the scholarship to its recipients in Yarborough Branch of Austin Public Library. The six selected high school graduates are Miss Andrea Peters, Miss Lakisha Davis,
We invite people to donate(99% of the donations support the cause) and help drive the community forward by helping the disadvantaged high school graduates gain skills to help build their future and the country’s future. You may send your generous donation to this address: IDEAYA Inc. United Heritage Credit Union P.O. Box #:1648 AUSTIN TX 78767-1648 For volunteering opportunity please contact chairperson@ideaya.org,/samineni. ideaya@gmail.com by phone at (512) 3503161, www.Facebook.com/ideayaaustin www.ideaya/org. We appreciate all support.
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https://www.redcross.org/combined-donate?donationProdId=p rod9150029&retrieveData=1&flo w=oc1
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
Are You Prepared For A Financial Emergency?
Financial stability means more than just being able to cover your monthly expenses. It means having resources to make it through the unexpected. According to a “Special Report: Measuring Optimism, Outlook and Direction (M.O.O.D.) of America on Employee Benefits” study, conducted by Lincoln Financial Group in 2015, 86 percent of employees are confident they can afford today’s health care expenses -- a number that drops significantly to 74 percent for the years ahead.
“Fortunately, many employers offer important non-medical benefits that can help alleviate the need to incur debt or dip into savings and retirement accounts in the event of a major illness or injury,” says
Reisenwitz says that some important nonmedical benefits include: • Disability: Disability coverage -- both short- and long-term -- can help replace a portion of lost wages during recovery from injury or illness. Benefits are paid weekly or monthly and you decide how the benefits are used, just as you would with a regular paycheck. Partial disability benefits are also an option if you’re only able to perform part of your job or return to work part time.
While those numbers may sound optimistic, only 18 percent of those polled feel very confident they could cover their current expenses in the event of a major injury or illness.
• Accident Insurance: Accidents happen. And even with medical insurance, you still have deductibles and copayments. Accident insurance can help you bounce back by providing funds to help pay for expenses other insurance may not cover.
And when faced with out-of-pocket expenses not covered by a medical program, workers say they would dip into savings or checking accounts, credit cards and even their 401(k). Some non-medical benefits can help bridge the gap between today’s confidence and tomorrow’s concerns.
in these benefits can help you face medical expenses with confidence.”
Eric Reisenwitz, senior vice president of group protection operations and product for Lincoln Financial Group. “Enrolling
• Critical Illness Insurance: Treatment and recovery from such illnesses as heart attacks, strokes and cancer takes time. Critical illness insurance helps you recover financially while you recover your health, by providing a lump-sum benefit to pay for medical or living expenses that other insur-
ance may not cover.
• Life Insurance: A life insurance policy can pay cash to your beneficiaries in the event that you die unexpectedly, helping them cope with burial expenses and the loss of your income, ensuring they are left financially protected. Life insurance benefits can help protect your loved ones no matter your stage of life, covering student loans, credit card debt, home payments, college savings, the cost of a mortgage, and even financing retirement. • Vision and Dental Insurance: Good dental health is important, as doctors have found links between gum disease and serious medical conditions. Dental insurance assists in the payment of dental care fees. A vision plan can help your family reduce out-of-pocket expenses on regular checkups and corrective lenses. More information can be found at www. lfg.com/GPEmployeeBenefits. It’s important to take charge of your financial future, and a good place to start is by exploring your employer’s non-medical benefits plan. (StatePoint)
Did You Know: Bananas Are A Nutrient-Rich Food Choice For Your Diet The average American eats 27 pounds of bananas every year -- and it’s no wonder, bananas not only taste great, they are also good for your health. As an excellent source of dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and other nutrients, bananas are low in calories, have no fat, sodium or cholesterol. So, incorporating them into your diet just makes sense. While bananas on their own make a great snack, they can also be enjoyed in appetizers, desserts, salads, smoothies, and baked goods, too. For a sweet and savory delight, try this recipe for Healthy Coconut Crusted Chiquita Banana & Shrimp Skewers with Hazelnut Habanero Mole Dipping Sauce. Ingredients: • 1 cup all-purpose flour • 1 tsp. paprika • 1 tsp. salt • 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper • 2 egg whites • 1 egg, beaten • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut • 1/2 tsp. grated ginger • Zest of 1 lime • 1 large habanero pepper (seeded and stem removed) (optional)
• 1 small onion, chopped • 1 clove garlic • 1 cup tomato purée • 1/2 cup sodium-reduced chicken broth • 1/3 cup hazelnut spread • 2 Tbsp. tomato paste • 1 tsp. salt • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon • 1/2 tsp. chili powder • 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp. cumin • 1 Tbsp. coconut oil Directions: • Mole sauce: Place habanero, onion, garlic, tomato purée, chicken broth, hazelnut spread, tomato paste, salt, cinnamon, chili powder, cloves and cumin in food processor. Purée until well combined. • Melt the coconut oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add mole sauce to the pan and simmer over medium for 30 minutes, remove from heat. Cool to room temperature. • In a bowl, combine flour, paprika, salt and pepper. In a second bowl, whisk together egg whites and egg. In a third bowl, combine panko, shredded coconut, ginger and half the lime zest. • Coat banana slices and shrimp in the flour mixture, egg and coconut mixture. • Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium. Fry banana in batches, about two to three minutes, turning frequently until golden. Add more oil, if necessary. Fry shrimp in batches, about four to five
minutes, turning frequently until coating is golden and shrimps are pink. • Remove from oil and drain on paper towel-lined plate. Skewer two banana slices and two shrimp onto five skewers. Serve with sauce and garnish with remaining lime zest. When shopping, look for bananas that were farmed responsibly. For example, Chiquita is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2020, recycles 2,000 metric tons of plastic bags and twine used on company farms annually, and is committed to reforestation efforts in the regions where they farm. For more recipes and Chiquita fun, visit chiquitabananas.com or download the Chiquita FanFun app. Bananas are a great nutrient-dense power food, providing natural energy to fuel active lives. Pack a banana wherever you go and you’ll always have a quick, convenient source of nutrition to pick you up and keep you going. (StatePoint)
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
Summer Camp Can Enrich Summertime By Hao Lam, Summer programs are a great tool for your child’s mental and social development. When the school year ends, sunshine and swimsuits come to mind. For children, those months might also mean s’mores and sing-alongs with fellow campers.
ingful adventures to match your child’s enthusiasm and maturity level.
dence and self-reliance learned from being away from their parents.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing a camp: Day camp versus overnight camp – Sleep-away camps engage chil-
Day camps are also less expensive compared to overnight camps, with the benefits being more skill-based than social.
To pick the right type of camp, whether it’s overnight or day, ask yourself these questions to narrow down your search:
If you’re considering enrolling your child in a summer program, it’s important to learn about the different types of programs available, admission procedures, schedules, and costs.
According to the American Camp Association, a leading authority on youth development, summer camps can offer fun and mean-
A few examples of different camps include academics, sports, arts, leadership skills, and many more. These specialized camps can enhance your child’s natural curiosity in areas ranging from STEM education to drama and stage performance.
Summer programs are a great way to increase a child’s social and cognitive skills while the academic year is out.
Knowing your child’s personality as well as your options will help you identify the camp your child (and you) will benefit most from.
grams available across the U.S., there are countless options to suit the interests and needs of every child.
dren in a distinct part of community building which is difficult to replicate in the traditional school setting. Day camps also have their advantages–younger children may not be ready to learn the indepen-
It’s important to consider your child’s level of independence in addition to your financial and learning expectations. Types of camps – With such a broad range of camps and pro-
• Do I want my child to learn something or find a place that serves as childcare? • What are the qualifications of the camp director and staff? Are they adequately screened? • What is the staff to child ratio? • What is the age range of camp goers? • What is the daily sched-
ule and what activities are included? Camp is an enriching experience for children of all ages and is a great supplement to the academic school year. Best in Class also offers academic summer programs. To learn more, please visit bestinclasseducation. com/programs/summercamp/ or call toll-free at 1.888.683.8108.
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5 Tips To Upgrade And Customize Your Next Vacation There are numerous ways to see the world, so why not travel exactly the way you want? Whether your ideal vacation is a luxury cruise, a sophisticated stay in a five star hotel, or a safari adventure, a bit more planning will help make your next escape perfectly suited to you, say experts. “From lunch on the Great Wall of China to a breathtaking voyage through the Kenyan landscape, travel offers us many of the most exhilarating, enriching experiences of our lives,” says Mary Jean Tully, Founder and CEO of Tully Luxury Travel. “And if you do your research, you can have remarkable travel experiences that are both convenient and comfortable.” Tully Luxury Travel is a global leader in luxury travel, offering high-end cruises through Cruise
Professionals, safaris customized through African Dreams and tailored itineraries through Private
Travel Designers. To make your next vacation the most memorable one yet, the experts at Tully Luxury Travel are offering five travel tips: 1. Avoid booking luxury hotels and resorts online or with call centers. For better deals and better
service, contact an experienced and specialized travel designer. They will have first-hand knowl-
edge of your destination and provide you with full concierge-style service and advice. A travel agent also books hundreds or thousands of rooms with various hotel properties all over the world. This enables them to get better deals for their clients.
2. If you want a stress-free way to see a great many sights, consider ocean and river cruises. This style of travel offers a convenient way to explore the various wonders of a particular region, without the hassle of constantly packing and unpacking. 3. If you’re going on a cruise, try to arrive in your departure city a few days early. This will alleviate stress and jet lag, ease you into your holiday, and give you a chance to acquire a taste of the city from which your ship will depart. This will also guarantee you don’t miss your ship due to inclement weather, mechanical difficulty or an airline strike. 4. Don’t assume personal challenges, such as a disability or mobility issue, mean you can’t have the travel experience of a lifetime. Seek out specialized
tour operators that can make even the most exotic and remote trips possible for you and your family. For example, agencies like Tully Luxury Travel work with unique tour operators to create accessible safari experiences available to travelers who may, for example, be visually challenged or undergoing dialysis treatment. 5. Plan wisely. If you know you must travel during a particular month, do your research to find out about local festivals and other seasonal attractions. The beginnings and ends of “high” travel seasons can also be less crowded and expensive. Find more tips, ideas and information about luxury travel at www.TullyLuxuryTravel.com. “With some keen planning, you can see the globe exactly the way you want at a price that’s within reach,” says Tully. (StatePoint)
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
Sri Jagannatha’s Navakalevara The year 2015 is the first Navakalevara year of this century, the last one being in 1996. Navakalevara is a ritual where the deities (Sri Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, Sri Jagannatha and Chakra Sudarsana) discard their old bodies and enter new ones. This ritual is celebrated in a year containing two Ashadha months in the Hindu almanac. Sri Jagannatha is Divinity in Daru (wood) form that is subject to human conditions, including death, and rebirth. Being carved out of Neem wood, the bodies start to decay after a few years; therefore, new bodies are needed. In a sealed cavity in their navel area, the Jagannath deities carry a mysterious substance called the Brahma-padartha representing the imperishable divinity. During Navakalevara, the Brahma-padartha, deemed sacred and secret, is transferred from the
old to the new bodies. Like the imperishable soul that cannot be perceived by the senses, the Brahma-padartha remains unknown even to the sevak, who, blindfold-
ed and glove-handed, transfers the substance at midnight. The search for the Daru starts 65 days before the Deva Snana Purnima, on the day after Rama Navami. With good wishes of the Gajapati Maharaja and hospitality of vari-
ous mutts on the way, a group of designated sevaks leaves Puri, by foot, for the Ma Mangala Temple in Kakatpur, where, through days of prayers, the sevaks receive
clues about the locations of Neem trees meeting scriptural specifications, including signs of Vishnu on their bark. Once the Darus are located, the Biswakarma (crafter) inspects the
trees for the final determination. A 3-day yajna is performed at the sites before the trees are cut, first with ceremonial axes. The Darus are cloathed, placed on wooden carts, pulled by devotees to Puri, and escorted ceremonially to an area called Koili Baikuntha inside the Sri Mandir, where they are worshipped daily until Deva Snana Purnima, after which the Anavasar period starts.
padartha is transferred from the old idols into the new idols and the cavities are sealed. After the transfer, the old bodies are treated as dead bodies. They are buried in the graveyard in Koili Baikuntha. The Daita Pati sevak families observe mourning for 10 days, as done when a family member dies. On the 12th day, Mahaprasad is offered to Brahmins, Sadhus, Vaishnavs, and Sevaks.
Carving of the Darus takes place in seclusion during the dark fortnight after Snana Purnima by the sevaks titled Pati Mahapatra, Badagrahi Daita and Biswakarma Maharana. No one else is allowed to enter the site. The carving sound is defused by playing musical instruments outside the site. Meanwhile, consecration rituals of the new idols are performed on the Pratishtha Mandap by Shrotriya Brahmins. In the midnight of the Chaturdashi (14th day), the Brahma-
After the end of the Anavasar period, the new Deities give their first darshan to the public on the Netrotsava day. They take their first journey on the Ratha Yatra day and return to occupy their throne at Sri Mandir after the Bahuda Yatra. At Austin Hindu Temple and Community Center, new deities were installed in 2013. In 2015, Deva Snana Purnima was celebrated on June 6th. Ratha Yatra and Bahuda Yatra will be celebrated on July 18th and 26th. All are invited.
Austin Hindu Temple & Community Center Celebrates
Ratha Yatra Saturday, July 18th 2015 @ 5:30 pm The famous Ratha Yatra symbolizes universal brotherhood, equality and inclusiveness of the highest order. The Ratha (chariot) is a metaphor to the journey of Human life with an ultimate goal of liberation by being united with God. After 19 years, this year the Deities are having “Nabakalebara”. This is an ancient ritual associated with most of the Jagannath Temples when the Idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are replaced by a new set of Idols. 8:30 am – Morning Puja followed by Discourse by H.H. Swami TejomayanandaJi 05.30 pm - Jagannatha Parivar Puja / Ratha Anukula Homam 06:00 pm - Devotional Songs / Classical Dance Offering 06.45 pm - Deities Taken to Ratha (Pahandi) 07.15 pm - Ceremonial Sweeping of Ratha (Chera Pahanra) 07.30 pm - Ratha Pulling 8.30 pm - Arati followed by Mahaprasad Sunday, July 26th - Bahuda Yatra (Jagannatha Returns to the Temple)
Contact: 512.927.0000, info@AustinHinduTemple.org
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
Pratham Austin Readathon Kids Get Ready To Go Read
(Continued from page 1) attend free Pratham classes to learn to read, write, and count well and stay in school by raising funds. Invited guest Ishita Paul of Austin, who taught in a city school in Delhi for two years through the Teach for India program,
this team’ button, you can register and get your own Readathon page. You can also send email to misramamata@gmail.com. In August, we will have a celebration party where readers will be appreciated for their efforts with certificates, medals, trophies, and may even win a trip to iFLY.
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Austin’s only locally-owned Toyota dealership! talked about her experience in India and how Pratham helped her with resources. Please go to http://pratham.seeyourimpact.org/readathon2015/austin/ to see how Pratham Readathon works. The right side bar will answer most of your questions. Scroll down to see the Austin kids who are participating. You can click on any kid’s icon to see his/ her Readathon page. By clicking the ‘join
Also, an attractive dollar for dollar match incentive is available from an anonymous supporter of Pratham Austin Readathon. So this is a great time to be a part of the Pratham Austin Readathon team and take advantage of these offers to help educate more kids who would be left behind and drop out otherwise.
Make A Difference Advantages Of Going Barefoot In The house
By Vidya Kumar Recently I read an article about how it is advantageous to be barefoot in the house. We as South Asians are used to being barefoot in the house. When kids ask a reason for practicing this rule one can safely and confidently speak of the below advantages. Recent studies have proved that shoes track more dirt than the feet. Also when you come from outside the amount of bacteria trapped in ones shoes need not be brought inside the house – if you enter your home by removing the shoes. On the soles of the shoes many types of bacteria are trapped which leads to infections in our lungs, eyes and stomach. Imagine if the same shoes are being worn in all parts of your home. Shoes also bring toxins into the home as per the article which is harmful to pets, children and infants. All the more one should be careful in a carpeted home because of level of difficulty involved clearing them from the carpets. Feet also need to breathe and so allowing the feet to go bare at home is desirable. Moreover the wear and tear on the floor or carpet is much less if one were to go barefoot. Alternatively, one can have house slippers or clean set of socks so that one can kick off the shoes and enjoy the relief one feels by not enclosing the foot in shoes all the time.
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
4 Essential Tips For Staying Safe While Traveling (StatePoint) Adults 50 and over are some of the nation’s most frequent travelers; however, they can be particularly at risk for various vacation woes. Whether embarking on a multiweek cruise or a quick weekend road trip, travelers should take steps to avoid certain snafus, say experts.
monitoring.
Secure Your Home Unplug electronics and turn off your main water supply. If possible, have a friend keep an eye on your home.
Protect Your Identity Thirty percent of travelers have experienced identity theft while traveling or know someone who has, according to a recent survey. Leave items like social security cards or unneeded credit cards at home.
A security system can add peace
Avoid public Wi-Fi when pos-
Prepare for Emergencies If you’re traveling abroad and get sick or injured, hospital costs could be extreme, even for relatively minor issues. Protect your travel investment.
payment when you’re traveling can be a major pain.
“Some of our happiest memories are those spent traveling, but the unfortunate reality is our time away from home can leave us vulnerable,” says Dave Austin, vice president, marketing services at AARP Services, Inc.
Travel insurance can include medical coverage, trip interruption and more. Another option, emergency travel service membership, can ben-
“By preparing beforehand, travelers can diminish certain risks and focus on enjoying their trip.”
Keep at least one source of money, such as a credit card, in a place other than your wallet -- preferably not on yourself. Use hotel safes when they are offered. Being without a method of
Subscribers make the call on where they want to go for care and treatment within their home country. Consider enrolling in AARP, as members get up to an 18 percent discount on MedJetAssist emergency travel service memberships. For additional vacation tips and discounts, visit aarpdiscounts.com. For $16 a year, members can often recover the cost of membership by taking advantage of just one offer. Don’t get caught off-guard on your next vacation. For safer travels, get savvy.
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According to Austin, there are several ways travelers can protect themselves, including: Safeguard Belongings Make copies of travel documents or scan them and email them to yourself so they won’t go missing, even if your bags do.
For example, AARP Identity Theft Protection from TrustedID offers AARP members over a dozen identity and credit protection features including on-call protection specialists.
efit you in the event of a medical emergency.
of mind. A variety of 24/7 home security monitoring services include smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detection. Home automation solutions now allow travelers to adjust lighting remotely and receive security alerts on mobile devices. AARP members can receive 20 percent off new ADT installations and $2 off monthly monitoring.
sible and make purchases with credit cards, which often offer better fraud protection than debit cards. Require passwords for access to your devices. Be wary of entering personal information when using public computers. A variety of identity protection services are available to assist with proactive identity and credit
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
The companion Book AWAKE: The Life Of Yogananda
LOS ANGELES, June 16, 2015 – The much anticipated companion book to the award-winning documentary AWAKE: The Life of Yogananda, based on the film by Paola di Florio and Lisa Leeman, is scheduled for release by Self-Realization Fellowship on September 1, 2015.
urgent to me.”
nanda.
An intimate account of Paramahansa Yogananda’s personal journey in the West during a time of upheaval and change, AWAKE:
Behind-the-scenes commentaries by the filmmakers including details of their pilgrimages to sacred sites in India of significance to Yogananda.
About the film, The New York Times wrote “compelling… enough to make a modern soul look inwards.” The Washington Post called it “dreamy” and “entrancing.” AWAKE: The Life of Yogananda, based on the documentary film of the same name by Paola Di Florio, Lisa Leeman, and co-producer Peter Rader, delves further into the story of Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the best-selling spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi, who is credited with bringing the ancient tradition of yoga meditation to the West. In the book’s introduction, Di Florio describes her own evolution as she began working on the film: “My ‘research’ of daily meditation was an adventure. It allowed for an unfolding to take place—an ‘undoing’ of who I thought I was. I pushed myself to be disciplined out of an ardent curiosity to explore. As time went on, I learned that Yogananda’s teachings do not require an act of faith or even a belief in God. Yoga is considered a science in India, where a person uses one’s own body as a living laboratory. Not only was I curious to experience this for myself, but I also saw how important an ecumenical path to transcendence could be in a world where we are annihilating one another over dogmatic beliefs. The beauty of yoga is that it meets you where you are in the moment, without judgments about your socalled “religion,” or lack thereof. A film like AWAKE suddenly felt
Among her other films are Speaking in Strings and Home of the Brave. Her television work includes producing a TV series for Canal Plus entitled Directors on Directors. She is also a founding partner of Nerd Girls, Inc., a New Media startup dedicated to creating new role models and empowering young women to enter the fields of science and engineering. Lisa Leeman, director, AWAKE: The Life of Yogananda, has directed, written and produced documentaries for the last 25 years, including One Lucky Elephant, Out of Faith, and Crazy Wisdom: The Life and Times of Chogyam Trungpa.
The Life of Yogananda explores the stories of Yogananda’s childhood and spiritual training in India; his historic arrival in the U.S.; the challenges he encountered with racism and yellow journalism while teaching Western audiences; the betrayals he confronted; his breakthrough teachings on the link between science and spirituality, and the universality of religion; and the recognition he ultimately received for his pioneering role as the father of Yoga in the West. Also featured prominently in the companion book are themes on the dualistic nature of existence (or “maya”) and the “cosmic dream” of life; the link between science and religion; the science behind the practice of Yoga meditation; and the impact of Yoga on individual and social transformation. The high-quality, 288-page hardcover book features: More than 400 striking color and sepia images, including a considerable collection of rare archival photos of Paramahansa Yoga-
Sidebars on such subjects as the history and science of Yoga, the eightfold path of Patanjali, Yoga and brain plasticity, and reminiscences from one of Yogananda’s close disciples personally trained by him. The entire original film script, consisting of the words of Yogananda and interviews with luminaries from the fields of science, academia, religion, business, and culture, including, among others: George Harrison, Ravi Shankar, Krishna Das, Russell Simmons, Deepak Chopra, Varun Soni (USC’s Dean of Religious Life), neuroscientist Andrew Newberg, Harvard Divinity School’s Francis Clooney, and monastics from Yogananda’s legacy organization, Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. About the Authors: Paola di Florio, director, AWAKE: The Life of Yogananda, is an award-winning, Oscar-nominated filmmaker and television producer whose work has featured extraordinary individuals and the triumph of the human spirit.
tival. Other honors include an Emmy nomination and the oncein-a-lifetime American Film Institute Independent Filmmaker Grant. She’s on the faculty of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. About Self-Realization Fellowship: Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, founded in 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda to disseminate his yoga meditation teachings, has more than 600 meditation centers, temples and retreats in more than 60 countries around the world.
Her groundbreaking first film, Metamorphosis: Man into Woman, won the Filmmaker’s Trophy at the 1990 Sundance Film Fes-
Information about the life and teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda is available from: SelfRealization Fellowship, 3880 San Rafael Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90065. Tel. (323) 225-2471 • Fax (323) 225-5088 • www.yogananda-srf.org.
Getting kids to be more active and motivated for outdoor adventure can be a challenge in today’s world of cool technology. With so many compelling reasons to stay indoors, like smartphones and streaming video, how do you
exciting adventure. Create a thematic challenge that can be carried out in the yard or a nearby playground and set the kids loose for a mental and physical challenge. Use your kids’ interests to get
convince your little ones that the great outdoors is, well, great?
them motivated to participate, or help foster a new interest by having kids seek out specific items in nature. Encourage outdoor activity with cameras and wearable devices designed with kids in mind. Record the Action (Continued On Page 19)
Parents: Inspire Kids To Create Their Own Adventures
Here are a few ideas to inspire outdoor play and even to use their love of technology to help lure them outdoors: Plan a Scavenger Hunt Turn a simple day outside into an
18
Matwaala - South Asian Diaspora Collective and Festival
(Continued From Page 01) The festival director and organizer is Austin poet Usha Akella. The Dialogue Institute’s reception, dinner and reading for the poets is slated for August 1, Saturday 6 p.m. Other events will flag off the poets’ presence in Austin on the morning of August 1st as well. The guest of honor is the eminent 78 year old Parsi poet Keki Daruwalla of New Delhi and noted poets Saleem Peeradina (Michigan), Ravi Shankar (Connecticut), Pramila Venkateswaran (Poet Laureate, Suffolk county,New York), Phinder Dulai (Canada), Anis Shivani (Houston), Usha Akella (Austin), scholar Amritjit Singh (Ohio) and local Austin poet Shubh Schiesser are attending. Keki Daruwalla is considered to be one of India’s leading poets and lives in Delhi. He has over ten volumes of poetry and half that number in short stories. His Collected Poems were published in 2006 by Penguin India. He
won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize for Asia in 1987 for his book “Landscapes”. His novel “For Pepper and Christ”--a historical novel—was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize (Asia and UK) in 2010. His latest books (2014) are Fire Altar: Poems on the Persians and the Greeks” and a short story volume entitled “Islands”. Another Novel on the Parsees is slotted for publication this year. Daruwalla was a Queen Elizabeth Fellow at Oxford for a year. He is also a former Indian Police Service officer, who retired as Additional Director in the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). He was also special Assistant to the Prime Minister in 1979.
Director Usha Akella’s mission in organizing the collective and festival is to bring visibility to the expanding and prolific Diaspora South Asian Poets in the country. The idea of a sole poetry festival emerged after a recent editorial project she co-edited with Pramila Venkateswaran for www. museindia.com.
She states: “Matwaala, South Asian Diaspora Poets Collective, is a community of poets whose origins go back to South Asia.
Phinder Dulai, poet from Vancouver, Canada will do a power point presentation on a ship called the
Our aim is to promote South Asian poetry and collaborate with other arts in North America. The mission of our initiative is to encourage solidarity, promote members’ work, and increase awareness of South Asian poetry in the mainstream American Literary landscape.”
(Continued From Page 01)
International Yoga Day.”
“Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being.
On Dec 11, India’s Permanent Representative introduced the draft resolution in UNGA. The draft text received broad support from 177 Member States, including USA, and the draft text was adopted without a vote. Hence, June 21, 2015 is the first International Day of Yoga.
Most Students Taking Staar® End-Of-Course Exams Pass On First Try AUSTIN – The first try for most high school students taking the five State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) end-of-course exams was a successful one, according to preliminary statewide results released today by the Texas Education Agency. The results reflect passing rates for the spring 2015 administration of STAAR. Texas students are required to pass five STAAR end-of-course exams – Algebra I, English I,
school year, 83.5 percent of students in the Class of 2015 had already passed all five assessments and faced no state-mandated tests during their senior year. Currently, the Texas Education Agency does not have comparable information for Class of 2016 students starting their senior year. The 2014–2015 school year represented the second time the STAAR U.S. History end-of-course exam was administered statewide. Students
The issue focused on a project involving Diaspora artists and poets that generated the idea for sustained collaboration and initiatives.
He retired as Chairman JIC. Recently he was a Member of the National Commission for Minorities.
The International Day Of Yoga
It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature.By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an
Komagata Maru that is visually amazing and a rich mine of historical photographs and a part of his most recent book – ‘Dream / Arteries.’ He is consulting editor for Talonbooks.
Austin South Asian | July 2015
A group of poets, Saleem Peeradina, Pramila Venkateswaran, Amritjit Singh and Usha Akella form the core team of Matwaala. Poetry readings, a youth reading, panels and papers will be featured. The evening ends with a reception and a cultural segment featuring Natyalaya School of Dance, Rohit Dhamankar (Carnatic musician), Kai Cole (Violin prodigy) and Julie Slim and band. Rama Thiru, Austin photographer will exhibit her work. A detailed program will be available closer to the festival. (Continued On Page 19)
English II, Biology, and U.S. History – in order to receive a high school diploma.
posted a passing rate of 92 percent, equaling last year’s inaugural rate.
In preliminary statewide results for the 2014–2015 school year for first-time testers, Texas students posted the highest statewide passing rates across the five tests in Biology, U.S. History and Algebra I.
Students who did not pass STAAR end-of-course exams required for graduation will have the opportunity to retake the tests during the week of July 6–10.
“Across the five required subject areas, most high school students taking STAAR end-of-course exams are passing on their very first try,” said Commissioner of Education Michael Williams. “That’s good news for students who are completing this component of their graduation requirement, often times successfully completing their end-of-course exams before beginning their senior year.” Heading into the 2014–2015
Please note that TEA does not have district-level test results at this time. Those results are available from your local school districts and charters. Comparison chartsof statewide resultsand summary chartsprovide greater detail on all STAAR results. To review state-level reports, visit the Texas Education Agency website at http://tea.texas.gov/staar/ rpt/sum/.
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
July Predictions - 2015
ARIES (March 21 to April 20): Things will get little slow this month but do not panic and continue to work on your plans and stay connected with people on the other side. Money you need will get arranged on last minute. Some one too close will try to take undue advantage of your generosity. Do not stretch your limits or compromise with principles. TAURUS (April 21 to May 20): A government agency may seek more information before giving final clearance. Things will get more relaxing at work as you will finish the project well before deadline. You will be doing some work or cleaning up in or around the house. You will enjoy few evenings with old friends and discuss some business plans. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): You will enjoy company of a new colleague or friend. Meetings will go well and you will be given green signal. Boss will call you to discuss an important
issue. Money wise you will stay comfortable. You may also start working on a business idea given by a close friend. You will spend money on one of your vehicle. CANCER (June 21 to July 22): Planets in house of luck should continue to provide the much needed boost in life. Money can continue to pour in from various places. There should be some fortunate changes in career too. Stocks will appreciate and refund can come in first week. You may receive some nice and valuable gifts from your in laws also. LEO (July 23 to August 22): Changes will make you nervous. Feel confident about steps you have taken recently as the results will start coming in soon. Money wise you will stay comfortable as expenses will come down a lot. You may call an old friend and invite him for lunch. You will benefit a lot from some one very fair and with blue eyes. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22): Many positive things will happen in a dramatic way in
Matwaala - South Asian Diaspora Collective and Festival
(Continued From Page 18)
On commenting on the collective identity, poet and scholar Dr. Amritjit Singh, defines Matwaala as: The name Matwaala evokes bonding and bonhomie, fun and funk, creative adventure and freedom, artistic assertiveness and non-conformity. A Hindi/Urdu word, it was the name of a radical literary magazine edited by the poet Nirala from Kolkata a century ago. Matwaala is used for someone who is drunk, but the word is used more often in a transferred sense, for someone who is a free spirit. As poets we are, of course, drunk on language and words. Seating limited. RSVP appreciated. poetrycaravanaustin@gmail.com or call 914.686.4487
second week. You will receive help from powerful people. Lucky break you had been praying for will become a reality in July. You will feel lucky in all money matters and achieve your goals quickly. You may call an old and trusted person for some advice. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22): You will gain edge over your opponents. A clear victory possible in o n g o i n g litigation. You will be selected among large number of candidates for the job. Money will come but lot less than your immediate needs. You will be making plans with family to visit a nice place in upcoming short holidays. SCORPIO November
(October 23 to 22): Things will improve all of a sudden. Concentration of planets will help you achieve your goals in fist shot. There will be big improvement in career too. People in business will make new and important clients. Trip will not only be beneficial
but will also boost your morale in a big way. SAGITTARIUS (November 23 to December 22): Mind will be at ease as you will overcome many obstacles of the past and look forward to make a fresh start in life. Bank balance will continue to grow slowly. You will maintain a tough stand when it comes to negotiations and get what you really deserve. A long distance tip is in the air. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19): Bold actions will get the work done and you will quickly jump to next level. Answer will come in positive for the emails you write. Mind will be slightly restless as you will not be able to make up your mind about traveling overseas because of other commitments. Refund may come towards the end of July. AQUARIUS
(January 20 to February 18): Strong Venus will help you resolve many issues haunting
you in the past. Property deal will close soon and you will get indications of upcoming positive changes in career. You may be writing a check to government also. Eye sight may need to be tested again. You will plan a short family vacation. PISCES (February 19 to March 20): Planet Mercury is in house of loss so avoid signing any paper or contract in a hurry. Efforts will not go waste and there will be some more positive changes in career. A colleague may invite you for a get together at his place. Long awaited clearance can come during the month from a government agency.
Pandit Parashar parashar@parashar.com www.parashar.com 925-833-7170
Parents: Inspire Kids To Create Their Own Adventures (Continued From Page 17) For example, the affordable VTech Kidizoom Action Cam features a robust, durable design and comes complete with mounts for attaching to a bike, skateboard or scooter. The waterproof case allows kids to take videos and pictures up to six feet underwater -- perfect for snorkeling and splashing fun. The camera, which was named the number one breakout hit on the TTPM Summer Play List, features a 1.4 inch color LCD screen and can take stop-motion videos and time-lapse photos in
addition to regular videos and photos. It lets kids get creative with features, effects, frames and photo filters. It also includes three games and a micro USB cable to make it easy to upload photos and videos to a computer. More information can be found at www. VTechKids.com/ActionCam. Mix Things Up Your own backyard can be home to new and exciting adventures every day, especially for children with active imaginations. Nevertheless, kids will welcome an opportunity for a change of scenery. From the playground to the pool
to the skate park, take kids on mini field trips whenever you get a chance. Build Confidence For many, a lack of confidence may be a barrier to getting involved in neighborhood pick-up sports and other local activities outdoors. Bear this in mind and strive to build your child’s confidence. Even if your home possesses a state of the art home theater and all the latest gadgets, with a few simple strategies, you’ll have kids off the couch and begging to play outside. (StatePoint)
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
July 2015 Community Calendar
We have compiled this event listing based on the information available on the web site (where ever possible) of the community/organization as of third Friday. Please check with the organizers to confirm its accuracy. We request all South Asian organizations to email us (info@austinsouthasian.com) their community calendar on or before 20th of every month, for the events happening next month. We will carry listing of all South Asian non-profit organizations in Austin. If the Name, Contact info is not correct or has changed email us (info@austinsouthasian.com) the changes you want to see. E&OE.
SCHEDULE:
June 27, Saturday - July 11, Saturday, 08:00 AM, Hindu Summer Camp For Families at Radha Madhav Dham Austin is at Radha Madhav Dham Temple, 400 Barsana Rd, Austin, TX 78737. Registration is Free. Only Cost is For Overnight Stay and Meals. Go to www.radhamadhavdham.org to register now. For more information, call Radha Madhav Dham at 512-288-7180. July 10, Friday - July 12, Sunday, 11:00 AM - 08:00 PM, Indian Ethnic Fashion Fest UCarnival Austin’15 is at Doubletree by Hilton Austin NW Arboretum, 8901 Business Park Dr, Austin TX 78759. For more information, contact UCarnival at 8008249156. July 16, Thursday, 06:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Chaand Raat Festival - Celebrate Eid and the last day of Ramadan at this family-friendly event. Henna, face painting, jewelry and more. Food available for purchase. FREE. AARC Ballroom July 18, Wednesday, 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM, Intergenerational Fun Fair - This family friendly health fair commemorates National Sandwich Generation Month and raises awareness of the special needs and community support available to those working so hard to maintain multi-generational families. AARC presents this event in collaboration with Austin Groups for the Elderly (AGE). FREE. AARC Ballroom, Great Lawn July 19, Sunday, 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM, 1000 Cranes Origami Festival This family-friendly celebration includes cultural performances, music, and origami-based crafts
for kids. Asian Families Support Services of Austin (AFSSA) will also unveil its Thousand Cranes of Peace art installation, a multimedia display incorporating 1,000 origami cranes. FREE. AARC Ballroom July 20, Monday - July 26, Sunday, July 20 - Monday - Kalash yatra/ Bhagwat Mahima July 21 - Tuesday - Shri Dhruv Charitra July 22 - Wednesday - Shri Narasing Avatar July 23 - Thursday - Shri Krishna Janam July 24 - Friday - Giriraj Pujan July 25 - Saturday - Dandia Raas & Rukmani Vivah July 26 - Sunday - Shri Vyas Pujan & Holi Shrimad Bhagwat Katha - Pujya Acharya Shri Mridul Krishna Goswamiji - come celebrate seven days of melodious bhajans & kirtan at Austin Hindu Temple &
Community centre, 9801 Decker Lake Rd, Austin, Texas 78724. Prasad will be served daily. For more information, contact Fred Dorairaj at 714-422-7201 or email at adorairaj@sbcglobal.net July 25, Saturday, 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM White House AAPI Roundtable - The White House Asian American Pacific Islander Roundtable will provide an opportunity for the local AAPI community to engage the federal government and access resources. A panel of federal representatives will be introduced during a general plenary followed by breakout sessions for specific federal agencies. FREE. AARC Ballroom, Conference Room and Classrooms ONGOING The RICE – Recreational and Intergenerational Community Education – program is designed
to address the intergenerational wellness and education needs of Austin residents, with particular focus on the underserved Asian American community. Most activities are free or low cost. Please visit our website for a full calendar of RICE events: www. austintexas.gov/aarc click under “Education Programs” and “Senior Programming.” RICE: Senior Tea & Coffee | Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:30 to 11:30am RICE: Senior Lunch Social | Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 12 to 1pm RICE: Hula for Health with Kanani | Tues., July 7 and 21, 10:30 to 11:30am RICE: Senior Tai Chi with Vince Cobalis | Thurs., July 2 and 16, 10:30am to 12pm RICE: Gentle Yoga with Navvaratri | Wed., July 8 and 22, 10:30 to 11:30am RICE: Senior Badminton | Thurs., July 9 and 23, 9am to 12pm
Parents Seek US Help In Getting Abducted Kids Back From India Indian-American parents, whose sons and daughters have been allegedly abducted in India, today made a passionate plea before a key Congressional committee to get their kids back. Testifying before a Congressional committee on behalf of all Indian-American parents whose kids have allegedly been abducted in India and have been fighting legal battles in courts for the past several years, Ravindra Parmar requested lawmakers and the US government to send a strong and clear message to abductors and Nation States who continue to harbour them. “We urge our government to deliver the same kind of justice for our children who are victims of this terrible crime; including
Albert, Alfred, Archit, Siva Kumar, Reyansh, Nikhita, Abdallah, Ishaan, Indira, Trisha, Pranav and dozens if not hundreds of other American children currently in India,” Parmar said in his testimony. The Congressional hearing on “Abducted Children and the Goldman Act” was convened by House Foreign Affairs Committee - Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organisations. Referring to the recently passed Goldman Act, Parmar said the US Department of State now has the tools to use them urgently and effectively to bring the children back.
“We are asking for ACTION! We are asking that you BRING OUR KIDS HOME!” he said. According to Parmar, 86 per cent of all active cases of abductions to India have been open for two years or more and 51 per cent of all active India related cases have been open for five years or more. Twenty one per cent of all India related cases close without the child returning or child turning 18 years, said Parmar whose daughter Reyansh was abducted in India. Parmar rued that the US government has not shown enough commitment in helping its citizens get their kids back. “How many hearings will it take
before we can see American children being returned from countries like Brazil, India and Japan, who have either failed to recognise parental child abduction as a crime or disregarded international law and their own legal treaty obligations?” he asked. “We are not demanding any special favours from our govern-
ment. But when parents are being left behind twice, once by the abductors and then by our own government, to fight a State machinery in another country, without direct and sustained US Government intervention, it is no coincidence that for every Sean Goldman, there are hundreds of Reyansh Parmar,” he said.
CHILDREN ARTICLES Children email us your articles to see it in print info@austinsouthasian.com
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
Ah! The Tongue!!
By Kumari Raghu Samineni, Austin, TX. Ah! The incredible, irresistible and insatiable tongue! Some say “mighty sword” rules the world, while others may debate that “the pen” rules the world, but I say it is “the tongue” that rules mankind by its ability to dictate taste and diction. The “Taste Buds of the Tongue” have been the basis of many civilizations and wide ranges of cultures around the globe. Throughout world history, the tongue’s urges for salt and spices, became instrumental in the enormous wealth and culture achieved by many empires and nations. The Salt-Gold trade between Saharan Africa (Morocco & Algeria) and West Africa (Ghana & Mali) spread Islamic religion and culture to West African Nations. In Tibet, cakes of salt were pressed with images of their ruler and used as currency. Salt bars were used as currency for more than 1000 years in Ethiopia and some are still circulating among the nomads of the Danakil plains. In ancient Greece, slaves were traded for salt, and unruly slave was not “worth his salt”. The
word “salary” originates s from ‘salarium argentums’, the wages paid to purchase salt. Chinese emperor Hsia Yu (2200 BC) was the first to levy a tax on salt. This was also the first tax ever in world history. In those days a single pepper corn was worth its weight in gold! In 408 A.D., when Visigoths besieged Rome, they demanded 3000 lbs of Pepper as ransom along with gold and silver! Many nations’ pre-medieval and medieval economies and arts depended on the “Spice Routes” from India and East Indies. If not for the quest of satisfying many European tongues with spices from India and East Indies; Columbus, Vasco Da Gama and other voyagers would not have set sail to “discover” faster sea routes to India and unknowingly bump into the new lands of the Americas and Pacifica, which inarguably changed the face of the globe. These exploratory voyages led not only to the establishment of colonialism, the brutality of slavery, and the genocidal extinction of many American Natives, but also were responsible for planting the seeds of new ideas like cultural and religious freedom, which took deep roots in individuals and societies.
Eventually, thirst for freedom led to the downfall of slavery, colonialism and global imperialism. In turn, democratic values of justice and equality spread around the world forming new democracies. It is interesting that “Boston Tea Party” (I tease my American friends that India provided the “Tea”) and “Salt Sathyagraha” were roots of movements for the Resistance against British Colonialism. In France, a salt tax (la gabelle) was partially responsible for the eruption of the French revolution in 1789. You may say that’s all history, but I say the “tongue” had a chief role to play in this “big drama of world events”. As a mere 5 1/4” (14cm) long “boneless organ”, the tongue rules our personal life at all waking hours. Its taste buds are not only aroused by the aroma and sight of the food, but also cause us to salivate by mere reminiscing thoughts of “mouth watering” favorites! From morning till night, it dictates what it wants you to put in your mouth, but not what you need to.
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At times, it will even rule against the best judgment of your intellect. The artful game between man’s tongue and his conscience is played countless times daily throughout his life, starting from a baby’s first spoonful of food till until the last spoonful. Most important and basic reason we work and earn is to satisfy our hunger and taste buds. Clothing and shelter are secondary only after to food. Before I got married there was a talk of some prospective groom in the U.S.A. When they asked me I naively replied, “Who is going to leave jasmine flowers, gongura, (a favorite of Andhras’ tongues) and mangoes and go to U.S.A?” But as fate should have it; I ended up spending 37 years in Paducah, Kentucky. On my first journey as a bride to U.S., instead of bringing the traditional bushel of bridal gifts and trousseau, I came with varieties of pickles, tamarind (“Tamco Paste” was not available then), masala, rasam powders etc. In 1970s, we could get some dhals and spices thanks to the
mail order service of “Kalustyan Store” in New York. We had to improvise with a lot of indigenous foods and use them as substitutes in our cooking in order to satisfy our tongues. As I began my new life with my husband in the new Western world, we used to envision the aroma of fresh curry leaves and coriander leaves in our day dreams. In ‘70s and ‘80s, due to the generosity and affection of our relatives and friends, my family would return from India with lots of dried curry leaves, tamarind, masala powders, pickles etc. Thanks to the local U-pick farm owners and good neighbors, Delaneys (who had sunnier yard) grew chilli peppers, karela, chikkudu(broad) beans and small egg plants for us. Later, as we moved out of our apartments to houses with back yards, we started planting Indian vegetables in our back-yard to pacify our hankering taste (Continued On Page 23)
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THEME: 21st Century ACROSS 1. Audition tapes 6. More of the same 9. Sound of astonishment 13. Incompetent 14. Ancient Chinese state and major Chinese river 15. Root of iris 16. Japanese-American 17. ENT’s first concern 18. *Hurricane Jeanne’s Greater Antilles victim, 2004 19. *Sudan’s troubled region 21. Pamper and indulge 23. “____ the President’s Men,” movie 24. *Obama____ 25. *Kendrick Lamar’s genre 28. ____ a Sketch toy 30. Antietam happening 35. “I’m ____ ____!” 37. Caviar and Wade’s opponent 39. *”Mad Men” star Hamm completed it in real life 40. Wine 41. Saints’ lights 43. Japanese restaurant staple 44. Run off together 46. Opposite of knit 47. Facial treatment 48. Eye part 50. It prevents objectivity 52. ____ Angelico 53. A in BA 55. One who follows teachings of Lao-tzu 57. *Subject of Russia/Ukraine dispute 60. *Modern self-portrait 63. Trouser fabric 64. Old French coin 66. Type of island 68. “Mad” forté 69. Habitual twitch 70. High IQ society 71. End of grace 72. Member of a “benevolent and protective order”
Austin South Asian | July 2015
73. Picture within a picture, e.g. DOWN 1. Clamor 2. Children’s author Blyton 3. ___ Verde National Park 4. Verdi’s output 5. Smother or suppress 6. Type of pitcher 7. *____ Party 8. Approximately, as in date 9. Obama to Harvard Law School 10. Seed coat 11. www.google.com, e.g. 12. Tire measurement 15. “____, ____!” said Piglet 20. Extremist 22. Scepter’s partner 24. Duo at the Sistine Madonna’s feet 25. *Mars vehicle 26. Feeble old woman 27. Can be noir or grigio 29. *Egyptian ____ d’état 31. Short-term employee 32. *These days, he often steals identities 33. Light acronym 34. *Cause of 2014 global health scare 36. Large African antelope 38. Delhi dress 42. Fill with spirits 45. Bewitch 49. Am is to I as ___ is to we 51. sandwich meat 54. Gustatory sensation 56. More than occasional 57. *”Pawn Stars” employee nickname 58. Frost residue 59. Involved in a secret 60. Draw in, as in air 61. Charged particles 62. Other than what’s implied 63. It’s repeated 2 or 3 times to form dance name 65. *Gulf polluter 67. Back muscle, for short
SOLUTION
Sudoku
Please email your sudoku answers to info@austinsouthasian.com. Name and photo of the inviduvidual with first correct answer will be published in July 2015 issue.
To Advertise in ASA call 512828-6709
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
Ah! The Tongue!!
(Continued From Page 21)
ducah.
buds, found gardening to be a therapeutic and relaxing hobby after office hours.
In late ‘80s and 90’s we began to get a lot more varieties of Indian staples from Indian Grocery Shops in Nashville or St.Louis.
Even the utensils used in our Indian cooking were not available. To fry poories and prepare our snacks was a feat. The pans were too shallow or too deep for our frying. Thanks to President Nixon’s visit to China in ‘73, the infamous “Wok” was introduced to U.S.A., which reduced our frying woes. If not for the tongue, many young Indian men, who did not know where the salt containers were in their mothers’ kitchens in India, would not have turned out to be innovative and decent cooks (long before “internet & google”) to the surprise of their brides who joined them later in the new land. In 1984, my heart (should I say my tongue?) leapt with joy when I saw fresh Cilantro (coriander leaves) for the first time in Pa-
Thanks to the influx of many Internet & Tech. employees in Computer Industry, (especially from Hyderabad), now we can get our Andhra favorites like gongura and dosakaya in all Indian Grocery Shops around the country. Though Paducah does not have an Indian Store yet, I am thankful that we have come a long way from the early days. Though our grown children have developed a taste for other ethnic foods, when they come home for visits, often request their favorite Indian dishes. Even after many generations, Americans also prepare their special holiday meals like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas according to their ethnicity, and follow the recipes passed down
from their grandmothers and great- grandmothers to satisfy their inherited taste buds.
diction of thousands of mother tongues around the world astounds me.
Tongue is one of the hardest sense organs to train and control. Stimulants produced from our other organs such as the eyes, ears, nose, and skin can be a bit more easily compliant to one’s conscience than the tongue’s insatiable urge for taste.
Even more amazing is that all variations of these languages arose from the rudimentary movements of the tongue like “ga ga, goo goo, ma ma, da da”,the universal babbling baby talk.
Taste is one of the hardest sensations to describe or to explain. How does one explain the sweetness of sugar or bitterness of karela in words or in a picture? When I was growing up in India, the first thing a physician used to examine was the tongue. The color of the tongue changes with one’s physical condition. Without the tongue, there is no talking. Its various intricate movements, along with other speech organs enables to form countless variations in speech. The multitude distinctions in the
This unique muscular flap sometimes seems to be very stubborn and appears to control the brain instead of vice versa. At times it holds in the words stubbornly at the “tip of our tongues” without letting them out, thus making us “tongue tied”. In contrast, we are at times aghast at ourselves by what the mischievous tongue blurts out even before our brain thinks or stops us! These “slips of the tongue” make us ponder, “How I could say that without thinking?” or “May be I should ‘bite my tongue’ and keep mum next time”.
We all know too well that “wagging of the tongue” is the root cause of “putting your foot in the mouth”scenarios and talking with a “forked tongue”are the causes of many rifts between families, friends, societies, and nations. Controlling the tongue, both tastewise and word-wise, will make our lives healthier and happier. Hope you enjoyed this “tongue in cheek” article. Wish you all to have “tasty and sweet talking” encounters!
FREE CLASSIFIED info@Austin SouthAsian.com
June 2015 Sudoku Answer Ketika Tyagi
Correct Answer:
Prema raghavan
Shanti Rao
Yudhveer Bagga
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
‘Jurassic World’ Earns Rs Grammy Winner Ricky Kej’s Video Shows India 100 Crore In India As Birthplace Of yoga
Chris Pratt-Irrfan starrer “Jurassic World”, the fourth film in the “Jurassic Park” film series, has grossed Rs 100 crores at the
Indian box-office. The Colin Trevorrow-directed adventure
extravaganza saw a multi-lingual pan-India release entered the elite Rs 100 crore in its third week. It released in 2,108 screens in
Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
“Being the true sequel to ‘Jurassic Park’, the movie brings a sense of nostalgia for Indian audiences.
Moreover, the adventurous theme of the movie can be enjoyed by all age groups together, which has helped in draw family audiences to the theaters. “First ‘Fast and Furious 7′ and now ‘Jurassic World’, the summer has shown that India is establishing itself as a big market for Hollywood content,” Universal Pictures India stated in a statement. “Jurassic World” took place on the same fictional island of Isla Nublar, where a now fully-functioning dinosaur theme park has been in operation for ten years. The film narrates the 22-years after the events of “Jurassic Park”.
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ Assistant Director Maxima Basu To Style Aamir Khan For ‘Dangal’
Maxima Basu, who was assistant director in Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and Anand Gandhi’s ‘Ship Of Theseus’, has been
Aamir who is also the film’s coproducer was not happy with the remuneration they quoted which didn’t fit the financial framework
Maxima had earlier designed the costumes for ‘Peepli Live’ and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela’.
Grammy-award winning musi-
ing a million viewers very soon.
“We are getting very good reviews. I would think we will cross a million viewers very soon,” he said.
cian Ricky Kej in association with Proyog, a Bengaluru based yoga wear startup, and ad filmmaker Little have come up with a new video that showcases India as the birthplace of yoga and theme of unity and diversity. The video – Proyog: From the birthplace of Yoga – was released on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube on International Yoga Day, and so far it has managed to get over 43,000 hits altogether, on the trio’s separate social media pages including Youtube and Facebook. Dave Bannerjee, a serial entrepreneur and one of the co-founders of Proyog, is optimistic of cross-
Kej said the intention behind the video was to showcase India as the birthplace of yoga. “The intention is to showcase India as the birthplace of yoga instead of showcasing the product and you would see there are no products shown,” he told PTI. Kej said being associated with the project is a gift to the country after winning the Grammy. He said Little has showcased India’s spiritualism and the theme of unity in diversity beautifully. “Basically what unites India is the humanity and Indianness. The thing about Indianess is -Indianess and humanity go hand in hand,” Kej added.
SIIMA Awards 2015 “Madras” has topped the list of Tamil movie nominations for SI-
tions, while “Kaththi” is in second place with 8 nominations. “Jigarthanda”, “Velaiyilla Pattathari” and “Goli Soda” are at third position with 7 nominations each. These five movies have also been nominated in the Best Film category. The organisers of the fourth edition of SIIMA Awards announced
reportedly roped in as the costume designer of Aamir Khan’s latest film ‘Dangal’. Maxima replaces Manoshi Nath and Rushi Sharma, popularly known as Manu-Rishi. According to a report published in Mumbai Mirror, “The duo had started work on the film but
The winners will be selected through online voting, which will be open to the public on 18 June. The awards will be given away in Dubai on 6 and 7 August.
CHILDREN ARTICLES
of the project.” “Maxima, who had worked extensively on Peepli (Live), which was also an Aamir Khan production, and Ship of Theseus presented by wife Kiran Rao has now been roped in. And Dangal, which is in pre-production, is sailing smoothly,” adds the report.
the nominations list, which was finalised by a panel of veteran judges from Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam film industries.
IMA Awards 2015, beating other big-ticket movies such as “Kaththi”, “Jigarthanda and “Velaiyilla Pattathari”. “Madras” leads with 12 nomina-
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info@austinsouthasian.com
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Shah Rukh Khan Completes 23 Glorious Years In Hindi Cinema! Mumbai: His journey from being a TV actor to becoming one of Indian Cinema’s biggest superstars has been an enriching one. Earlier an ‘outsider’ to Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan is now a brand and in many ways a face that represents Bollywood globally.
On this very day, 23 years ago, SRK’s debut film ‘Deewana’ hit the silverscreen. And thus SRK announced his arrival loud and clear. He essayed characters that had elements of grey early in his career and interestingly went on
to become the icon of romance on the big screen. With films like ‘Baazigar’, ‘Darr’, ‘Karan Arjun’, ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, ‘Pardes’,’ Dil To Pagal Hai’,
‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...’, ‘Devdas’, ‘Veer-Zaara’, ‘Swades’, ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’, ‘My Name Is Khan’, ‘Chennai Express’ etc to his credit, Shah Rukh Khan has proved that he can churn magic at the Box Office.
Austin South Asian | July 2015
Big Twist In Chiru’s 150th Film? Here’s a stunning twist. If the ongoing buzz in the film circles is to be believed, star writer Chinni Krishna has been preparing an explosive script for Megastar Chiranjeevi’s 150th film which is now said to be directed by VV Vinayak. With this, rumours of Puri Jagannadh falling apart from the Megastar’s prestigious comeback film have gained more steam. Chinni Krishna first teamed up with Chiranjeevi for the 2002 industry hit, Indra. He also has a great reputation of giving blockbusters to Superstar Rajinikanth with Narasimha and Nandamuri Balakrishna with Narasimha Naidu. On the other hand, VV Vinayak’s film with Tagore is remembered as one of the best films in Chiru’s career. Ever since Ram Charan made it official that Puri Jagannadh will direct Chiru’s 150th film, Auto Jaani, rumours kept on haunting the maverick director and on couple of occasions, several
All Hail The New Spiderman!
Teenage actor Tom Holland, best known for starring in Billy Elliot the Musical, will impersonate Peter Parker aka Spider-Man in the next film of the popular franchise,
cinating superhero was played by Tobey Maguire in the original Spider-Man films and Andrew Garfield in the reboot series, titled The Amazing Spider-Man, respectively. Marvel and Sony Pictures, and producers Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal conducted an extensive search for both the actor and the director.
based on the Marvel comic character. Holland, 19, has been chosen by Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios after a full worldwide casting search. Spider-Man, to be directed by Cop Car helmer Jon Watts, will hit theatres in IMAX and 3D on July 28, 2017. Before the young actor, the fas-
“It’s a big day here at Sony. Kevin, Amy and their teams have done an incredible job. The Marvel process is very thorough, and that’s why their results are so outstanding. “I’m confident Spider-Man will be no exception. I’ve worked with a number of up-and-coming directors who have gone on to be superstars and believe that Jon is just such an outstanding talent,” said Tom Rothman, Sony Pictures Motion Pictures Group
Chairman, said, “For Spidey himself, we saw many terrific young actors, but Tom’s screen tests were special. All in all, we are off to a roaring start.” Pascal called Holland the perfect choice for the titular role. “Sony, Marvel, Kevin and I all knew that for Peter Parker, we had to find a vibrant, talented young actor capable of embodying one of the most well-known characters in the world. With Tom, we’ve found the perfect actor to bring Spider-Man’s story into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.” Sony Pictures will finance and release worldwide the next instalment of the Spider-Man franchise. Spider-Man is said to be the most successful franchise in the history of Sony Pictures, with the five films apparently having taken in more than $4 billion worldwide.
media houses even carried news that Chiru was upset with Puri and that he may be replaced with
half this week. While nothing has been confirmed about Puri’s exit or Vinayak’s en-
a different director. However, the director kept on scorning off the rumours in his own style and even stated that Chiru immensely like the film’s first half and he was said to be narrating the second
try from and to Chiru’s 150th, it will definitely take a few days before an official announcement is made by Chiru’s camp to salvage the situation and to come up with some clarity.
Anil Kapoor Impressed With Marathi Film Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor, who was recently spotted at the music launch of the upcoming Marathi movie ‘Manatlya Unhat,’ was floored by the movie and its music composition, according to
Mishra has composed for the film.
a website.
debut through this film. Directed by Pandurang Jadhav, the movie also stars three award winning artistes Mitali Jagtap, Kishore Kadam and child star Hansraj Jagtap.
“Anil kapoor, while releasing the music CD, said that he was very much impressed by the song in this film, which had beautiful lyrics and excellent music,” reported marathimovieworld.com. Ranjana, the sister of actress Usha Jadhav, has lent her voice to the album. Lyrics have been penned by Vishwaraj Joshi while Rahul
Part of the award-winning Marathi play ‘Shivaji Underground in Bhimnagar Mohalla’ Kailash Waghmare is making his
The other artistes in the film are Sameer Dharmadhikari, Ruchita Jadhav, Nagesh Bhosle, Chhaya Kadam, Manthan Patil and Avshiksha Patil. The film will hit the screens on July 24.
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
SCINTILLATING STRINGS CONCERT- A PURE FANTASY Dr. Tara Rangarajan India Fine Arts presented a well arranged and attended Jugalbandhi concert on June 20th at Gloria Delgado theater featuring Carnatic violin, Mridangam, Sitar and Tabla. The featured artists were maestros in their respective fields. The Carnatic style was represented by Ganesh Rajagopalan on Carnatic violin and Prof. Trichy Sankaran on mridangam,. Indrajit Banerjee on Sitar and Hindole Majumdar on tabla. I had the privilege to attend the concert. Some concerts entertain, and some others engulf you in their midst, overpowering you so forcefully it is sometimes tough to tell audience from artist and listening from experiencing. The Scintillating Strings recital fell in the latter category. It wasn’t simply a concert. For this listener, it was the stuff of
pure fantasy. The best analogy is probably the experience of reading a Harry Potter book – defying imagination and keeping the reader or listener hoping it will never end.
huvanti in Hindustani/Carnatic jugalbandhi concerts. The predictability ended there, however. As Ganesh’s Dharmavathy opened, one felt like being wafted through a myriad of delightful se-
There were exactly four items, if one were to call them that. Madhuvanthi/Dharmavathy, Audava ragamalika, Charukesi and Sindhubhairavi. There seems to be a marked affinity towards presenting Dharmavathy and Mad-
cret passages, with the excitement of anticipation at turning corners fulfilled here by a well-trodden phrase, and there by a totally unexpected jump. Indrajit Bannerjee’s essay of Madhuvanthi seemed more re-
tomato growing competition as a member of The Garden Club of Austin (TGCA) at the annual fruits & vegetables show. I have grown tomatoes like C e l e b r i t y, Beef Steak, heat wave, 444, Juliet, Sweet100, Brandywine, etc The Garden club provides plants for competition before spring to all club members to grow tomatoes for June show.
plenty of compost and add organic matter with broad leaves (NO live oak leaves) which are hard to decompose. Keep the compost pile moist and turn over few times to speed up decompose process. No chemicals or chemical fertilizers. Raise your own plants in January or get healthy plants early in February. Choose indeterminate type variety plants for high yield. Harden the plants during cold weather by sun during day time and bring them inside during cold nights. Plant these hardened plants in the beds prepared in the fall by digging holes and adding coco coir, Gypsum, Epsom Salt, and compost in the hole. Water thoroughly on regular basis. Tomatoes are heavy feeders, add nutrients regularly. Put cage around the plant, use
poseful in comparison, with speed and impulse giving way to telling tugs as is the wont in the North Indian idiom. It was the most delightful contrast. The idea of a one-liner piece was a master stroke. It has the advantage of giving a purely instrumental ensemble a wide space to play around in. Dharmavathy morphed into Valaji with one hardly noticing the breather in between. All the while one could not but notice the shackle-free engagement amongst the artistes. They were enjoying this as much as everyone else. There was no need to communicate anywhere…one took up where the other left off and it didn’t matter whether it was string or percussion. As Valaji gave way to Abhogi, Mohanam and Brindavana Saranga, the speed factor seemed a lit-
tle overwhelming at times, if only because it was getting increasingly challenging to keep time. Time for intermission, folks. As if he had heard, Ganesh announced a break. A break from breakneck speed. A break for a Charukesi that would break the resolve of the stoutest of heart to not give way to emotion. What a Charukesi it was! And the “experiment” that was announced of juxtaposing the thani avarthanam between the alap(ana) and the song didn’t seem like one. With ecstasy, there is no order or timing. If a reader can imagine being all at once transfixed, melted, galvanized, teased and cherished, this concert did it all. It is probably going to replay several times in many hearts. Frozen in time. But unlike in Frozen, we can’t let it go. Thank you, Ganesh, Sankaran, Banerjee and Mazumdar sirs.
Awards Winning Tomatoes
By Venkappa Gani
Last month I wrote about growing tomatoes in Central Texas. Texas
weather is not only hot but temperature changes and long daylight hours with high temperature makes fruits setting hard. There are many varieties of tomatoes but they may not be suitable to grow here. I have been growing various types of tomatoes. I have been participating in club cultivar
I have been successful in winning this competition in 2014 and 2015. Tips to Grow Tomatoes: Prepare the soil in the fall with
light row cover to protect from wind and insects. Protect during cold night by cov-
is winner at the 2015 show shown in the picture with ribbons. I reported Early doll which has grown taller than 8 feet and producing lots of fruits in bunches as shown in pictures. Plenty of rains during month of May did help for plant growth and good fruits compared to drought last year.
ering. Watch growth regularly, add compost and trace minerals periodically. Healthy plants will show significant growth with blossoms Fruits will be setting early spring with longer night with cooler temperature. Ripe tomatoes will be ready for the show in June I grew Early Girl for 2014. This was winner at the 2014 show I grew Early Doll for 2015. This
The Early Doll produces medium uniform size fruits with pleasant red color and good taste. These plants are still producing plenty of fruits. I will highly recommend Early Doll tomato for Austin area. It takes good planning, timely planting and regular care to protect from insects and feeding and harvesting on time. Wish you all Happy Gardening.
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Austin South Asian | July 2015
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28
Austin South Asian | July 2015
Once Again Coming To Austin - TX
Shrimad Bhagwat Katha Pujya Acharya Shri Mridul Krishna Goswamiji born in the family of Saint Swami Harisdaji Maharaj of the 15 th century & is now the 6th Pramukh Gadi Virajman at Shri Banke Bihari Mandir in Vrindavan – India.
Come Celebrate Seven Days of Melodious Bhajans & Kirtan
!!! Chale Anand Ki Aur !!! July 20, 2015 to July 26, 2015
Austin Hindu Temple & Community Center (9801 Decker Lake Rd, Austin, TX 78724)
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Geeta Goel (512) 794-1092 Asmita & Fred Dorairaj (714) 422-7201 Saloni Sharma (512) 246- 2328 Pramila Singh (512) 288-6209 Parul Gupta (512) 422-1632 Shalu & Amit Mittal (512) 786-3723 Banke Bihari Pariwar – Austin Volunteers & Sponsor Welcome www.BankeBihariPariwar.com adorairaj@sbcglobal.net
PROGRAM & TIME
Mon To Fri 6.00 PM To 8.30 PM Sat & Sun 11.00 To 1.30 PM
Monday, July 20 – Kalash Yatra/BhagwatMahima Tuesday, July 21 – Shri Dhruv Charitra Wednesday, July 22 – Shri Narsing Avatar Thursday, July 23 – Shri Krishna Janam Friday, July 24 – Giriraj Pujan Saturday, July 25 – Dandia Raas & Rukmani Vivah Sunday, July 26 – Shri Vyas Pujan & Holi Prasad will be served daily