Indo American News • Friday, March 05 , 2010
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Friday, March 05, 2010 | Vol. 29, No. 10
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Shanti: A Journey of Peace A unique and ground breaking creation in the History of World Music is set to mesmerize audiences on March 13 at Cullen Performance Hall
Published weekly from Houston, TX
Article on Page 9
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In IAN this Week
A.R.Rahman Jai Ho Tour
The Jai Ho – The Journey Home concert is at 8.30 pm on July 3 at the Toyota Center. Story on Pg 3
Khan Academy Teaches Math via You Tube
Story on Pg 10
Verghese: Shock & Awe
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Record Crowds Flock to Holi 2010
Masala Radio attracts a record crowd of over 11,000 at Holi 2010 the 3rd annual Festival of Colours HOUSTON: For the last 40 years, Indian-born parents have told the next generation stories of what Holi grand mela was like in India. Now, they can go to You Tube, type in Houston Holi, and relive it. “Over11,000 people gathered at the Festival of Colours this year” said Lt.Hines of Sugar Land Police. Vijay Pallod of The Hindus Of Greater Houston proclaimed “This is the Largest Holi in the US. And we were happy to see at least 5% were non-South Asian!” Pankaj Thakkar, owner of San Francisco’s Masala Radio Crew at Holi 2010. Photo: Krishna Giri Gold Palace exclaimed, “I ter. Three days prior, there was with subtle hints of progress, all flew to Houston just for the Food Court and Organizer Holi - there is no celebration like snow in Houston. Then Sunday clouds disappeared booths has matching large name this in entire West Coast.” Holi 2010 rocked the Oyster Creek Park forming the warmest day in 2010. signs, colourful Holi signs lined Thanks to generous support of the streets, sidewalks and the in Sugar Land on Sunday February 28th, from 11AM – 4PM, Tara Energy, Jugal & Raj Malani Color Zone thanking other major organized by Houston’s leading of Ekal Vidyalay and The Village sponsors Star Plus, Tilak & Manu Indian Radio Show, Masala Radio School, the event was completely Agrawal, Brij & Sunita Agrawal, 1480 AM, and pioneer community free to the public with free admis- New York Life, Fommy.com, Hinorganizations Gujarati Samaj of sion, parking, and non-stop en- dus of Greater Houston, Telfair, Houston and Indian Culture Cen- tertainment. The event was filled Continental Airlines, and Qatar Airways. As if an abundant supply of 6 shades of Holi powder was not enough, youths snuck past secu-
UH “Table Talk” Fund Raiser Celebrates the Gift of Gab
rity to fill dollar-store pichkaris, water guns, and water bottles with river water to fully douse their friends. The magnificent park fountain was a magical fountain of youth, transforming adults into teenagers as they too played Holi. Kids forgot their electronic world as they raced through the free kids rides: a 65-ft obstacle course, 30-ft rock wall, giant slide, or the new addition – a mechanical bull. Next to the Kids rides was the Fiesta booth challenging kids with carnival games with free prizes. “Come early to avoid lines at parking,” blared Masala Radio for 3 weeks. And come early they did, filling up nearly 1,000 seats by 12 noon. At 1:30 pm, Sugar Land Police’s Lt. Hines admitted that the parking lots had surpassed last year’s attendance. “Actually everything is full, including Cici’s, Kroger’s and even Randalls! As this event is approaching the Fourth of July crowds, we will recommend the city to open more parking at Lost Creek Park next year.” continued on page
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Swami Nithyananda Lands in Sex Scandal
Author Abraham Verghese reads excerpts from his recent novel at Houston’s InPrint book reading. Story on Pg 17 Rathna Kumar and Kalyani Giri with Houston Mayor Annise Parker. Photo: Sarah Gish
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By Sarah Gish HOUSTON: Pack the ballroom at the Hilton Americas with more than 500 women and you will hear more than the walls talking. The Friends of Women’s Studies hosted its 13th annual “Table Talk” fundraiser February 25, 2010, and everyone had so much fun gabbing that it was hard to hear University of Houston Women’s Studies Director Elizabeth Gregory announcing raffle ticket sales over the din.
BANGALORE: After Kalki Bhagavan’s scam, Swami Nityananda’s alleged sex scandal has surfaced, shaking the country’s faith in the religious leaders and godmen, who are treated equivalent to gods by followers.
Video footage showing the Swamiji in a compromising position with a popular Tamil actress was released by Sun News on Tuesday, Mar 2, leading to violence at the Swamiji’s ashrams. The video clearly shows that the man is Swami Nithyananda. However, the woman’s face is blurred and the identity of the actress is yet to be confirmed. While some reports say that the woman is Ragasudha, others suggest that the woman is Ranjita. The video, which came as a massive shock to the godman’s followers, has led to widespread protests. In Coimbatore, angry followers took to streets and vandalised property. As per local reports, the Swami’s Ashram in Bidadi is also seeing similar violent scenes.
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