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Friday, October 31 2014 | Vol. 33, No. 44

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October 31, 2014

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COMMUNITY

October 31, 2014

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Hillcroft Motorists Honk to Support Daya’s One Voice 2014 to End Domestic Violence

BY PRAMOD KULKARNI HOUSTON: On Saturday, October 25 afternoon, the Hillcroft district turned into an Indian street scene with cars honking in support of the community gathering organized by Daya to commemorate October as domestic the violence awareness month.

Daya volunteers, staffers, board members and volunteers formed a human chain along Hillcroft at the intersection of Harwin with posters urging motorists to honk their horns in support of South Asian families in crisis. Adding to the voices of the Daya volunteers was the Bollywood music booming from a loud speaker and the beat drummed by a dhol player provided by DJ Yogi’s team.

This was the 8th annual One Voice gathering held in cooperation with Houston Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit.

Officer Muzaffar Siddiqi, who serves as the South Asian liaison for HPD, has been involved since the beginning.

After the attendees participated in the human chain, they gathered for lunch featuring biryani, fried chicken and cookies.

A large number of mainstream and South Asian community organizations and businesses helped sponsor the rally. Space sponsor was EK Perfumes. Event sponsors included Simmons Foundation, Houston Endowment and Indo-American Charity Foundation. Food was contributed by Kohinoor Diamonds, Mayuri Restaurant, Udipi Café, Raja Sweets and Church’s Chicken.

Sam Merchant, outreach liaison for U.S. Congressman Al Green, presented a certificate of appreciation to Daya Houston President Jyoti Kulkarni and Daya participants.

Daya promotes healthy family relationships in the South-Asian community by providing services that include counseling, referrals, legal advocacy, and financial support to women and children affected by family violence and sexual assault. Daya’s help line: (713) 981-7645.

DJ Yogi’s team provided the strong beat of dhol and Bollywood music.

Outreach Liaison Sam Merchant (center) presents a certificate of appreciation from U.S. Congressman Al Green to Daya President Jyoti Kulkarni and Daya staff, board members, volunteers and HPD officers.

HPD Officer Muzaffar Siddiqi and his daughter Dania participated in the One Voice human chain.

The One Voice human chain had Daya volunteers holding up posters urging motorists to honk in support of an end to domestic violence.

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October 31, 2014

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COMMUNITY

October 31, 2014

5

Sold Out Houston Diwali Mela Brimming with Mumbai Style Celebrations

BY IAN CORRESPONDENT HOUSTON: A record early turnout marked this year’s Houston Diwali Mela at the Skeeters Stadium on October 25. The benevolent Gods cancelled all rain for the week, instead sending halka sa cooling evening breezes to nearly 10,000 patrons in a yet again sold out event sponsored by the Zee TV, Zee Family, India.com, and Tara Energy. Masala Radio organizers Sunil and Sandhya Thakkar reflected, “Third time’s the charm!” noting their team’s flawless execution of gorgeously decorated booths, gigantic 3-level stage with impeccable sound and lights, new magician act, CO2 and pyro effects that upped the standards for Indian events.

Starting at 5PM, from outside the Main Entrance, guests were dazzled with amazing lights, DJ Rizz music, pink and orange Indian designed structures laced with nostalgic Indian cars like the Fiat, Mumbai Taxi, Rikshaw and new matching Orange Masala Radio Hummer. Ganpati welcomed all from within a specially flown in Indian Raj Tent by Favored Events.

A Living Statue of Divine Goddess Laxmi along with beautiful chunia-choli clad Apsaras invited all in to peruse the House of Spices Grand Bazaar of 40 merchandise and corporate booths bursting with Diwali fashions, jewelry, and home decor, followed by 8 very busy chatpata street food vendors Chowpatty Chaat, Mirch Masala, Hyderabad House, Vishala Foods, Maharaja Bhog, Udipi Café, Baloch Ice Cream, and Rani Foods.

Kids enjoyed a throng of giant McDonalds inflatable rides, electric Carousel, playground, and hourly magic shows by Curt Miller!

Soon after 7 PM, Emcee Sunil Thakkar opened the stage with an electrifying welcome as City of Sugarland Mayor pro-tem Harish Jajoo lit up the traditional multilevel brass diya. The Masala Team tightened the Tara Energized stage show to 3 hours embarking on this year’s journey through the decades of Bollywood, beginning with the 60’s as presented by the tiny darlings of Ek Do Teen Academy. Jasmeeta’s Creations added a nostalgic twist with a bicyclist performer. 70’s was represented

by Sunanda Nair Dance Academy

Photos: Meedu’s Potografy, Murali Santhana, and Nilo Armanamendez.

through the era’s semi classical and folk songs like “Aaj Phir Jine Ka Tamanna Hai.” Nitya Hari’s Dancing Stars and Bollywood Shake brought in the rocking 80s, followed by Ramji & Associates presenting the winners of the Rangoli competition their giant checks: $501 to First Place Rachana Bhutala, $301 Second Place Viki Shah, and $201 to Third Place Amruta Sarda.

While the stage was rocking with dance, song, and lights, a heavenly procession of Hindu Gods was stirring up the already extremely packed promenade. 20 Malayali folk drummers, Torch holders (OK LED light holders), Apsaras with flowers and fans preceded 10 young, beautiful Hindu Gods: Radha-Krishna, Sita-Ram Laxman and Hanuman, Shiva-Parvati Ganesh, and of course the glittering Laxmi. Invoked by SKAI Foundation and adorned by the Gujarati Samaj of Houston, the Gods descended among delighted audiences to the 2 dugouts to kick

off the Hindus of Greater Houston 3000-diya Maha Arti. The Maha Arti was led by the generous major sponsors of the event: Grand Sponsors Zee TV, India.com, Tara Energy, Diamond Concert Spon-

For photo collage, see pages 14-15

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COMMUNITY

October 31, 2014

Celebrations of Diwali and Govardhan Puja at ISKCON of Houston

HOUSTON: ISKCON of Houston held jubilant festivals of Diwali, “Festival of Lights” on Oct. 23 and Govardhan Puja on Oct. 24. The temple was bustling with numerous volunteers performing a multitude of services in preparation for these special occasions.

Devotees engaged in cleaning, decor of flower strands and arrangements, setting up lights, and preparing candles. This inevitably showed the result of how much detail and care every single volunteer placed into making the newly opened temple wonderfully enchanting.

Colorful flowers hugged the pillars of the altar and strands hung over with twinkles of light. Every color imaginable was visible either on the flower decor, the deities, the changing back drop lighting or the sea of colorful sparkling saris in the temple room.

Diwali signifies victory of light over darkness, good will over maliciousness and love over hate.

HH Giriraj Swami enlightened the crowd with a lecture from Bhagavad Gita. The anticipated moment of candlelight aarti approached as the lights dimmed and the temple room grew quiet. Seconds later, the curtains unveiled spiritual glamour taking everyone’s breath away as hundreds of small floating white and red candles, set in

rows, covered the altar floor. The two pillars installed on each side of Sri Sri Radha Nila Madhava displayed tall white candles framing the transcendental couple. The deities, stunning in their special outfits, glowed so brilliantly illuminating everyone’s heart in their presence.

The next day, celebration continued for Govardhan puja which celebrates the day Lord Krishna defeated Indra by lifting the Govardhan hill. Govardhan hill is also worshipped as Krishna’s incarnation. Devotees prepare foodstuff, which are offered to the deities.

HH Giriraj Swami blessed all with his presence as he performed abhishek for Sri Giri Govardhan. HH Giriraj

Swami attentively bathed the deity and then shared a pastime of Krishna and Govardhan hill from the Nava-Vraja Mahima. He mentioned how Krishna went in through a cave to the center of Govardhan hill and lifted it up with his small finger.

The altar was filled at every inch with preparations during maha aarti. Silver tins and pans contained an array of items from gulab jamun, cupcakes, peanut butter burfi, pies, cakes, cookies, chapatis, coconut sweets and all kinds of treats.

The melodious mantra tunes had devotees immersed in ecstatic dancing and singing. Sri Giri Govardhan in the center of the temple allowed guests & devotees the opportunity to circumambulate the hill - a very auspicious activity. It was quite an

emotional scene to view so many circumambulating with such loving expression and gratitude.

There is no doubt that these two days of festivities will remain as a significant memorable experience to everyone that attended.

It is said that love is displayed by great activities and gestures.

The best way for one to feel and see such phenomenon of beauty based on love for Krishna, is to experience it for yourself.

Krishna’s door is always open for everyone. Happy New Year to all of our friends.

Iskcon of Houston is located at 1320 West 34th Street, Houston, TX 77018. For further details visit www.iskconofhouston.org

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October 31, 2014

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OBITUARY

October 31, 2014

Jehangir Lakhani (1957-2014)

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Jehangir Lakhani, a loving, caring, always smiling individual, known for spreading laughter and happiness, passed away on Thursday, October 23 in Houston, Texas after a battle with a rare kidney Cancer, Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Born in Navsari, India, Jehangir moved to America in 1984 to pursue new opportunities and endeavors. After a long journey of hardships and struggles he and his wife, Renuka Lakhani invested in and operated several businesses, and real estate properties, which brought them to the point where they are today. Jehangir was heav-

ily involved in community events and was a Commercial Real Estate Agent and Investor by profession.

But more importantly, he was an inspiring individual who strived to help others and bring happiness to those around him.

Jehangir, who was physically active and full of energy, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Kidney Cancer just three months ago in July when taken to the doctor for a chronic dry cough. With symptoms that were easily overlooked like weight loss and a common backache, did not know that a cancer so dangerous was in his body and would spread like an irrupting volcano in the few months to come. Due to the type of cancer and the severity of spread in different organs, there were absolutely no treatment options available. However Jehangir’s spirit was high, and with a positive attitude he readily took any and all alternative/ homeopathic treatment options available.

With his wife’s constant and unconditional loving support, his relatives, friends and well-wishers prayers and support, helped him through this short unforeseen period, before he passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones.

He is survived by his wife, Renuka, daughter Narmeen, and Son, Nishant in Houston. He also leaves behind numerous Houston community friends. He will be remembered for his generous, loving heart and joyful nature.

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For more information, Call 713-789- NEWS (6397) or email us at: indoamericannews@yahoo. com INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

October 31, 2014

9

Sold Out Houston Diwali Mela Brimming with Mumbai Style Celebrations

CONTINUED FROM PAGE

5

sor Maharaja Jewelers, Platinum Fireworks Sponsor Mercedes Benz, Gold Sponsors Jugal & Raj Malani, Alings Hakka, Ramji & Associates, Keemat Grocers and House of Spices. Silver Sponors Tilak & Manju Agarwal, Brij & Sunita Agarwal, Govind & Renu Agarwal, Sanjay & Anjali Khanna, Memorial Hermann, SKAI Foundation, Sutherland Mortgage, Fiesta, One Step Diagnostic, Maharashtra Tourism, St. Lukes, Darling Homes, Sienna Plantation-Cross Creek Ranch-Riverstone-Imperial Sugarland, Perry Homes, and GSH, ICC, and HGH. Next was a romantic 90’s medley

by UH’s Houston Jannat, followed by the heated Alings Hakka Fire Dancers. The energy level peaked with the 2000’s finale series by Rhythm India, Infused Performing Arts, and Naach Houston.

This frenzy of excitement could only be met by the Maharaja Jewelers sponsored headliner for the evening, the king of pop bhangra, MANJ MUSIK formerly known as RDB along with Dholi Deep! The Fire Marshall had to block a thousand guests from jumping the walls to join the dancing VIPs around the

stage as Manj delivered hit after hit “Sadi Galli” “Whistle Baja” “Om Mangalam” and “Paisa Paisa”. He then shocked the audience with an Amitabh Medley, and then pleased the hard core Punjabis with a string of his immensely popular Punjabi songs. The stage was filled with synchronized colorful dancers by Infused Performing Arts, and alternate teams of Naach Houston.

This combined with Pyro and C02 effects provided the rock concert celebration the young audience thirsted for.

Mercedes Benz engaged the audience in a countdown to the stadium-sized fireworks spectacular, creating an effect of thousands of

Diyas lighting the Skies to mark Lord Ram’s conquest over the evil Ravan. Guests beckoned Manj for an encore with a grand finale of “Singh is King” accompanied by the deft Naach Houston dancers. VIPs and Sponsors enjoyed rows and rows of front and center seats as the stadium provided new specialty decking to cover the precious infield grass.

Masala Radio remains committed to setting the standards for Indian events, and creating the same Diwali anticipation for kids and young adults that their parents and grandparents experienced decades ago in India. Next year organizers are already planning to

build a giant temple darshan area with deities from leading Hindu temples. To participate or provide feedback, contact events@ masalaradio.com. Next year’s Houston Diwali will be a few weeks before Diwali so families can celebrate actual Diwali days

at home.

Masala Radio would like to thanks its dream management teams: Office: Munira, Rinku, Shah, Akshay, Devangi & Nathan. Event Team: Ruchir, Shivani, Ninad, Krupa, Nimi, Sameep, Amisha, Ina, Nimi, Naina, Priti and Yogina. Stage Team: Vikas, Sunny T, Preanka, Dilip, Dj Zee, Sushil, Sonali, Sunny K, Rupal, and Pari. Dancers Mehran, Ashka, Meena and Sheezan.

Special Thanks to the excellent volunteers from UH ISA. Photos and Video coming soon to HoustonDiwali.com or www.facebook.com/ HoustonDiwali.

For photo collage, see pages 14-15

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

10 October 31, 2014

COMMUNITY

A Simply Magnificient Diwali Celebrations at Radha Madhav Dham

Beautifully decorated lights at Radha Madhav Dham.

AUSTIN, TX: Amazing fireworks, captivating rangoli’s, beautifully adorning lamps sparkling up the temple grounds, mouthwatering delicacies and raas garba dancing until midnight - Diwali at Radha Madhav Dham was buzzing with energy and activity until late into the night on October 18.

Over 6,000 people flocked into the temple premises. It was a perfect family event with something for everyone - face painting, games, arts and crafts booths for kids, a mela-style setup with vendors displaying and selling traditional Indian jewelry and clothes.

People gathered around the numerous food stalls, enjoying the

taste of delicacies like dosa, chana bhatura, pakora, samosa. And, everyone got a Diwali Goodie bag as their momento from the temple...

“I forgot that night that I live in the U.S., this feels so much like being in India”, stated a first time visitor at the event.

Inside the temple, the altar with deities of Radha and Krishna was mesmerizing, with rangoli of flowers and traditional patterns dressed up with sparkling lights and diyas lighting up the shrine and captivating the hearts of everyone that set eyes upon them.

The Diwali program started with the singing of Ramayan Chaupais, describing the glories of Lord

Ram followed a talk by Swami Nikhilanand Ji, explaining the significance of Diwali through the leelas of Shabri, the old and devout lady, whose only aim in life is to have Darshan of Shree Ram. Following the talk, the audience witnessed these stories performed live, through leela enactments by the devotee community of the temple. The single-minded devotion and love of Shabri and the sincere bhakti of Hanuman towards Lord Ram touched the hearts of everyone who witnessed the leelas. The cultural program ended with a mesmerizing jhanki (glimpse) of the Ram Darbaar - where Shree Ram, Sita, Laxman and Hanuman were seen in all their glory as classical performers danced to the stuti in praise of Lord Ram. Then came the spectacular fireworks show choreographed with the chants of Raaadddhhhhheeeeeyyy. People stood in rapt attention, eyes focused on the sky as the fireworks and chanting sounds filled the skies. Soon after, the live band started the traditional dance of Raas Garba in the Maharaas Mandal (outdoor shrine), and hundreds of people, young and old, came together to participate in the joyous dancing and togetherness.

Meanwhile, inside the temple chanting continued with enthusiastic devotees, singing and dancing to the tunes of beautiful bhajans and naam sankirtan.

Ram and Sita darshan

Rangoli outside temple

Diwali was a memorable experience for all those who participated!

Radha Madhav Dham consistently and uniquely provides the ambience and energy that makes everyone gathered there feel like they are celebrating the festival back home in India. This place truly of-

fers everyone a home away from home.

For more photos of the event, like the Radha Madhav Dham’s Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/RadhaMadhavDham.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

October 31, 2014

Gurajada Sphoorthi Utsavam at India House

Consul General Harish with participants

Several Teacher and professional singers receiving appreciation

HOUSTON: Mahakavi Sri Gurajada Apparao was a renowned poet, writer and social reformer born in 1862 at Rayavaram village, Andhra Pradesh. The lines, ‘Desamante matti kaadoyi, desamante manushuloyi’, from his famous patriotic song, ‘Desamunu Preminchumanna’ , composed in 1910 meant, ‘A country is not made of land; a country is made of its people’. Mahakavi also wrote the first Telugu play, Kanyasulkam, often considered the greatest play in Telugu language that got translated to 40 different languages including Russian. Gurajada Foundation, USA whose mission is to spread Mahakavi’s ‘Sphoorthi’ and philosophy, had organized ‘Gurajada Sphoorthi Utsavam’ a cultural program and essay competitions to celebrate Mahakavi’s 152nd birthday. This memorable event was held on Saturday, October 11, at India House, Houston. Mahakavi’s auspicious program was very appropriately started with melodious rendering of Lord Ganesha

by Adarsh Menon, a winner of several music awards. ‘Swagatam’ by Sangeetshiromani award recipient, Smt. Madhura Sankar’s students invited the audience to enjoy this unique program. With great inspiration from Mahakavi’s philosophy of ‘A country is not made of land; a country is made of its people’, several children and renowned former All India Radio artistes like Sangeet Visharad Smt. Soumya Rege and Smt. Mangala Sane sang patriotic songs from several Indian languages and submitted essays on social reformers of India. Mahakavi’s ‘Desamunu

Preminchumana’ that meant ‘ Love Your Country’ and other patriotic songs, ‘Vande Mataram, Ekla Cholo Re, ‘ Bande Utkala Janini’, ‘Bahu Asot Sundar Sampanna’, ‘Hum Honge Kamiyaab’, ‘Ilaya Bharatham Iniya Bharatham’,etc were sung enthusiastically by children and professional artistes. Vidushi Smt Rajarajeshwary Bhat students sang Kannada patriotic song, ‘Bharat Maata’, Versatile artiste, Smt. Mani Sastry, sang Mahakavi’s poem and Sri Devulapalli Sastry’s composition. Sri Sitaram Ayyagari’s students sang Mahakavi’s beautiful composition and other memorable songs. Smt Pranavi Sadhanala , former TV anchor, along with her students performed a beautiful dance ‘Desam Manade’ which meant that for BharatMaatha all her children are equal that resonated the words of Mahakavi Gurajada. Binshnupur Gharana’s Shamik Boseji and his students sang Tagoreji’s song.

Hindi Patriotic song, ‘Chhodo kal ki baaten’, sung by Hindi school students summarized the spirit of Gurajada Foundation’s Utsavam celebrations. Mahakavi’s great granddaughter, Chandralekha Kovvali, spoke eloquently about Mahakavi and his correspondence with Tagoreji , Yates and other literary figures from India and abroad that reflected on the Mahakavi’s respect and passion for all languages. Consul General of India, Shri Harishji, attended the event and enjoyed listening to children sing patriotic songs including Mahakavi’s Desamunu Preminchumana that was melodiously sung by Smt. Manjula Palivela’s students of Silicon Andhra Telugu School.

Sri Harishji delivered a very motivational inspiring speech on this memorable occasion and requested children to understand the meaning of the desabhakthi song’ Desamunu Preminchumana’. Sangeet Natak Academi winner and Artistic Director of Anjali Center for Performing Arts, Dr. Rathna Kumar, was awarded Gurajada Foundation’s prestigious Gurajada Sphoorthi Ratna award for her outstanding contribution to spreading Indian culture and Heritage. Gurajada F o u n d a t i o n ’s (www.gurajada. org) prestigious Gurajada Seva Sphoorthi Award was presented to Dr. Chandrasekhar Gannavarapu for his outstanding service to Gurajada Foundation.

The song ‘Hum Honge Kamiyaab’ sung at this event very aptly conveyed the message that all of us will live in peace and make this world a beautiful place to live in.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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12 October 31, 2014

COMMUNITY

Siddhivinayak Temple Now Open in Houston

Photos:Vanshika Vipin

Pradip Pandya

BY VANSHIKA VIPIN HOUSTON: The newly opened Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple of Houston celebrated its grand opening with the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav (idol installation ceremony). The event was held from Friday, October 17 through Sunday, October 19 at the temple located at 5645 Hillcroft Avenue, Suite 701, Houston.

The temple idol in Houston is replica of the Ganesh idol in the Siddhivinayak Gana-

pati Mandir located in Mumbai, India, which is dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesh. In India, the temple glory was bought not only by the politicians who frequented the temple but also Bollywood film stars who continuously visit to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Siddhivinayak is well known as “Navasacha Ganapati” or “Navasala Pavanara Ganapati” (Ganapati grants the wish whenever humbly genuinely prayed) among devotees.

The festivities started with the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav on Friday, October 17. As the idol was being installed, devotees surrounded Him, being a part of the magical occasion and welcoming the god Ganesh at His new home in the heart of Hillcroft’s Little India.

The day continued with chanting of the shlokas and later mahaprasad in the evening.

The following day on Saturday, October 18, the Siddhivinayak maha abhishek was held that took place from 3 pm to 7 pm, followed by maha aarti and mahaprasad. The final day of the grand opening ceremony on Sunday, October 19, the temple organized a maha yagna with 108 modaks (favorite

sweet of the God).

For founder member and chief priest at the temple, Pradip Pandya, the mahotsav is a dream realized. “ I would like to thank all Houstonians, for their support in making this a successful event. We had about 700 people who came forward and supported this event.

The temple welcomes everyone as Ganesh is not limited to any one part of the country, He is worshiped by everyone,” said Pandya.

The temple also has idols of Lord Krishna, Gauri Mata, Shiv Ling, Hanuman, and Ram darbar. The temple is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm and everyday aarti is performed at 7:30 pm. The Gauri Siddhivinayak temple is a non-profit 501(C) 3 organization and all donations are tax deductible.

For further information or to participate in pooja, sponsorship or volunteering call Pradip Pandya at 832-466-9868.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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14 October 31, 2014

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October 31, 2014

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16 October 31, 2014

COMMUNITY

Sutra Dance Theater Reinvents Love with “Krishna�

BY SANCHALI BASU HOUSTON: A Malaysian dance troupe with a pure Odissi repertoire – what are the odds? That was what was made possible by the Sutra Dance Theater, which traveled from Malaysia to commence their US and Canada tour in Houston on Oct 26 at the Wortham Center with their production, “Krishna, Love Reinvented�, at the invitation of Samskriti.

It would be an understatement to say that the devotion and dedication demonstrated by a non Hindu dancer, founder/artistic director and choreographer, Datuk Ramli Ibrahim to this purely Hindu temple dance form Odissi was par excellence. Trained in classical ballet, modern dance, and Indian classical dance he put Malaysia on the dance map and is now one of its most prominent dance figures. He has almost single-handedly established Odissi as a widely appreciated dance form in Malaysia. The performance brought to focus that in a world torn apart by religious strife, art can bring people together. It transcended all barriers of religion, geography and language and embodied the liberation of the human spirit with complete abandon, sheerly through love.

The work explored the total identification of the devotee couple (poet Jayadeva and wife Padmavati) with the pastoral god Krishna and his consort Radha. The program started with a Mangala Charanam, an invocatory homage to Lord Krishna. As the group of 8 dancers went through the entire repertoire, the moods, feelings and emotions of the love affair, Rasa (highest emotional state) became a sublime allegory expressing

and affirming the highest love the individual soul has for God. The colorful costumes, gorgeous set and well thought out lighting added to the ambiance of the production.

The Sthayi depicted Krishna’s springtime dalliance with the gopis, who were then intoxicated by the scintillating vision of the lord in the Krishna Tandava, and mesmerized by his divine flute playing in the abhinaya piece “Mohane Deli Chahi.� The exact precision of movements, picture perfect coordination and pursuit to perfection of the dancers, are the qualities that place the Sutra Dance theater way above the rest.

The dances seemed like poetry in motion as the ethereal movements of the dancers flowed effortlessly and flawlessly to create beautiful statuesque pictures. As they froze and held the beautiful formations to the photographer’s delight, the audience seemed to fall more and more in love with the dancers’ interpretations.

The second half saw the serenading of the gopis by Krishna in Nachante range Sri Hari and a pure dance Pallavi where Krishna replicates himself and is surrounded by gopis.

The evening ended with a standing ovation for the dancers and recognition of Ramli Ibrahim by the mayor of Houston, Annise Parker with the presentation of a plaque by Nandita Harish (Consul General P. Harish’s wife). The day was proclaimed as Ramli Ibrahim day and the proclamation was read

by Sanjay Ramabhadran. Rathna Kumar, the Artistic director of Samskriti thanked the audience for its support. This program marked the culmination of the wonderful series of programs hosted by Samskriti in its 20th year.

Photos: Amitava Sarkar, Photography InSight

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Diwali and Govardhan Puja at Gaudiya Matha Temple

HOUSTON: The Sri Govinda Gaudiya Math temple celebrated Diwali last Thursday with celebrations that began soon after the partial Solar eclipse of the sun – an auspicious sign for the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil. Several volunteers had worked tirelessly for two weeks to decorate the temple with lights,

flowers, rangoli, and streamers. On Diwali, several devotees participated in the Mangal Aarti at 5:30 AM. The Deities were offered a new, gorgeous blue-colored dress. Their transcendental beauty in this new dress captivated the hearts of all who came for darshans throughout the day. In the evening, the altar was

lit with hundreds of multi-colored lights. Several hundred devotees, wearing new beautiful clothes, participated enthusiastically in the aarti filling the temple room with chants of the Holy Names.

The next evening on Friday, hundreds of devotees gathered again to celebrate Govardhan Pooja and

Annakut. The program included bhajans, kirtan, aarti, offering of ghee lamps to Lord Damodar and Tulasi Pooja. There was an added treat to the evening: Annakut – the mountain of food. The devotees each brought many different dishes, to offer to Sri Sri Radha Govindaji. Over 1008 different food preparations, representing tastes from Punjab to Tamil Nadu and from Bengal to Gujarat, were offered to Sri Giriraja Govardhan. Everyone circumambulated the Govardhan Hill, singing the glories of the Lord and remembering the pastime of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan Hill and saving His dear devotees from the wrath of Indra.

As described in Srimad Bhagavatam, Indra was upset because upon the advice of Lord Krishna, the Brajavasis (the residents of Vrindavan) had decided to worship Giriraj Govardhan instead of the annual ritual of worshipping Indra. Indra had no idea that this cowherd boy Krishna was in fact the Supreme Lord. Deluded by his false sense of power, Indra decided to lash out at the Brajavasis by pouring heavy rains and flooding and destroying them. The helpless villagers went to Krishna, and surrendered to Him as they had completed faith in Him. Lord Krishna then lifted the Govardhan Hill on the pinky finger of His left hand. All the villagers and the animals took shelter underneath Go-

vardhan Hill which protected them from the heavy rains. This lasted for seven days until Indra finally gave up, bowed down to the Lord, and restored peace. Giriraj Govardhan is Krishna Himself in one form as well as Krishna’s best devotee in another form. He takes the form of a mountain to serve the Lord. He is extremely merciful and famous for fulfilling all the desires. More than that he can give pure love and devotion unto the lotus feet of Lord Krishna for sincere seekers. It is a verdict of the scriptures that even if one offers one grain of rice to Giriraj Govardhan, that person will never be poor in life.

After the aarti, Shri Ravi Puri sang several melodious Krishna bhajans making everyone swoon in ecstasy.

The program was concluded with a huge feast that enchanted everyone.

Sri Govinda Gaudiya Math temple (www.sggm.org) is located at 16628 Kieth Harrow Blvd. The temple is located just off Hwy 6 between I-10 and 290, near the Energy Corridor and Katy. The temple is open every day from 5:30 AM – 8:30 PM. The main service is on Sunday evenings from 5 – 7 PM. It includes: kirtan and Hari Katha followed by Aarati and parasadam. Hindi classes as well as Vedic education classes are held for children aged four through eighteen (all classes are conducted in English).

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

18 October 31, 2014 A New Panchsheel When Narendra Modi was within striking distance of power in Delhi a few months ago, there was little expectation that a provincial leader would inject much new dynamism into Indian diplomacy. Nor did the BJP’s record on foreign policy issues, when it sat on opposition benches between 2004 and ’14, inspire confidence.

Yet after more than four months in power, Prime Minister Modi’s most impressive performance appears to be in the diplomatic realm. A change of government does not produce a change in foreign policy objectives for large countries like India.

But new leaders have the freedom to bring fresh perspectives to foreign policy and organise new ways of doing business with the outside world.

For one, he has put domestic economic development at the top of India’s foreign policy goals. Contrary to the perception that Modi is spending too much time on foreign policy, the PM has viewed diplomacy as an integral part of his strategy to restore international confidence in India’s economic prospects and mobilise external resources for the modernisation and expansion of infrastructure and reviving the manufacturing sector.

Second, Modi has recognised the urgency of revitalising India’s relations with its neighbours in the subcontinent. Whether it was the invitation to the leaders of the SAARC nations to attend his inauguration or the choice of Bhutan and Nepal as his first foreign destinations, the new emphasis was unmistakable.

Third, Modi has unveiled a new combination of flexibility on economic engagement and firmness on confronting security challenges. If Modi’s positive start with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif surprised observers, his decision to suspend talks on the question of Islamabad’s Hurriyat contacts drew much criticism. That Sharif’s chief diplomat, Sartaj Aziz, acknowledged the inopportune timing of the contacts with the Hurriyat leaders seems to vindicate Modi’s approach.

Fourth, Modi has understood the importance of engaging all major powers without any inhibition. Unlike the UPA government, which held back on ties with the US and Japan by citing the dangers of provoking China, Modi has been bold in affirming that India would pursue its relations with all the major powers, each on its own merit. This has significantly improved India’s leverage with the US, China, Japan, Russia and Europe. For Modi, the question is no longer about India being “non-aligned”, but about how Delhi can shape the regional and global balance of power to serve its own interests.

Fifth, Modi appears bolder than his predecessors in making the political case for economic globalisation and a confident engagement with the world on such controversial issues as intellectual property, trade and climate change. Moving away from Delhi’s traditional temptation to merely posture, he is more open to finding practical solutions to global governance.

The writer is a distinguished fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, Delhi, and a contributing editor for The Indian Express.

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY

Let’s Not Sweep Dirt Under the Rug

BY FAROKH DHONDY Anyone taking on the task of cleaning up India — not in the metaphorical sense of getting rid of corruption but in the literal sense of streets without garbage and canals and rivers as clear as the Blue Danube — is undertaking the labours of Hercules. Perhaps the more appropriate comparison would be to Sisyphus who was doomed for all eternity to roll a boulder up a mountain only to have it roll down again. (I know, I know, Dina Nathji, Hercules’ labours were first undertaken by a character in some Indian epic and Sisyphus wasn’t gifted the first eternally rolling stone!)

ThatPrimeMinisterNarendraModi wants to tackle all filth is commendable. It has been an ideological wish before, as cleanliness was, according to the Mahatma, akin to Godliness, but the wish had no transformative mechanism to make it come true.

Now the ‘prime sevak’ launches a campaign to clean up India. The campaign as announced is recognisably Indian as it contains a mixture of practical plans with the money and mechanism to implement them together with dramatic gestures of ministers wielding brooms and school-pupils swearing oaths to devote 100 hours a year to the task.

In my bathroom in London I have a framed poster which I picked up on the pavements of Mumbai. It is a primer set out like a comic-book page in praise of ‘ good habits’ and depicts a young male character waking up early, saying his prayers, ‘visiting the latrine’ and having a balti-bath — this panel being labelled “Clean Liness”.

One can’t fault the intentions of the poster but point to the fact that two thirds of rural houses in India don’t have the depicted squatting ‘latrine’ and that in an urban slum such as Dharavi in Mumbai there is on average only one toilet for over 200 users.

Now the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan promises to build 11.11 crore toilets in the next five years. If the target can be met and the allocated funds resist being swallowed by India’s scam-pollution, it will contribute a great deal to ‘good habits’ and ‘clean

If the given figure of 1,27,486 metric tonnes of waste generated in the country per day is true, it will take more than oaths from even millions of school children to clear it up. Not that the authors of the good-pupil oath expect it to do much more than raise awareness and a feeling of guilt among school children. liness’.

Acknowledging that India needs these is in itself an advance in public mentality. In the early 1960s VS Naipaul wrote AnAreaof Darkness, his first book about India. It said that Indians defecate in public places. This caused a storm of nationalistic denial and criticism. I was in college in Pune at the time and couldn’t understand the indignation. Didn’t I each day on the way to college by bicycle pass signs on walls saying ‘COMMIT NO NUISANCE’ above fresh and malodorous evidence of committed nuisance? The writer was telling us what we collectively refused to see.

The prime minister’s 11.11 crore plan is an open and welcome acknowledgement.

There have been free-enterprise and philanthropic schemes to address this toilet problem before. I am thinking of the initiative of the Sulabh group in the cities. When these began to pop up I came across a little celebratory rhyme which failed to acknowledge

its rhythmic debt to John Masefield: “I must go down to the Sulabh again To the Shulab Shauchalay — A rupee a pee Two for a poo Everything short of a lay” If the Modi plan had come along a few years earlier the poster in my bathroom would have, in the picture next to the one urging ‘latrine-going’, shown our hero saluting the Tricolour and taking his 100-hours oath which includes getting a hundred others to do the same — a sort of boy-scout Ponzi deal or environmental pyramid-selling. Why does experience with public vows and New Years’ resolutions make me somehow doubt if it will work?

If it does the 100 hours will possibly be devoted to sweeping pavements or moving dumped garbage, one of the symbolic plagues of the nation poised to give rise to real ones. If the given figure of 1,27,486 metric tonnes of waste generated in the country per day is true, it will take more than oaths from even millions of school children to clear it up. Not that the authors of the good-pupil oath expect it to do much more than raise awareness and a feeling of guilt among school children.

When I was one of those in Pune my awareness didn’t need raising.

Litter and garbage were everywhere.

I was aware of houses kept spotless by sweeping and dumping one’s refuse in the public space. Personal perhaps, but no such thing as social cleanliness. The municipal corporation had a fleet of stinking grey trucks carrying garbage away. They had the letters PCB painted on them and schoolboys with sharp wits and poor spelling would say they stood for Poona Cent Bottle.

In England over the last 30 years attitudes to waste have, through legal initiative, changed. In very many cities householders who don’t separate their garbage into recyclable waste and organic garden and food waste are liable to be taken to court and fined. So also people who discard fast-food or cigarette packets on the pavements.

Farrukh Dhondy is an author, screenplay writer and columnist based in London.

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COMMUNITY

October 31, 2014

19

Ekal Raises Rs. 1 Crore to Implement Clean India Campaign in Villages

Shyamji Gupta, Himanshu Shah, Ramesh Shah.

OHIO: ‘Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation-USA (EVF-USA)’, recently (Oct. 3-5) hosted an international conference in Cincinnati, Ohio to address various issues facing rural education, hygiene, and integrated development in remote parts of India, where it operates. In opening remarks, Shyamji Gupta, founder of ‘Ekal Movement’ set the tone by challenging the gathering to undertake a new initiative for the rural masses. Inspired by the clarion call for a ‘Swachha-Bharat’ (Clean-India) by P.M. Narendra Modi, Ekal volunteers whole heartedly adopted this campaign to create and imple-

ment a strategy to clean the Ekal Villages where 1.5 million children are being nurtured and groomed. The campaign will create awareness and develop sustainable approaches to keep the villages clean. This conference had brought together volunteers, field teams and philanthropists from across US, India and Canada and astoundingly raised Rs. 1 Crore for this purpose.

Spearheading the on-the-spot fundraising efforts Himanshu Shah, CEO, Shah Capital, said “poor sanitation and lack of solid waste management has had tremendous negative impact on the health of Indians all over. It

Sunil Ishairzay of Afghanistan

is time we address this issue”. He contributed significant amount of his own monies to the cause and matched donations raised by Ekal. Welcoming this impromptu generosity, Vinod Jhunjhunwala, President of ‘EVFUSA’ said, “while ideas are plenty, India often loses out on implementation. Ekal, with its reach in over 54,000 villages throughout India has wide grass-root network that can effectively implement this cleaning initiative”. Ekal uses education as a primary vehicle to bring holistic

development of remote and rural villages. In addition to education, Ekal is working on health, sanitation, agriculture and development. Ajay Singh, Project Coordinator for EVFUSA, informed the gathering about the state-of-the-art approach adopted by ‘Ekal-India’ to administer and monitor various aspects of ‘Ekal’. He further elaborated that the teacher’s and student’s third-party assessment, automated school allocation as well as their ‘google-mapping’ was already underway. The movement has

created so much excitement among youth in the U. S. that several college students are going to Ekal villages to study the movement. Recently, Rohan and Anjeli Sharma, brothersister team, both less than 15 year old, spent three weeks in an Ekal Village, learning how Ekal had impacted villager’s lives. The reciprocal volunteerism of the Ekal model has also caught the eye of the Afghanistan community who feel that this unique model could be beneficial to the tribal-rural villages of Afghanistan.

A team from Afghanistan headed

by Sunil Ishairzay, visited India, last year, with the sole intention of studying and replicating Ekal education model in Afghanistan.

Several innovative solutions to a range of issues including the use of technology for education and the micro-rural entrepreneurship were also discussed. In several villages, solar energy is already being used by the villagers for life’s basic necessities with help from ‘Ekal’. At the conference, Ekal also addressed the national tragedy of the floods affecting the Kashmir valley. Ekal USAhas earmarked $150,000 for these flood victims. In short, Ekal Vidyalaya, the largest grass-root movement undertaken by NRIs and Indians is playing a key role in the lives of neglected masses for their self-sustenance and empowerment

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20 October 31, 2014

COMMUNITY

DR. JASEEM PASHA HOUSTON: The day was Sunday, October 11, the Senior Houstonians of Club 65 had their monthly ‘Lunch and Learn’ function at the Bay land Community Center in Houston.

The Conference room was thronged with seniors of diverse professional background, including engineers, physicians, attorney, real estate brokers, poets, architects and you name it.

Although Club 65 is only about two years old, founded under the aegis of Indian Muslim Association of Greater Houston (IMAGH), this non-profit organization has already won the hearts of Senior Houstonians and the membership is increasing by the month.

After announcing the whole years’ program of Club 65, Latafath Hussain, the President of Indian Muslims Association of Greater Houston

(IMAGH), then introduced the new President of Club 65, Paru McGuire to the members.

Paru McGuire, who is one of the few founding members of Club 65, then introduced the two speakers of the day to the audience.

The theme for the October meeting was ‘Diwali’, the ancient triumph of good over evil, India’s most important festival, making it an opportunity to know and learn a little about the

celebration of the festival of twinkling lights, which was excellently explained and presented by Hema Chandrashekar. Not only did she talk about the Festival of Lights, which is Diwali, but linked it to Sanatan Dharma, which is commonly known as Hinduism.

The next presentation was “How to heal yourself” by M. Sadiq Ali, M.S., Certified Nutrition & Wellness Consultant, et al., of “The Transformation Studio”. His lecture was very informative about the benefits of eating whole raw foods and minimally processed meals that could prevent chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiac disease, stroke arthritis, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, depression, autism, ADHD, depression and many more.

Sadiq Ali and his staff also provided a guide for cooking and eating foods, which destoxify the body, mind and spirit. He and his team brought along a variety of delicious herbal and organic food items to sample. As expected, the presentation triggered a lot of queries from the members.

Lunch was sponsored and made possible by the generosity of an anonymous donor. It was served in accordance to the Diwali theme of the month consisting of a traditional vegetarian menu including Shrikhand and Puri, which is regarded as a specialty of Diwali. Everyone enjoyed the experience of tasting the different variety of food and the healthy

lifestyle sampling.

As usual, it was a great success, receiving lots of positive feedback from the large gathering of seniors The meeting ended with happy faces thanking the new elected officers of the Club 65, including Paru McGuire (President), Rahat Kalle (First Vice President), Hatim Kanorwala (Second Vice President ) and Noorjahan Upadhya ( Jt.Secretary), Sudhir Mathuria ( Secretary) and Farida Jinnah (Treasurer)

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Club 65 Celebrates Diwali

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October 31, 2014

21

Namadwaar to Celebrate Bhoomi Pooja with Music and Mass Prayer

MANVEL,TX: Global Organization for Divinity’s Namadwaar Prayer House will perform bhoomi pooja (groundbreaking ceremony) for its new prayer house building on November 8, Saturday at its current location, 3642 Bailey Ave, Manvel TX (Pearland area).

The bhoomi pooja, followed by prayers by Houston temples and organizations, will be conducted from 7:30 to 9 AM. In the evening, celebrations for the auspicious occasion will begin at 4 pm with “Pibare Nama Rasam” a musical offering of songs on the greatness of the Divine Name composed by various saints,

by Swara Raga Laya music ensemble led by Vidushi Smt. Rajarajeshwary Bhat.

This performance will be followed at 5 pm by a Mass Prayer led by Sri Ramanujamji, disciple of His Holiness Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji.

Prayers with the Name of God are extremely powerful, as experienced by thousands of people across the world. During the Mass Prayer, Ramanujamji will share his Guru’s vision of calling attention to the power of the Divine Names to all those in need of prayer. His inspiring talk will be followed by group chanting of the Mahamantra for the heartfelt prayers of all those present.

The event is free and open to all. A simple dinner will be provided after the evening program.

His Holiness Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji constantly advocates the efficacy of prayers with the Divine Names and emphasizes that divinity manifests itself where the Divine Names are chanted, thus making congregational chanting very effective and fulfilling. Moreover it is universal across faiths, brings people together, spreads the fragrance of love and brings about inner transformation. This is the basis on which the global Namadwaar initiative was started by Sri Swamiji in 2006. There are over 20 Namadwaars across the world now, which reverberate with the “Hare Rama….Hare Krishna…”

Mahamantra. The Houston Namadwaar was the first Namadwaar to be established outside India, in Feb 2010, and is currently the only one in the USA. Global Organization for Divinity is a nonprofit charity organization serving the Houston area since 2007. With the support of the community we have grown every year by giving back to the community through - umpteen number of prayers, regular children/youth enrichment programs and camps, 6 major cultural events, numerous folk puppet shows and other smaller cultural programs, 3 completely free health fairs with about 300 people attending every year (next one is on Nov 15th from 8 am till 1pm in Manvel), several other community events such as food drives, clothes drives, educational supplies’ drives, special-need school supplies, donations to other charity organizations such as Pearland Neighborhood Center, Forgotten Angels, Adult Reading Center, Search Homeless Services, Houston Area Parkinson Society and others.

It is only natural that with this immense growth in our service, we are now in need of a bigger building to serve the community even better.

For further information about the event, about GOD activities or Namadwaar, or if you are interested in supporting this noble and divine cause financially or in kind, contact 281-402-6585 or houston.god@godivinity. org. To view the event invitation, visit www. godivinity.org.

See ad on page 19 INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

22 October 31, 2014

COMMUNITY

Dipavali Puja: Celebrations Lit with Chinmaya Spirit

Acaryas Gaurangbhai and Darshanaben Nanavaty, the priest of Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya, Sri Ganeshji, perfoming Laksmi puja.

Photos by Jayesh Mistry

BY PADMASHREE RAO

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HOUSTON: Dipavali has a greater meaning to the Indians who have left the shores of India. Beyond the sparkling lights, the smiling faces, the colorful Indian clothes, the weekend get-togethers, the enthusiastic wishes, and all the joyful celebrations, the immensely popular festival is a symbol of cultural and spiritual identity in lands foreign and adopted.

Where it is not that easy to place rows of oil lamps around the homes, where it is difficult to light firecrackers out on streets, where the workaday routine tends to overshadow the popular Hindu festival of lights, the Dipavali puja becomes a significant event every year. Transporting the glowing spirit of Dipavali across the oceans, the annual Dipavali puja in many mission centers of North America is a cherished Chinmaya tradition.

True to that, at Chinmaya Prabha Houston, on Oct.19, the magic of Dipavali unraveled with greater meaning to become a luminous celebration of social and spiritual cheer. From months before, the volunteers of the festival committee had begun preparations for the puja that united more than five hundred families in two sessions. The announcements, emails, and e-brochures, invited all the Chinmaya families to gather together that Sunday morning in their beloved Chinmaya family home, Chinmaya Prabha.

And, the young and the old came with eagerness. They came dressed in their festive best, carrying their beautifully decorated puja plates, the

colorful flowers, their shining lamps for arati, and other puja essentials.

When more than a thousand people sat together in rows inside Chinmaya Smriti hall and Saraswati Nilayam that morning for the Dipavali puja, it was not just the external aesthetic beauty of the whole celebration that captured the imagination. What arrested everyone’s thoughts was the way in which the puja filled hearts with light and love.

In his annual address, Acarya Gaurangbhai Nanavaty welcomed everyone to reflect on the true meaning of the varied traditional celebrations of Dipavali. On Dhan Teras, and during Lakshmi puja later in the week, while praying for material prosperity, the Acarya asked all to also pray for the wealth of good values to enrich all life. On Naraka Chaturdasi, when the darkness of evil is destroyed by the light of goodness, we must recognize that Dharma always brings meaningful victory. Celebrating Dipavali as the victory of Lord Ram over the unrighteous Ravana brings to light the symbolism that pure joy is the very essence of a dharmic life. And, family is celebrated on the occasion of Bhai Dhuj in some communities.

The Acarya brought attention to the prayers done during the Dipavali puja – every year, the Lakshmi Ashtottra Shatanamavali (108 names of the Goddess Lakshmi) endows devotees with both material and spiritual upliftment; and Visnu Sahasranama (1000 names of Lord Visnu) is a divinely effective way of recognizing the Omnipresent, Omnipotent, and Omniscient God in the world of names and forms.

Along with ardent prayers, Dipavali is also a time to give thanks and usher in a new year of hope and new resolve. It is the tradition of Chinmaya Mission Houston to offer heartfelt gratitude to the Chinmaya Guru Parampara, which has given spiritual direction to secular lives, especially far away from the native soil of India.

Thus, selfless prayers and deep gratitude pervaded the entire Dipavali puja which was expertly performed by Sri Ganeshji, priest of the Saumyakasi Sivalaya. At the end of the puja, every family walked to offer pranams to God and Guru; each family exchanged a moment of affection and gratitude with the Acaryas Gaurangbhai and Darshanaben, in the presence of the exquisitely adorned idols of Sri Mahavisnu and Goddess Mahalakshmi. It was then that central theme of Dipavali shone bright, the theme of shared happiness, high ideals, and hearts filled with love and hope.

The Dipavali celebration this year in Houston was tuned to greater heights because of a special musical presentation by Chinmaya Nada Bindu, the Chinmaya Gurukul of Performing Arts, on the evening of Oct.19. Sri Himanshu Nanda and Smt. Pramodini Rao, the directors of Chinmaya Naada Bindu, accompanied by SriAnutosh Degaria, elevated the Houston audience; art, artist and audience were transported to a divine realm where the ‘sneharanjani’ of Himanshuji’s bansuri and the soulful bhajans of Pramodiniji entranced and enchanted; it was no mere entertainment. To revel in such music was truly a memorable Dipavali gift.

“Between the routine and the urgent, one should not forget the important,” says Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda. Every year, the importance of Dipavali shines brighter when illuminated with the Chinmaya spirit!

For further information on Chinmaya Mission Houston and Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya and, its activities visit www.chinmayahouston.org or Call Jay Deshmukh 832 541 0059 or Bharati Sutaria 281-933-0233

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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October 31, 2014

Fun Daal-bati Picnic by Madhya Pradesh Mitra Mandal

Photo: Navin Mediwala

whohavecomefromMadhyaPradesh or Chhattisgarh to Texas. These states reflect “unity in diversity” in true sense which is visible amongst the people who attend MPMM events in Houston. This group was started

by Ashish Bhandari and Nikhil Jain in Houston in the year 2002. Today it’s grown to over 200 families belonging to various cities like Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Bilaspur, Raipur, Gwalior etc., who are also registered on the group’s website http://www. mp.abindore.com .

This unique Annual event has been covered by various media groups in Houston as well as in India in the past.

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members took on sporting avatars to play Cricket and other games.

One of the highlight of the event was live message delivered via phone

by Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya, Cabinet Minister from Madhya Pradesh who handles Housing and Environment as well as the urban development portfolio. He felicitated MPMM for keeping roots of India alive in USA and also shared of great progress possibilities of India under leadership of our Prime Minister. This live Phone Call was coordinated by Jitendra Muchhal of New York, who also belongs to MP and an avid Daal-Bati fan.

For the past couple of years, response to this picnic has been so overwhelming that RSVP had to be closed 2 weeks before the event, to ensure that picnic is managed well by the volunteers.

MP Mitra Mandal is an informal community group made up of people

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HOUSTON: Madhya Pradesh Mitra Mandal (MPMM) organized its 7th annual Daal-Bati picnic on Sunday, Octover 26, at Bear Creek Park, in Houston, Texas. It was attended by approx. 200 people who enjoyed fresh made Daal-Bati, Poha-Sev, Jalebi, Jiraman and garma-garam Chai during this daylong event. The feeling of togetherness, the bonding between families and friends and the fun atmosphere made this gathering quite unique and entertaining. Everyone joined hands to volunteer in various areas: cooking batis, serving food or performing on stage.

After new families made introduction, everyone played Picture Housie (Tambola) which was prepared by one of the members. This was about places in MP or personalities who belong to MP. Everyone got to know interesting facts from MP while enjoying the quizzes. Weather being perfect for outdoors, several

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HOUSTON: On Saturday, October 18, YLDP students toured the Houston Food Bank and listened to its President and CEO, Brian Greene, speak. The topic of the day’s YLDP session was What Leaders Really Do, and it was aimed at defining what makes a leader different from a manager or a boss.

According to Greene, a leader is someone who can not only turn challenges into opportunities, but also ensure that the environment in which everyone is working remains stable.

Greene emphasized the importance of a leader’s communication, as it allows us to better our surroundings and ourselves. The ability to receive criticism and compromise ideas is what makes a leader paramount in any group, be it of a board of directors or of students working on a project. Greene attributed his accomplishments to that ability as it allowed him to constantly keep an open mind throughout his time with the Food Bank. It widened his vision to embrace change and strive to make the greatest impact possible, which is what led to his push for the Food Bank to provide proper, nutritious meals rather than high-calorie junk foods, to his push for the Food Bank to donate extra foods to animal shelters rather than throw them away, and to his push for the Food Bank to install solar panels and recycled materials within its building.

When recalling his time as a simple Food Bank volunteer and as the head of the New Orleans Food Bank when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf, Greene reminded students of the value of ethics and a good character. His advice to act on good intentions rather than personal gain instilled within us a sort of reassurance in ourselves. Sure, our trip opened our eyes to the inner workings of America’s largest Food Bank, but, more than that, it opened the vault to an unforgettable lesson of how we can build ourselves to better serve our community as the leaders of tomorrow.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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October 31, 2014

25

Arya Samaj Greater Houston Celebrates Diwali

BY SANJANA KAPOOR & YASH BINDAL HOUSTON: Arya Samaj celebrated Diwali on Saturday, October 25. This jam-packed event was enjoyed by all, and the evening’s festivities were filled with good humor, friends, laughter and light.

Arya Samaj’s Diwali celebrations started Saturday evening with beautiful performances in the main hall. Next came the puja and havan.

For the final portion of the event, everyone went outside. And what a sight it was to see!

Spread throughout the school grounds, were rows of twinkling lights among which were

stalls of games and delicious ethnic food. The air was bright, laughter rang through the air and the sweet smell of sweets enticed everyone.

People milled around seeking out friends and acquaintances and spreading the good wishes of Diwali. Some sat at the thoughtfully provided chairs and tables eating the delicious food or sipping on hot tea.

There were games for the children, such as the ring toss, with prizes for the winners. There were chances to win big prizes through the raffle tickets. Additionally, there were mehendi (henna) and face paint stalls, which attracted young and old alike.

Next came one of the most favorite parts of

Diwali celebrations: glorious fireworks. The fireworks were launched into the sky, and went out with loud bangs, scattering across the sky in a multitude of sparkling hues. The colors were bright, blazing and fiery – it truly was a spectacular festival of lights. Soon after people with firework tickets were given their own personal firework packages. You could hear the snap and crackle of the fireworks sizzling all around. Kids shouted with delight at the bright colors and everyone could feel the excitement in the air.

This Diwali celebration was definitely a memorable event that everyone enjoyed.

Thanks to the selfless Arya Samaj volunteers and youth from the Arya Yuvak Mandal, all the planned activities went of without a hitch, and the events were conducted in a timely manner.

Everyone who came to celebrate, went away happy and pleased.

Arya Samaj Greater Houston wishes everyone a very Happy Diwali, and a very prosperous year to come!

Arya Samaj Greater Houston is located at 14375 Schiller Road, Houston, TX 77082, (www.aryasamajhouston.org or Tel. 281-7520100) and conducts Satsang every Sunday from 10 AM to 12 Noon. The DAV Sanskriti School is held every Sunday during the Satsang hours.

Yoga, Sanskrit and Upanishads classes are held twice a week at ASGH. Contact Dev Mahajan at 713-468-4339 or Shekhar Agrawal at 281242-8280 or Bhushan Verma at 713-504-2707 for any information regarding ASGH or its schools and services.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

26 October 31, 2014

Job Posting:

Assignment Desk Intern

Job Posting:

Community Affairs Intern

KTRK-TV, the ABC Owned station located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for an KTRK-TV, the ABC Owned station located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for a paid COMMUNITY AFFAIRS INTERNSHIP for the upcoming semester. Internships are available to currently enrolled assignment desk intern for the upcoming semester. Internships are available to undergrads undergraduate college students in their junior or senior year pursuing careers in the television/media field and currently enrolled college students in their junior or senior year pursuing careers in the television/ must receive college credit for the internship. The internship program is designed to provide students with an media field and must receive college credit for the internship. The successful applicant will be on-site educational experience that complements their academic studies. Interns will have an opportunity to responsible for assisting the assignment desk, which includes but is not limited to making beat- observe and participate in the daily work and operations of a major market, television station. checks, answering phones, monitoring police and fire radios, getting information and developing stories.

The candidate should be detail-oriented and able to handle many different responsibilities at the same time. The ideal intern knows how to multi-task and set priorities. Good news judgment and

strong communication skills are essential, along with strong writing skills. The candidate should have a good working knowledge with the use of social media for news gathering. Must be willing

As an intern you will attend help in the production of community affairs shows, including scheduling of guests, help gathering and editing video, assist with community drives, forums and outreach. Each area requires significant planning, scheduling and execution. Applicants must be currently enrolled in college and supply written verification of eligibility to receive academic credit for the internship at the start of the internship. Additionally, applicants must be able to work at least one day per week and the hours may vary depending on scheduling and may include some weekend and early morning and evening hours.

to work evenings and weekends. All interested applicants must apply online at www.disneycareers.

All interested applicants must apply online at www.disneycareers.com, Job Req #220644BR. Please upload com, Job Req 220642BR. Please upload a cover letter, your resume outlining other internships, a cover letter, your resume outlining other internships, degrees earned, work experience, related clubs and degrees earned, work experience, related clubs and organizations, current major course of study, organizations, current major course of study, expected graduation date and extracurricular activities. No Telephone Calls. expected graduation date and extracurricular activities. No Telephone Calls.

KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability

Job Posting:

News Editing Internship

KTRK-TV, the ABC Owned station located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for a paid NEWS EDITING INTERNSHIP for the upcoming semester. Internships are available to currently-enrolled college students in their junior or senior year who are pursuing careers in the television/media field and must receive college credit for the internship. The internship program is designed to provide students with an on-site educational experience that complements their academic studies by using a “real world” hands-on environment. News Editing Interns will have an opportunity to observe, participate, and contribute in the daily work and operations of a major market, television station.

KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability

Job Posting:

Digital Content/Web Intern

KTRK-TV, the ABC Owned station located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for a paid DIGITAL CONTENT/WEB INTERNSHIP for the upcoming semester. Internships are available to currently enrolled college students in their junior or senior year pursuing careers in the television/media field and must receive college credit for the internship. The internship program is designed to provide students with an on-site educational experience that complements their academic studies. Interns will have an opportunity to observe and participate in the daily work and operations of a major market, television station.

As a News/Technical Intern you will primarily assist in editing for air-- being creative and precise, while also As an intern, you will turn content generated from multiple sources into comprehensive stories learning the ins and outs of working behind the scenes for live newscasts. Interns will work under the direct formatted for digital display in a fast-paced environment. The intern will interact with newsroom supervision of the Digital Media Coordinator and other staff members. personnel to get text, video and images onto multiple digital platforms. Intern will have a hand in keeping station’s various social media platforms active. Applicants must be currently enrolled in Additionally, applicants must be able to work at least two days per week between the hours of 2PM and college and supply written verification of eligibility to receive academic credit for the internship 10PM. Applicants must be currently enrolled in college and supply written verification of eligibility to at the start of the internship. Additionally, applicants must be able to work a set weekday schedule receive academic credit for the internship at the start of the internship. that may include some weekend, early morning or evening hours.

All interested applicants must apply online at www.disneycareers.com, Job Req 260641BR. Please upload a cover letter, your resume outlining other internships, degrees earned, work experience, related clubs and organizations, current major course of study, expected graduation date and extracurricular activities.

No Telephone Calls.

KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability

All interested applicants must apply online at www.disneycareers.com, Job Req 221247BR. Please upload a cover letter, your resume outlining other internships, degrees earned, work experience, related clubs and organizations, current major course of study, expected graduation date and extracurricular activities. No Telephone Calls.

KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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4 Friday, June 10, 2012011 m er 31, ws.co Octob y a n id a -ne Fr c i r e m indoa www.

October 31, 2014

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Swiss Gold Exports to India Cross Record Rs 70,000 Crore Level

As banks in Switzerland come under greater black money scrutiny, the quantum of gold having left Swiss shores for India so far this year has reached a record high level of over Rs 70,000 crore.

NEW DELHI/BERNE: As banks in Switzerland come under greater black money scrutiny, the quantum of gold having left Swiss shores for India so far this year has reached a record high level of over 11 billion Swiss francs (about Rs 70,000 crore).

The gold exports from Switzerland to India stood at over 2.2 billion Swiss francs (about Rs 15,000 crore) in September alone, which is double the figure for the previous month, shows latest data released by Swiss Customs Administration.

As a result, the total Swiss gold exports to India since January this year has grown to 11.4 billion Swiss francs, shows the data compiled by the Swiss government’s cross-border trade monitoring agency.

While industry watchers attribute the surge during September partly to increased demand for the yellow metal ahead of Diwali and other festivals in India, the sudden spike

is also being seen suspiciously in the backdrop of gold being used for ‘layering’ purposes to move funds from Swiss banks amid growing scrutiny for suspected black money.

According to banking industry sources, banks operating in Switzerland, including those headquartered in the Alpine nation and the Swiss units of other European banks, have turned wary about dealing with their Indian clients in the wake of a growing scrutiny of such accounts.

A number of Swiss banks, including three with significant global presence, have begun telling their Indian clients to sign undertakings that are aimed at ‘derisking’the banking institutions from potential risks arising out of regulatory actions against the bank customers by foreign governments.

Some banks are also telling their clients to close their accounts if they are not ready to take such risks, or if they have apprehensions about such accounts not being compliant

to regulatory requirements in their home countries.

Through these ‘derisking’ undertakings, the customer agrees to take responsibility for any possible regulatory or administrative compliance with international norms.

At the same time, the bankers are also lobbying with the Swiss government to ensure that any information would be shared with their Indian counterpart about accounts held in Swiss banks only after necessary provisions are made to safeguard the interest of the concerned banking institution.

Following a high-level delegation visit from India, Switzerland recently agreed to cooperate on matters related to verification of genuineness of accounts and reply to requests for banking account details in a time-bound manner, and also to initiate a process to include India among the countries eligible for ‘automatic exchange of information’.

While banks try to put in place necessary safeguards, there are apprehensions that many of their clients are being advised to move the funds through gold and other routes.

As per Swiss government data, the total exports of gold, silver and coins from Switzerland stood at 347 tonnes (worth 6.62 billion Swiss francs) in September. This included gold exports totalling 172.5 tonnes or 6.48 billion Swiss francs.

In comparison, Switzerland’s total gold exports stood at just about three billion Swiss francs (80.6 tonnes) in August, while the overall figure for gold, silver and coins stood at 3.16 billion francs (237 tonnes) in that month.

India alone accounted for total bullion exports worth 66.5 tonnes from Switzerland, which mostly comprised of gold (over 58 tonnes or over 2.2 billion Swiss francs) in September.

The total gold exports to India stood at 29.5 tonnes (1.12 billion Swiss francs) in August, while the figure for July was 21 tonnes (792 million Swiss francs).

In January, the total Swiss gold exports to India stood at about 27 tonnes (970 million Swiss francs), while it was in the range of 30 tonnes a month between February to May before surging to over 44 tonnes (1.62 billion Swiss francs) in June.

Anew strategy of ‘layering’through gold and diamond trade came to light earlier this year at Swiss banks to thwart any attempt for identification of real beneficiary owners of funds entrusted with them, government and banking sources have said.

There is a growing suspicion that a portion of gold and diamond trade is being used to route funds from Swiss banks to India and other destinations.

‘Layering’ is a key stage in money

laundering and involves moving illicit funds around financial system through a complex series of deals to complicate the paper trail. This layering typically takes place between the first stage — placement of black money in the financial system either in cash vaults, or through a series of cash or sham financial transactions — and before the final ‘integration’ stage when money is put back into the financial system through various transactions for the benefit of its final recipient.

Under global pressure, Switzerland agreed earlier this year to provide country-wise breakdown of its gold trade.

Under a new agreement to tackle the black money menace, Switzerland agreed on October 15 to assist Indian authorities on a priority basis and provide requested banking information in a time-bound manner.

There has been a huge political uproar over Indian black money allegedly stashed in Swiss banks and the new government has said it is committed to tackling this menace.

As per Swiss National Bank’s latest data, the total money held by Indians in Swiss banks stood at over Rs 14,000 crore as on December 2013, up by nearly 42 per cent from a year ago.

Switzerland, which has also agreed to consider including India among the nations for automatic exchange of information, has been repeatedly rejecting India’s requests for information on Indians named in a so-called HSBC list.

India has sought information on bank accounts and other details of the persons named in this list, but Switzerland was refusing to cooperate saying these names were obtained “illegally” or through sale of stolen data by ex-employees.

-Times of India

127

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

28 October 31, 2014

COMMUNITY

MassMutual Honors Diwali and Business Tradition of Chopda Pujan No-Cost Seminars Help Business Owners Secure Their Futures and Protect the Next Generation SPRINGFIELD: Almost three million Asian Indians in the United States celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights, on Oct. 23. For the more than 300,000 Asian-Indian owned firms* in the U.S., the holiday takes on an added dimension, as the celebration marks the beginning of a new business year. To help business owners prepare for the New Year ahead, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) is offering a series of free, no-obligation business seminars in five cities across the countrythis Diwali.

In a special Diwali ritual for businesses known as Chopda Pujan, new account books are opened and blessed. Business owners use this time to reflect on the past year while looking ahead to new opportunities for prosperity and wealth. It is said the goddess of wealth, known as Lakshmi, visits the homes of devotees on this day, and lamps light the way to welcome her.

A MassMutual study** found that although 77 percent of Asian Indian business owners believe financial planning for their business is very important, only 43 percent are concerned about who will run their businesses if they or another owner leaves, becomes disabled or dies; only 46 percent have a formal retirement plan.

“Entrepreneurial businesses are vital to our growing economic recovery, so it is concerning that so many busi-

ness owners seem to be sacrificing their own and their family’s financial future,” says Nimesh Trivedi, AsianIndian Market lead at MassMutual.

“With help, business owners can look past the seemingly overwhelming day-to-day demands of running their businesses and establish and meet their long-term financial goals.”

To help Asian Indian business owners open their new books this Diwali and plan for a prosperous new year, MassMutual is offering a series of free video-based seminars featuring stories shared by real business owners. The vignettes explore critical business planning topics, such as passing ownership on from one generation to the next, preparing for the unexpected, the death of an owner, retaining key employees, and proper estate and retirement planning.

Seminars addressing these topics critical to Asian Indian business owners were presented in the following cities across the country this Diwali: Houston, Oct. 14 Atlanta: Oct. 18 San Jose, Calif.: Oct. 24 Edison, N.J.: Oct. 29 The Seminar in Chicago has been scheduled for November 6, 2014 For more information on the multicity business owner seminar tour, contact Nimesh Trivedi, 413.744.1244.

For more information on planning for your businesses’ and families’ financial futures, visit massmutual. com/asianindian

From left: Adam Segal, Nimesh Trivedi, Nadya Amin, Zaheda, Mitesh Patel. MassMutual sponsored Atlanta Diwali Event.

*2007 Survey of Business Owners Summaries of Findings, U.S. Census Bureau. This information is the most current data available. **MassMutual’s Business Owner Perspectives: 2011 Insights in an Uncertain Economy, conducted by GfK Custom Research North America for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), 2011.

Prakara Puja in the new Ganesh temple

From left: Nimesh Trivedi, Lalit Jallan, Adam Segal and Vikesh Amin. MassMutual sponsored Houston Diwali Event.

About MassMutual Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyowners consistently since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as

life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company’s strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and

its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB. For more information, visit www. massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+ and Pinterest.

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Mama’s Punjabi Recipes Sabudana di Kheer (Tapioca Pudding) Whereas chawal di kheer (rice pudding), along with ras malai (cheese in sweetened cream) and gulab jamun (syrup rose dumplings) have become some of the main desserts in many Indian restaurants, the sabudana kheer (tapioca pudding) has not. It is equally as easy, simple and inexpensive to make as kheer.

I think the main reason is most restaurants don’t make it in the tasty way that it can be appreciated by the public. And just like chawal di kheer, the sabudana kheer must not come in a thin milky syrup, but must be made properly: thick and sprinkled with iliachi for taste.

Sabudana is a starchy substance extracted from the stems of ago palm trees, and then processed into small, circular pellets, which are sometimes called pearls. It is not a low-calorie food but is used to an energy-boosting ingredient in soups, puddings, side dishes and main entrees. Sabudana is high in carbohydrates, with 86 grams of carbs in each 100 gm serving.

Sabudana kheer is easily made with sugar and cardamom in thickened milk. It is prepared for festivals and many special Hindu occasions though it is especially popular during the navratri time (nine days prior to Dusserah or Ramanavami) because it is made with sago and not grains like rice or wheat, which are avoided by devout people during those days.

Sabudana kheer has become popular as a chic dessert at weddings where the thickened variety is presented in small earthen dishes and even with a small piece of sona ka varak (gold film).

The secret to a tasty dish, prepared much faster, is to soak the sabudana much longer in the water, and to make sure the milk is thicker when you mix it in. If you use the large pellet sabudana, then you should soak the pellets in longer.

Directions: 1. Pour the sabudana in a bowl full of water, cover and let it soak for two hours so that it swells up.

2. Pour the milk in a saucepan or small pot and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir occasionally to make sure the milk does not stick to the pot, and let it thicken up a little.

3. Pour the sabudana through a strainer to drain the water, then pour it into the milk and stir continuously for 10 minutes but not more so that the kheer does not get too thick.

4. Now, add the sugar and mix thoroughly. Sprinkle with the crushed cardamom powder.

5. Thicker sabudana kheer tastes best. It can be served hot, but most people prefer to eat it cold, so refrigerate for an hour or two before serving.

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

Ingredients: • 4 cup doodh (milk) – whole is best, but low-fat will do too • 1 cup sabudana (sago or tapioca) • ¼ cup chinni (sugar) • ¼ tsp iliachi powder (cardamom powder)

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

ENTERTAINMENT

October 31, 2014

Movie Review: Happy New Year

BYANUPAMA CHOPRA Happy New Year exists for one purpose — to entertain. And Farah Khan, inheritor of the Manmohan Desai mantle, has proved that she is more than capable of giving us a good time. But in Happy New Year, the desire to entertain overshadows everything else — script, characters, coherence, narrative logic. The result is a 179-minute film that simply beats you into submission. It is frantic, noisy, gaudy and, largely, joyless.

Farah takes the framework of the

traditional heist movie and bungs in revenge, melodrama, comedy, romance, countless dazzling dance sequences and, as a climactic flourish, a dose of patriotism.

Shah Rukh Khan is Charlie, described as a Boston University ka topper, who can’t find a job because his father (Anupam Kher) is imprisoned under false robbery charges.

Charlie seeks revenge against the man who ruined his life. The revenge involves the famed Atlantis hotel in Dubai, a monstrously large safe, the world dance championship, too many

product placements and diamonds worth ‘300 crore dollars’. Charlie’s crew consists of five oddballs who are losers. So it’s up to Shah Rukh to keep Happy New Year going. He displays his eight-pack abs, beats up many baddies and still romances with utmost conviction.

I have a very high tolerance level for anything Shah Rukh is in, and yet Happy New Year was a slog. Which compels me to repeat a line from my review of Chennai Express: Come back, Rahul. All is forgiven.

-Hindustan Times

Haider Wins People’s Choice Award at Rome Film Festival

ROME(HT):Vishal Bhardwaj’s latest project Haider, an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, has bagged the People’s Choice Award in the world category at the ninth edition of Rome Film Festival.

The film, which is set in the backdrop of Kashmir, stars Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Tabu, Irrfan Khan and Kay Kay Menon in pivotal roles.

Shahid, 33, who attended the festival with Bhardwaj, took to Twitter to announce the same.

“1st festival 1st win. Too much.

Wowzaaaa. People’s choice in the main category at the Rome film

festival... A first for an Indian film. #haider. Proud and humbled,” Shahid, who played the titular role in the film, tweeted along with a picture of him and Bhardwaj.

Sharaddha, 25, who could not make it to the festival in Rome, also tweeted about her excitement.

“We WON! #Haider - the 1st Indian film to win the main category of people’s choice award at Rome film festival! So humbled, grateful and proud!,” she wrote.

Haider released on October 2 worldwide and marked the third installment of Bhardwaj’s Shakespearean trilogy after Maqbool and Omkara.

Last week’s edition can be found online. Issue dated June 27,2014.

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

32 October 31, 2014 Pak vs. Australia in First Test: Spinners Script Pakistan’s 221-run Victory

BY DANIEL BRETTIQ DUBAI (ESPN Cricinfo): Pakistan 454 (Sarfraz 109, Younis 106) and 286 for 2 dec (Shehzad 131, Younis 103*) beat Australia 303 (Warner 133) and 216 (Johnson 61, Smith 55, Babar 5-74, Yasir 4-50) by 221 runs Scorecard and ball-by-ball details Zulfiqar Babar and Azhar Ali celebrate a wicket, Pakistan v Australia, 1st Test, Dubai, 5th day, October 26, 2014 Not since 1994 have Pakistan led Australia in a Test series. A telling 221-run victory in Dubai means that Misbah-ul-Haq’s wonderfully resilient team are now a chance of breaking an identical 20-year drought between series wins over the same opponent.

Pakistan proved far more skilful, resourceful and focused than Australia, who missed Ryan Harris and Shane Watson rather more than Misbah’s men suffered for the absence of Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan. The Australia lower order battled manfully but could not erase the sins of the top six, who apart from David Warner failed utterly in conditions that have become an all too familiar source of trouble.

Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah were

the fourth-innings architects of Pakistan’s triumph, their expertise and subtlety providing a reminder that most spin bowlers are forged in firstclass cricket and are invariably better for experience. By contrast, Michael Clarke’s team have an array of problems to address, not least the increasing comfort with which Pakistan’s batsmen played his bowling attack across the Test.

The day was not without some moments of doubt for Pakistan, not least when they spurned a quartet of chances during the afternoon session, though Babar and Yasir continued to bowl diligently and well on the worn pitch. But Pakistan always had time to spare, and Mitchell Johnson’s line-ball stumping went their way in the ascendant much as it often did for Australia during their years of dominance.

Chris Rogers and Steven Smith had begun with determined intentions, and as happened in the first innings and again on the fourth evening an Australia pair started firmly. Despite some extravagant turn for Yasir and reverse swing in both directions from Rahat Ali, they made it through to morning drinks.

Misbah-ul-Haq threw the ball to

Imran Khan, who proceeded to work on bending the ball in the manner of his namesake, albeit at a lesser pace. Rogers had kept out many a threatening delivery and was the only Australian to face more than 100 balls in each innings. But he was late in recognising Imran’s inswinger, and to the sound of Pakistani roars his middle stump was tilted back.

Mitchell Marsh is a young man who will learn from this experience, but his defensive skills against spin were found wanting in each innings.

Too crooked across a straight delivery from Babar on day three, he was now too hard-handed against the same bowler, shooting the ball off the bat straight into the lap of silly point.

Though raised on slower, spinning pitches in New South Wales, Brad Haddin’s method has never been particularly suited to the natural variations of subcontinental pitches. His firm hands and penchant for driving at the line of the ball can look imperious, but here it was inadequate as a Babar straight ball zipped between bat and pad to strike leg stump.

All the while Smith fought and fidgeted, but gradually lost momentum as wickets began to fall. Not a single boundary was hit in the morn-

SPORTS ing session. There was more intent when Smith and Johnson resumed in the afternoon, their efforts to score a little more often spreading Misbah’s field.

After a while, the fifty stand arrived, and Pakistan began to show signs of tension. No fewer than four chances went down from the bowling of Babar - Smith surviving a stumping chance on 37, then dropped by Misbah on 44, albeit from a fiercely struck cover drive. Johnson’s patience was tested, and when he was on 23, Ahmed Shehzad at deep midwicket turfed a slogsweep that should have been taken.

When Johnson was on 25, Yasir Shah misjudged a top-edged Johnson sweep at backward square leg and could only get one hand to it.

Smith passed 50 and could glimpse tea, but Yasir’s return to the attack brought a half-volleyed flick to short leg. It was a blur of pitch, ball and bat, but replays confirmed a fair catch and Smith trudged off. Johnson and Siddle fought their way through the second new ball, and maintained faint hope at tea.

Few alarms were raised in the early minutes of the evening session, Australia daring to hope they might emulate some of the escapes made

by South Africa and England in earlier years when they showed the best teams are as capable of wriggling to a draw as galloping to a win.

But Yasir found some variety out of the rough to Johnson, who had begun playing in a slightly more defensive vein. A review for an lbw when he padded up was rejected, but a straighter delivery in the same over beat the outside edge and had Sarfraz Ahmed screeching in the sort of stumping appeal shared by quickwitted wicketkeepers.

Replays seemed to show some of Johnson’s boot behind the line, but the third umpire Nigel Llong concluded that none of it was grounded.

His decision was the cue for Pakistani jubilation - and a thunderous glare from Darren Lehmann in Australia’s viewing area. Johnson departed glumly.

That moment more or less finished the match. Siddle eluded an lbw appeal and review by Babar the following over, but a hearty inside edge gave the left-arm spinner a deserved five-wicket haul in his next. Pakistan now cannot lose the series. Australia, Ashes and all, cannot win it.

-www.espncricinfo.com

India Needs Football Star: Commentator John Helm

PANAJI (TOI): For someone who has been as immersed in football as John Helm, having been a commentator for more than 50 years now, it is fascinating that the beautiful game continues to sweep him off his feet.

The moment didn’t come at the recent World Cup 2014 in Brazil, where he was a commentator for the host broadcaster, but here in India in the Indian Super League.

The 72-year-old commentator who made it to the Guinness Book of World Records in the 1970s for his ability to name all 92 clubs in the English Football League in 26 seconds is no stranger to Indian football, having first witnessed the 2005 Federation Cup in Goa, Santosh Trophy, Nehru Cup and, more recently, the Asian Games in Incheon.

“The biggest change in these nine years is the infrastructure. The stadiums are terrific, the facilities are great and it reflects in the football that we see. The size of the crowd for ISL matches is also encouraging,” said John, a veteran of eight World Cups.

The Indian Super League is challenging for foreign players though: the climate, alien conditions and quick-fire matches here can drain the toughest men. Even for an experienced hand like John, formerly with BBC and ITV, it’s no walk in the park but the veteran is clearly enjoying himself.

“Earlier, the only good players used to be the Barretos, Ranti Martins and Dudus, who seemed to score all the goals. There were a few good Indian players but now the overall standard is far better,” he said, flattered to be noticed and hunted for autographs in this part of the world.

“In twelve months, I want to see the foreign players reduced to four.

I would also like to see those foreign players slightly younger. The marquee players, for example, will have to be aged 33, 34, with the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Keane being ideal players.” he said.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

October 31, 2014

PM Modi’s Siachen Visit a Masterstroke: Analysts

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares sweets with the officers and jawans of Indian Armed Forces during his visit to Siachen on the occasion of Diwali.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield, was a strategic step that went beyond bonding with Indians soldiers to also send a message to Pakistan amid escalating tensions between the nuclear armed rivals, analysts and political observers say.

India and Pakistan have faced off on the inhospitable terrain since 1984 and have long accepted the need to demilitarise Siachen, but still have not arrived at a solution that would allow them to pull out troops from the mountainous region that lies at about 20,000 feet above sea level.

Modi’s visit to Siachen on Diwali was the first by a PM in nine years.

Modi’s predecessor, Manmohan Singh, visited the glacier in 2005 when he called to make Siachen an “abode of peace” between India and Pakistan.

“It is a masterstroke to spend the Diwali with soldiers in Siachen. Not only did he take this opportunity to bond with soldiers in far-flung areas

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but it was also a stern message to Pakistan that had, in recent times, tried to disturb the peace along the Line of Control,” said a senior bureaucrat.

Military analysts said the visit was in line with the stand of the BJP, which has in the past cautioned against any “settlement” over the Siachen glacier so that Pakistan does not get any terrain advantage to re-occupy the strategic heights.

“There is certain political subtext of this visit. Any visit of a PM to Siachen is of immense importance. This tour also plays well with the BJP’s narrative of showcasing its commitment to the national cause,” Commodore C Uday Bhaskar, Director, Society for Policy Studies, told HT. Top sources added the trip was not a one-off event but Modi was likely to spend holidays with the army in future.

“It further showcases his government dedication and re-establishes India’s authority over the entire area,” said an official.

-Hindustan Times

401 Lok Sabha MPs Yet to Declare Assets Details NEW DELHI (IE): Over 400 incumbent Lok Sabha members including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Lal Krishna Advani and Rajnath Singh have not yet declared their assets and liability details, according to an RTI reply.

Lok Sabha Secretariat said in an RTI query said the assets details of 401 members of Lok Sabha are still awaited.

According to the Members of the Lok Sabha Declaration of Assets Rules 2004, a member is supposed to declare his assets within 90 days of taking oath.

The Lok Sabha MPs who have not yet submitted the assets and liabil-

ity details include Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj, Uma Bharti, Nitin Gadkari, and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Lok Sabha Secretariat said no communication in this regard was sent to the members until September 26, when the RTI was received.

According to the RTI reply, there are 209 BJP MPs who have not yet submitted their details. There are 31 members from Congress, 27 from TMC, 18 from BJD, 15 from Shiv Sena, 14 from TDP, 9 fromAIADMK and 8 from TRS. 7 members are from YSR Congress, 6 from Lok Janshakti Party and 4 from NCP, CPI (M) and SP each, 3 members from Akali Dal,

Lok Sabha Secretariat said in an RTI query said the assets details of 401 members of Lok Sabha are still awaited.

RJD, and AAP each, and 2 each from JD(U) and Apna Dal. Action against the members who have not submitted their asset de-

tails are taken under the Assets and Liability Declaration Rules 2004, Provisions 5 and 6, and the Representation of the People Act 1951,

Section 75 (A).

OtherMPswhohavenotyetsubmitted their details include Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, Radha Mohan Singh, Anant Geete, Anant Kumar, Ramvilas Paswan, Capt Amarinder Singh, Veerappa Moily, Mehbooba Mufti, Upendra Kushwaha, Kiren Rijiju and Supriya Sule.

The members also include Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, Kalyan Banerjee, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Arjun Charan Sethi. Yogi Adityanath, S S Ahluwalia, Meenakshi Lekhi, Vinod Khanna, Kirron Kher, Hema Malini, Paresh Rawal, Ramesh

Two Injured in Hyderabad After PTI, PPP Clashes

BY MOHAMMAD HUSSAIN KHAN HYDERABAD: A Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) office in Latifabad was ransacked while aerial firing injured two Insaf Students Federation (ISF) activists, on Sunday night.

Reports said that unidentified persons ransacked a PTI office in G.O.R colony and beat ISF district president Umair Shaikh.

According to PTI Hyderabad district president Dr Mustansir Billa, the attackers belonged to the Pakistan People Party (PPP).

He said that party activists burned tyres on the road in protest, while another group of PPP activists arrived at the scene and resorted to firing.

He said two activists received injuries and have been shifted to Bhittai Hospital. He said that the police

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arrived at scene after a delay of one hour.

Meanwhile, around 80 to 100 PPP activists burned an effigy of PTI Chairman Imran Khan outside the local press club and raised slogans against him.

The PPP’s protest followed an incident in London where PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was interrupted during his speech while he

was addressing a Kashmir million march rally.

According to PPP Senator Saeed Ghani, who is in-charge PPP Sindh Media Cell, the PTI activists along with some Indians had first tried to restrain the PPP chairman from making a speech in the march.

He said the miscreants threw some objects and plastic bottles at Bilawal as well. He added that they used ob-

jectionable language and then kept interrupting the PPP chairman.

He said that it was highly condemnable as the PPP chairman was raising the Kashmir issue when PTI activists resorted to such tactics. He added that London police then escorted Bilawal safely from the venue.

Bilawal’s younger sister Assefa tweeted after the incident: -Dawn.com

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