Friday, November 24, 2023 | Vol. 42, No. 47
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November 24, 2023
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Indo American News
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Capitol Hill Diwali Celebration with BAPS, Community
Music for Animals
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Diwali @ Pin Oak
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‘Apurva’ Movie: Shocks
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Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) (right), Dan Meuser (PA-9) (center right), Representative Shri Thanedar (MI-13) (center left) and Asian American Hotel Owners Association President Bharat Patel (left) light the diya.
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WEDDINGS, SPECIAL EVENTS, TENTED EVENTS, OUTDOOR COURTYARD
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COMMUNITY
November 24, 2023
Capitol Hill Diwali Celebration with BAPS, Indo-American Community
Washington DC: BAPS Public Affairs and multiple partner organizations, including the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur, Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA), the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the U.S. Indian Community Foundation, the U.S. India Security Council Inc, and the Indian American Relations Council convened on Capitol Hill to celebrate Diwali. Over 300 members of the Indian American community from across the United States gathered at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, joining members of Congress in the celebration. Senators and U.S. Representatives that attended the celebration included Sen. Cynthia Lummis (Wyoming), Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02), Rep. Scott Perry (PA10), Rep. Brad Sherman (CA32), Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL13), Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA08), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Rep.
Shri Thanedar tions and cel(MI-13), Rep. ebrations, like Dan Meuser Diwali, in pro(PA-09), Rep. moting a deeper Brian K. Fitzunderstanding, patrick (PA-01), fortifying comRep. Darin Lamunity strength, Hood (IL-16), and building Rep. Donald connections Norcross (NJamong diverse 01), Rep. Steny populations. Hoyer (MD-5), Indian-AmerRep. Maxwell ican CongressFrost (FL-10), man Ro Khanna and Ohio State Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) addresses the audience at the joined in the Senator Niraj Capitol Diwali gathering. diya lighting Antani. Also in and shared his attendance were Roberts Peckar, traditional lamps to illuminate remarks on Diwali, “The prinMember of the Board of Gov- homes, prepare delicious meals, ciples of Diwali - the triumph ernors of the American Jewish and pray for wisdom and pros- of good over evil, the triumph Committee, and Shri Jag Mohan, perity. Diwali not only fosters a of righteousness, the importance Minister of Community & Per- sense of togetherness and grati- of doing your duty - are good retude but also showcases the rich minders to people of all faiths.” sonnel at the Embassy of India. Diwali, also known as the Fes- cultural diversity and traditions “Celebration of this festival on tival of Lights, is a vibrant cele- that make it a cherished holiday Capitol Hill is not only a testabration widely observed in India for millions of people around the ment to the diversity and unity by Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Bud- world. within our communities but it is Elected representatives present also an opportunity to showcase dhist communities around the world. This festival symbolizes at the celebration passionately the strength that comes from the triumph of good over evil, emphasized the vital role of di- cultural preservation and underlight over darkness and knowl- versity in their constituencies. standing of the various commuedge over ignorance. Diwali is They underscored the profound nities,” shared Shri Jag Mohan in celebrated by lighting diyas, or impact of sharing cultural tradi- his address to the assembly.
Suhag Shukla, Executive Director of the Hindu American Foundation shared, “Diwali is a time to reflect on the good that is within each of us and to let its light shine through, allowing us to transcend our differences big and small, to alleviate the suffering of others, and to act with wisdom so that we can overcome the darkness of greed, hate, and violence.” “May the festival of lights inspire us to lift our communities with hope instead of despair and stand up for what’s right. That’s what Diwali is all about,” remarked Rep. Jim Costa on the celebration. The event was a unifying opportunity to celebrate Diwali in the nation’s capital, where attendees had the chance to reflect on the universal messages of Diwali, while also increasing awareness about the Indian American community and interfaith harmony. Additionally, attendees had valuable interactions with representatives on Capitol Hill, enhancing the event’s impact and significance.
Vibrant Dipavali Puja Celebrations at Chinmaya Mission Houston
Photos by Ashutosh Kak
On this Sacred day of Deepavali (Diwali) at dusk when darkness intensifies, all homes are illumined by lights, tiny mud pots with oil wicks. I appeal that this day is a day of prayer and expression of love. Get out of your homes in the evening, and embrace every other individual in society not because they are Hindus but, because they too are small flames of the same light Divine. This Pure Divine light can impart a joyous sense of perfection in the ways of men & women. Diwali is a day dedicated to inner purity and noble character. – Swami Chinmayananda By Ujwala Bhat Houston: On November 12, Chinmaya Mission Houston (CMH) hosted a grand puja celebration of
the Dipavali festival. Dipavali, the festival of lights is the most jubilantly celebrated festival among Indians all over the world. Deepavali, often known as Diwali, has significant stories associated with the festival. When Bhagavan Krishna vanquished Narakasura and freed his imprisoned devotees, the gopis celebrated that victory with diyas lit in their homes. The great occasion of Lord Rama returning to Ayodhya with Mother Sita and Lakshmana after putting an end to Ravana’s evil deeds is also celebrated with rows of light, most joyously as Dipavali. The victory of the Lord over negative forces indicates that this victory must be gained within us. Within us, we are always confront-
ing the tension between the noble aspirations and ideals and the pull of greed and passions. This constant struggle between the assets and liabilities at our psychological level must, by His Grace, result in a victory over the negative forces, because our mind is turned toward something Higher. In his Dipavali address to the community, Pujya Gaurang Nanavaty, the Acarya of CMH, referred to this as “taking stock of our assets” as the year ends. He reminded the audience that the goal must be to increase spiritual and noble assets. At Chinmaya Mission Houston, continuing the tradition of prayers, the annual Dipavali puja was celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm. The members of Chinmaya Mission gathered with all their families in the Smrti Hall
and performed the Lakshmi Puja under the guidance of Shri Ganesh Satyanarayana, the priest of Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya. Against the exquisite backdrop of the idols of Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Rama, and Mother Sita, priest Ganeshji led the puja with the collective chanting of Sri Lakshmi Ashtotthara Namavali and Visnu Sahasranama. Children and adults participated in the puja with great devotion. It was a sight to behold multiple generations pray together, soaking in the divine atmosphere. Dipavali in Chinmaya Mission Houston is also a time for the important ceremony of Guru Daksina. Hundreds of families lined up to offer their love and respects to Acarya Gaurang Nanavaty and Acarya Darshana Nanavaty for their guidance
Indo-American News • Friday, november 24, 2023 • www.indoamerican-news
for over four decades. They conveyed their gratitude to the Chinmaya Guru Parampara and pledged to support the great seva that has made Chinmaya Prabha Houston a glorious center of Chinmaya Mission. Several teams of volunteers, under the guidance of Acarya Gaurang Uncle and Acarya Darshana Aunty strive to keep the rich Indian traditions flourishing as they pass on the valuable knowledge of Hindu scriptures to the coming generations. For more information about Chinmaya Mission Houston, Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya and its activities please visit www.chinmayahouston.org, www.saumyakasi.org or call temple 281 568 1690 or Jay Deshmukh 832 541 0059 or Bharati Sutaria 281-933-0233
November 24, 2023
713-789-6397 Indo-American News • Friday, november 24, 2023• www.indoamerican-news.com
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COMMUNITY
Two Muslim Students from India Brutally Stabbed: Hate Crime? By Sunita Sohrabji
Fremont, California — Two Muslim students from the South Indian state of Telangana, were stabbed multiple times, police announced Nov. 20. In interviews with Ethnic Media Services, one of the victims, his brother-in-law, and the brother of a second victim all said they believe the brutal attacks are hate crimes. The Council on American-Islamic Relations says it has received 1,283 requests for help and reports of bias since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, a rise of 216%. Fremont police have charged suspect Miguel Angel Villareal, 28, with one count of attempted 1st degree murder. The case has been presented to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. Villareal was booked into Santa Rita Jail Nov. 18, and is being held without bail. He will be arraigned Nov. 22. Villareal has not been charged with a hate crime. In a press statement, Fremont police said they are still investigating the suspect’s motive for the stabbings. In a tearful interview at his home here, Shadan Syed, 24, told EMS he had come to the US just three months earlier to pursue his Masters degree in engineering. “The US is a land of opportunity and prosperity. I had hoped for great things here,” he said. On Nov. 17, Syed, and his cous-
cating when he is in pain. Arfat Yafai has not yet told his mother and father in India about the stabbing, fearing that the shock will be too much for them. He is trying to get them visitors’ visas to the US so that they can see their son and aid in his recovery. With EMS’s assistance, Arfat and community activist Mateen Syed have connected with California Stabbing victim Khalid Yafai has been on a ventilator since Nov. 17, unable Rep. Ro Khanna’s office, to breathe on his own after an attack in Fremont, CA. Doctors say it will take in an attempt to expedite months for the student from India to fully recover. (photo courtesy of Arfat the visa process, which Yafai) will be handled by the US Consulate in Hyderabad. in Khalid Yafai, and their friend Syed and Yafai were transported Shadan and Junaid Syed, Arfat Sufiyan Mohammad were at the to the San Jose Regional Medical Yafai, and Mohammad want FreFremont Hub, a busy town attrac- Center’s Trauma Unit. Syed, who mont police to investigate the case tion with lots of restaurants and was stabbed in the chest, was treat- as a hate crime. “What other exshops. Suddenly, a man came out ed for his wounds and released. He planation could there be?” queried of nowhere, Syed said. “He came identified the suspect through a se- Arfat Yafai, noting that his brother in front of me. I thought he was ries of photos police showed him. wears a full beard, clearly identigoing to punch me, but he stabbed Yafai — who was stabbed in the fying him as Muslim. “There were me.” neck, and on both sides of his back so many people at the Hub that “He was silent as he stabbed as he attempted to flee from his at- afternoon, but this man went after me. He didn’t say anything,” said tacker — was placed on a ventila- my brother and Shadan. Why else Syed, adding that he had seen the tor, as he is incapable of breathing would he target them?” suspect on at least three occasions by himself. He has since under“My brother’s wounds will previously. Syed managed to flee gone three surgeries. His brother, eventually heal, but the trauma his attacker, and ran into a store. Arfat Yafai, told EMS that Khalid will remain for a very long time,” He found Yafai on the ground in would spend at least one more said Arfat Yafai. “Even when his a pool of blood. Mohammad, who week at the hospital. Doctors have stitches are removed, the marks was inside another store, heard told him that it will take several will remain, and remind him of shouts and ran over to his friends’ months for Khalid to fully recover. what he has gone through.” side. He called Syed’s brother-in- The 24-year-old can only speak Shadan Syed said he has been law Junaid, and 911. through small hand gestures, indi- unable to sleep since the attack.
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Despite painkillers, he still lives with a great deal of physical and emotional pain, with nightmares of the stabbing haunting him. Fremont City Councilman Raj Salwan, who worked with Fremont Police Chief Sean Washington to expedite the case, told EMS it is unlikely that Villareal will be charged with a hate crime. “This is a case involving a severely mentally ill man,” he said, adding that California and Alameda County must devote more resources to treating mentally ill residents. To convict someone of a hate crime, the offense must be motivated, in part, by a perpetrator’s intolerance against someone’s race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity, notes the FBI on its website. In clear-cut cases, the attacker might shout out disparaging language during the crime. However, bias-related crimes are rarely clear-cut. Community activist Mateen Syed told EMS he has lived in Fremont for several years, and has raised his family here. But, added Syed, the Muslim American community is currently living under the specter of fear. “We are very disheartened to hear that two young students who came to the US to study were stabbed. We must address the root cause of why this has happened,” he said. -- Ethnic Media Services
COMMUNITY
November 24, 2023
Soothing Shelter Animals through Music
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Fifth Grader Spearheads $8,500 Fundraiser for Houston Pets Alive! Through His Unique Program, Wild Tunes
Performers with emcee Zachery Lashway, anchor for KPRC-TV Channel 2.
Houston: More than 125 animal lovers and welfare advocates of all ages and ethnic backgrounds gathered on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Resurrection MCC in the Heights for the first-ever Wild Tunes concert – “Melodies of Gratitude” to raise awareness money and awareness for shelter animals at Houston Pets Alive! (HPA!). Wild Tunes, a one-of-a-kind initiative launched by Houston area 10-year-old Yuvaanh “Yuvi” Agarwal, aims to soothe shelter animals through music. In total, the inaugural concert raised over $8,500 for HPA. HPA will use the funds to improve the lives of shelter dogs and cats under the care of HPA as they await their forever homes. “We are immensely grateful to the animal advocacy community,
including HPA, for embracing the concept of Wild Tunes and seeing its value in helping shelter animals readjust to humans, increasing their chances of fostering and adoption,” said Priyanka Agarwal, Yuvi’s mother, and director of Wild Tunes. “The concert was just one way of showing our support for the lifesaving work they do daily to better the lives of homeless animals across the greater Houston area.” The line-up of performers represented a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds and ranged in age from 7 to 70, illustrating that animal welfare is a universal topic that many are passionate about. From a harpist and a flutist to a children’s rock band and contemporary dance school, to vocalists, pianists, and string instrumen-
talists, “Melodies of Gratitude” showcased a variety of talented musicians, all of whom possess a heart for animals and their wellbeing. Zachery Lashway, anchor for KPRC-TV Channel 2, served as the event emcee. Performers at the concert included: Robbie Li and Jane Lu – a charismatic teacher-student duo of award-winning vocalist, Mark Brown – multi-instrumentalist, author, and teacher, The Twilight Zone Quartet – a group of talented, classically trained professionals on string instruments, School of Rock, Memorial – a multi-instrument music school for all skill levels, ages, and musical aspirations, Nritya Kalpna – a contemporary dance school , Rohan Agrawal – sixth grader and pianist, Aaheli Das – eighth grader
Zach with the Agarwal family
and pianist, Lily Primus – Houston-based award-winning harpist, Zaiden Carrego – eighth grader and flutist. “You all did a fabulous job! Yuvi’s light shone brightly and there was so much talent and kindness for all to see and enjoy. It was an impressive display of talent for a very worthy cause,” said Tammy Thigpen, one of the concert attendees. Wild Tunes is especially grateful for various businesses throughout the area that sponsored door prizes and refreshments, including – Raising Cane’s, Kroger, Escalante’s -Town and Country, Dogtopia -Memorial, Burger Joint, Buffalo Wild Wings, School of Rock- Memorial, Rover Oaks Pet Resort, and Hey Day River Oaks. “HPA! is grateful to Yuvi and
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his family for introducing us to Wild Tunes and how it benefits the animals under our care,” said Noelle Delago, executive director of HPA. “The program is a great mechanism for bringing us additional volunteers – people might not otherwise get involved in our cause.” Wild Tunes plans to perform future concerts in the coming years as it expands its footprint to other animal shelters. “Since starting Wild Tunes this past spring, we’ve received a great response from shelters in Houston and nationwide. We look forward to seeing where Wild Tunes goes and its positive impact on animals’ lives,” said Agarwal. For more information, including how to donate and get involved, visit www.wildtunes.org.
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SPORTS
November 24, 2023
‘Keep your spirits up, India is with You’: Kapil Dev’s Special Message
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New Delhi: In a heartening show of support, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev lauded the current skipper Rohit Sharma, encouraging him to maintain high spirits amid the ongoing World Cup. Opting to bat in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Rohit propelled India to a dynamic start with his explosive innings, contributing 47 runs off 31 balls. However, Rohit’s time on the field was curtailed by Maxwell’s deceptive spin and an exceptional catch by Travis Head. Following his departure, the free-flowing boundaries that characterised the initial phase of the innings became scarce, as the remaining batters grappled to locate the fence. Despite this setback, Kapil’s words of encouragement serve as a reminder that the entire nation stands behind Rohit, emphasising the collective support for the Indian team in their pursuit of victory. Kapil took to Instagram to praise the Indian skipper and motivate him to look forward to the future that lies ahead of him. “You’ve played like champions boys. Keep your chin up. The trophy was the ultimate in your minds but you’ve emerged winners nonetheless. India is proud of you,” Kapil wrote. “Rohit, you are a master at what you do. You have a lot of success awaiting you. It’s tough I know but keep your spirits up. India is with you,” he further added in his Instagram story. After the match, Rohit didn’t hold back while reflecting on the game and admitted that they didn’t
play their best cricket. “The result has not gone our way. We were not good enough today. We tried everything we could but I feel wicket got slightly better to bat under lights. Don’t want to give that as an excuse. We knew under lights it would be slightly better to bat, but don’t want to give that as an excuse. We didn’t put enough runs on the board. With the seamers upfront, we took those 3 wickets and another wicket there, we could open up the game. Credit to those two guys in the middle for stitching an outstanding partnership,” Rohit said after the match. Coming to the match, India were bundled out on a score of 240 in 50 overs. On a tough batting surface, skipper Rohit Sharma (47 in 31 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes), Virat Kohli (54 in 63 balls, with four boundaries) and KL Rahul (66 in 107 balls, with one four) posted important knocks. Mitchell Starc (3/55) was the pick of the bowlers for Australia. Skipper Pat Cummins (2/34) and Josh Hazlewood (2/60) also bowled well. Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell got a wicket each. While chasing 241, India had the Aussies down at 47/3. Knocks from Travis Head (137 in 120 balls, with 15 fours and four sixes) and Marnus Labuschagne (58 in 110 balls, with four boundaries) left the Indian team without answers and guided them to a sixwicket win. The World Cup finalists will now compete in a five-match T20I series which will begin on Thursday in Visakhapatnam. -- Times of India
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November 24, 2023
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Indo American News Founder: Dr. K.L. Sindwani Publisher: Jawahar Malhotra Editor: Pramod Kulkarni Correspondent: Sanchali Basu ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. Deadline for advertising and articles is 4 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 212, Houston, Texas 77036.Tel:713-789-6397, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: www.indoamerican-news.com
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BUSINESS/COMMUNITY
November 24, 2023
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TiE Houston Features Tech Pioneer Sabeer Bhatia, AI Innovations
Houston: TiE Houston leveraged the power of the global TiE network by hosting invited keynote speaker Sabeer Bhatia, the founder of Hotmail at the Junior League of Houston on Nov 2, bringing together 150 entrepreneurs, students, technology enthusiasts, and business leaders. Bhatia spoke about how the themes of education, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence have intertwined throughout his entrepreneurial career, culminating in his latest venture, ShowReel, an AI-driven platform designed to educate the masses. The event also featured Riaz Siddiqi, Chairman of Clovis Point Capital and Epochal Technologies and Founder of Denham Capital, who opened the evening with remarks on the adverse impact of emerging artificial intelligence applications on macroeconomic and geopolitical risk. The event was well-received by event guests. Commented Nishad Mehta, Owner of Avnee L.P, a Table Sponsor, and also a TiE Houston Board and Charter Member: “TiE Houston has been Houston’s best-kept secret, but that is changing, and it’s all thanks to incredible events like the one on November 2nd. Sabeer Bhatia’s captivating insights into the birth of Hotmail and his cutting-edge AI venture, ShowReel, inspired us. The event’s flawless execution made it one for the books, perhaps the best in TiE Houston’s history during my tenure. I wholeheartedly extend my invitation to business professionals from all fields: become a part of TiE Houston and witness the incredible benefits it offers in mentoring, networking, education, and investment opportunities further leveraged by access to TiE Global. This secret is now too good to keep!” BioNRG sponsored a table at the event and had guests from all different industries attend to allow for diverse conversation. “I realize I am pigeonholed when I attend events such as these. It is inspiring to be in a room full of accomplished people and hear their entrepreneurial journey” says BioNRG guest within Real Estate Finance. “There is always a nugget, a takeaway that is relatable to your industry, listening to leaders such as Sabeer makes it more tangible”
TiE Houston President Dr. Ram Shenoy, with Guest Speaker Riaz Siddiqui, Past-President Aruna Viswanathan and Keynote Speaker Sabeer Bhatia
said another guest at the table who belongs to the management consulting industry. BioNRG sponsored a table at the event and had guests from all different industries attend to allow for diverse conversation. “Truly an amazing event with Sabeer Bhatia as the keynote speaker giving his insight about how his passion, vision and thinking out of the box enabled him to come up with the “hotmail” idea and how it inspired him with his new startup “ShowReels” - very enlightening and enchanting evening.” said Ash Shah, founder & Chaiman of Impex Capital Group. “I had the privilege of attending my first TiE Global event, and I was captivated by the incredible mix of talent, the profound expertise and accomplishments of our keynote speaker, and the timeliness of the discussions surrounding today’s most critical issues. Moreover, the engaging conversations and connections forged in the room and the dinner table were an invaluable addition, offering the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogues with seasoned experts and visionary leaders. The event exuded an electrifying energy, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next one” said Ishan Prakash, Manager at Metis Strategy. Dr. Muddasir Siddiqi, President of the Central Campus of Houston Community College, and a corporate member of TiE Houston, commented: “Nearly two decades ago, I marked my journey into the
digital world by creating my email account on Hotmail.com. Just yesterday, I had the delightful opportunity to meet Sabeer Bhatia, the visionary behind Hotmail. I am grateful to TiE Houston for organizing an inspiring meeting of influential individuals and aspiring minds in our city.” A Houston Community College
student said, “It was an amazing evening at the TiE Houston Event, and what made it even better was the chance to meet so many amazing people, including Sabeer Bhatia. Listening to him talk and learning from his experiences are invaluable information I am taking from this event as a college student. Also, the food was 100%
good.” One hundred fifty event guests met with leaders in technology and business, exchanging ideas and exploring the potential for innovation and growth in various sectors. TiE Houston looks forward to hosting many more engaging and enlightening events, further fostering entrepreneurship and technological advancements in the City of Houston. TiE Houston would like to acknowledge the support of: Table sponsors: AlphaX Decision Sciences Inc, Apex Resources Inc, Avnee L.P., JDI Ventures, and Zentech, USA Corporate Sponsors and Corporate Members: Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures Inc, Eunike Ventures, Houston Community College, and RW Baird Community Partners: The IndoAmerican Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston, Houston Angel Network, Rice Alliance, and OPEN Houston For more information on TiE Houston and upcoming events, please visit houston.tie.org.
Texas Gaushala Hosts Govardhan Pooja
Cypress: On November 18, Texas Gaushala joyously observed the festivities of Govardhan Pooja and Gopa Ashtami. Govardhan Pooja commemorates the moment when Krishna, in safeguarding the Cows and Gopalas of Nandgaon, lifted the Govardhan hill. Gopa Ashtami, on the other hand, marks the occasion when Krishna led the cows for grazing. Dedicated volunteers at Gaushala under the leadership of Nilesh Goswami worked diligently for approximately three days to gather cow dung (Gobar) and meticu-
lously arranged a depiction featuring Krishna, Govardhan hill, and a special cow, symbolizing Sulakshana attentively observing Krishna’s idol. This intricate arrangement was crafted entirely from Gobar (cow dung cakes) and adorned with various ornaments. The ceremonial proceedings commenced with Ganapathi Puja, followed by Shodasha Upachara Puja for Krishna. The rituals included Gau Puja, Tulasi Puja, cow Parikrama, and Govardhan Parikrama. Aparna Ganti and her students rendered beautiful musi-
Indo-American News • Friday, november 24, 2023• www.indoamerican-news.com
cal performances, offering their Sangeeta Seva to Krishna. The divine gathering concluded with a volunteer-prepared Aanakut prasad (kadhi , bajra, khichdi kheer , mix veg Annkut vegetable , poori and other delicacies), bringing a sublime conclusion to the event in the midst of cows, creating a truly enchanting experience. For more information on upcoming events, follow us on facebook at the link below: https://www.facebook.com/TexasGaushala/
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EDUCATION
Pin Oak Middle School’s Hindi Club Celebrates its First Diwali Program
Pin Oak Hindi Club students in their Diwali finery.
Houston: USA’s first Hindi and Culture of India department and its Hindi club at theplatinum rated Pin Oak Middle School celebrate first Diwali (festival of lights) program in style in the school’s auditorium. Huge crowd of students, their parents and Indian community leaders of Houston, including ABC news reporter Pooja Lodhiya, were in attendance. This program was organized and presented by middle school students under the leadership of Hindi clubpresident Anisa Sinha. Other officers Lily, Naina, Farhana and Arnavi did a wonderful job of taking care of every detail of the program from creating brochure to certificates, directing and choreographing dances and beingthe master of ceremony. Samar Haque sang the US national anthem and Arnavi Dua sang Bharat’s national Anthem and she also gave a talk on Diwali as well as performed in a Bollywood dance. Janki Pathak, Mythili and Simran Ramchandani performed classical dances related to the festival. A beautiful Indian classical dance in Odissi dance style was performed by a senior at Carnegie Vanguard High School, Nidhi Gupta. Hindi Club students presented several Bollywood dances and the Garba as the concluding performance with the participation of the audience. School’s Dance Company students presented a fabulous Bollywood dance. Students and parents under the leadership of Mrs. Pranika Sinha beautifully decorated the place and provided several Diwali related games, diya painting and books on Hindu religion were also displayed. Henaa art was a big attraction among all kids, teachers and parents. No Indian festival is complete without delicious Indian food and there was plenty of it enjoyed by everyone at the end of the show. All of this was possible because of the support from a number of parent sponsorships. Diwali and Holi are India’s largest celebrated festivals in the world but the most remarkable thing is that there is only one middle school in the USA, where 6,7 and 8 graders from every ethnicity celebrated a grand Diwali. For Advertising in Indo-American News, call Jawahar Malhotra @
713-789-6397
Pushpa Prakash, Arun Prakash with Pin Oak principal Ms. Lindsey Vela
HINDU WORSHIP SOCIETY invites devotees to attend the
Mata Ji Ki Chowki Monday, January 1, 2024 PATRONS
Dr. Durga & Sushila Aggarwal Family Devki & Kirti Aggarwal Family Pushpa & Viki Kapoor Family Rita & Bal Sareen Family
Puja 4:30 pm Bhajans 8:30 pm SPONSORS Aarti 9 pm Aruna & Ravi Goel Family
Shanta Chawla and family Raj Khosla Family Dr. Kaushal & Meena Gupta Family Meera Soni Family Shakun Parti Family Amy & Lovekesh Sareen Family Dinesh & Sangeeta Sareen family
performed by
BALRAM & SHEEL THAKRAL accompanied by devotees
ISHWER BHAI, RISHAB LAMSEL & others
To become a PATRON or SPONSOR, contact: PANDIT JI 832-278-0100
in association with SHRI SITA RAM FOUNDATION
Ramcharitmanas 24-hr Recital
CELEBRATING THE GLORY OF LORD RAM at same time as
Pran Pratiksha
is live streamed from Ayodhya, while HWS devotees have prasad
Puja & Reciting
Saturday, Jan 20, 6:30pm till Sunday, Jan 21, 7:15pm followed by a Small Cultural Program, Bhajans & Aarti, 7:30 pm
PATRONS Dr Arun & Vinnie Varma; Bal & Rita Sareen; Dr. Durga & Sushila Aggarwal; Jugal & Raj Malani
SPONSORS Mohini Vashist; Baru & Prem Goyal Family
FOR INFORMATION, CALL PANDIT BHAWANI SHANKAR SHASTRI 832-278-0100
2223 Wirtcrest Ln., Houston, TX 77055
www.hwstemple.org • hws.temple@gmail.com • Facebook: @hwstemple Indo-American News • Friday, november 24, 2023 • www.indoamerican-news
November 24, 2023 11
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Apurva’: Hostage Drama that Thrills, Shocks
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Kumud Athavale, Krishna R. Vuddagiri, Sanchali Basu, Prabha Barvalia, Ramana Vadrevu, KB Amarnath, Pruthvi Seth, K.S.Balasubramanyam, Sahiti Palle, Rekha Trivedi, Sunil Sharma, Yudhveer Bagga, Rekha Trivedi, Taranjit Singh
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Last Week’s Solution
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and Aaditya Gupta also stand their might against these powerhouse of talent. Last but not least is Tara Sutaria, who impresses as an ordinary girl taking on the monsters. She is outstanding in every scene of struggle, and does justice to her character arc. If you are looking for a movie that thrills, shocks, and makes you hold your breath, this one’s definitely for you as it ticks all these boxes. Watch out for the ultimate face-off between Apurva and one of the antagonists! -- Times of India
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Apurva story: A young woman en route to Agra from Gwalior is taken hostage by four dreaded criminals. This is the story of her fight to survive. Review: Road survival movies are a combination of thrill, crime, drama, and action, keeping you on the edge of your seats. One can guess where the story is headed, but the appeal lies in the journey and not the destination, that is, how the filmmakers will arrive at the resolution. In this regard, writer-director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat and Director of Photography Anshuman Mahaley have a winner at hand. The duo has created a tale that will keep you on the edge of your seats and gasping at every turn. This is further enhanced by the film’s treatment and derelict location. The set-up is the ruins of a deserted village in Madhya Pradesh, where you can disappear without a trace with no sign of life in sight. Apurva (Tara Sutaria) is held hostage here by a group of four bandits so dreaded they can kill someone at the drop of a hat. It begins when the driver of the bus the young woman is on refuses to let the culprits overtake him. As they plunder the vehicle, she invites their anger for trying to get help. These criminals include Jugnu (Rajpal Yadav), who doesn’t flinch from pulling the trigger or breaking skulls when enraged, Sukha (Abhishek Banerjee), Balli (Sumit Gulati), Kaushika Shah and Chhote (Aaditya Gupta), all as abomiLicensed Sales Agent nable as the other. And against them is a simple 832-282-3515, TTY 711 and delicate girl scared for her life. While the events give a frightful glimpse of how abhorrent the Y0066_23SPRJ55188_C criminals are, in a few
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instances, one feels the violence could have been dialled down a notch while still being impactful. Occasionally, it feels a tad overindulgent and stretched, although that makes Apurva’s fight that much grittier. The protagonist’s backstory brings some respite from the bloodbath, but a more compelling track would have elevated the overall narrative. However, Ketan Sodha’s background score adds to the layer of drama here. The genre also demands the actors to be on the top of their game, to pull off a gamut of emotions and reactions convincingly. This is another winsome aspect of the movie. We have seen Rajpal Yadav in the funniest and goofiest avatars, but this time, he pulls all the stops in being menacing, and is quite a revelation. The actor is joined by Abhishek Banerjee, whom one has seen as a baddie in Aaji and the psychotic Hathoda in Patal Lok, but he has also made a name for himself in comedy capers such as Stree. Sumit Gulati
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By Dhaval Roy
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Solution Next Week
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