Saathee Charlotte January 2015 by Shukla Entertainment

saathee.com

January 2015

In this issue: Public Kissing in India Climate Change and the end of Chocolate?

page 62

page 14

January 2015 Issue # 201 Editor

page 8 page 26

Public Kissing Becoming a Movement

EU Promises Huge Trains Hauling Is the End of Reduction in Crude Oil Pose Chocolate Carbon Big Dangers Inevitable? Emissions

HEllO REaDERs! Happy New Year! As we begin the middle of the second decade of the century, changes are in the air in India and our adopted homeland, the United States. India is working to implement much change to improve the lives of its citizens as well as the country’s place of prominence in the world. The United States is now on a new political path as Republicans take over both houses and the race for the next President kicks off in high gear. Rely on Saathee to keep you informed with the unfolding stories of both countries. We welcome all readers' comments, suggestions and critiques to help make the community's information source better. Catch up on what the city and regional community organizations are up to in our Community Organizations section pg. 88. Upcoming festivals and holidays are listed on pg. 118. Get daily updates about our community as well as news and videos at saathee.com Until next month, we will see you online.

QUOTE: "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

In THIs IssUE

Samir Shukla (saatheemag@hotmail.com)

Publisher Divakar Shukla (rakavid@aol.com)

Ad Design / Layout Nageshwar “Nate” Andrews

Executive Assistant Suzie Tanis

Public Kissing in India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 08

Contributors:

EU Reducing Carbom Emissions . . . . . .pg. 14

Kirit Shukla, Judith L. Bergman, Gail Z. Martin, Neal Patel, Dr. Maha Gingrich, Shakti Ganapati Subramanian, Balaji Prasad, Dr. Jayant Mehta and Jalendu Vaidya.

Upcoming Movie Releases . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 18 Film Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 20 Sangeet and Evergreen Film Lyrics . . . .pg. 24 Crude Oil Train Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 26 Noise Bliss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 32 Behind the Congressional Curtain . . . .pg. 40 Children’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 44 Mastering Meaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 46 Marketing Turnaround . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 50 Thinking About Thinking . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 52 The Chai Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 54 Test your India Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 60 End of Chocolate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 62 News Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 70 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 80 Community Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 82 Community Organizations . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 88 Pop’s Puzzles and Jokes . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 116 FYI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 118

All contents © 2015 Shukla Entertainment, Inc. Opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily of the publisher or editor. Please contact us prior to submitting articles or photographs. Saathee is published monthly. Deadlines for advertisement, submissions and events information is 15th of the month. For a free subscription, visit Saathee.com and click the “about” button. Mission: Our goal is to be a valuable source of information for the South Asian community and to be a vital advertising tool for businesses.

Festivals and Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 118 Puzzle Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 118 AstroScope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 120 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 122 Index of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 124

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In India,

Public Kissing is becoming a national movement Protesters who gather to kiss have been arrested, tear-gassed and assaulted with rods. Still, they keep kissing.

of the movement’s Facebook page along with Farmis Hashim. “We didn’t think the page would get more than 200 likes.” By the time Pasupalar woke up the next morning, the Kiss of Love Facebook page had over 1,000 likes. Within two days, that number had increased ten-fold. In early November, more than 10,000 people gathered on Marine Drive in Kochi, but according to Pasupalar, about 80 percent of the crowd was there to watch. “Kissing and protesting has never happened in India. People had big imaginations; they were climbing up on trees to snap photos.” Still, the Kerala protests gained enough clout to raise national eyebrows. A photo of Pasupalan and his wife Resmi Nair, kissing in the back of a police van after being detained, went viral. Following the protests, 52 Kiss of Love protestors were detained, and roughly 25 hospitalized for minor injuries inflicted by right-wing opposition protesters, who’d arrived equipped with tear gas and iron rods. The Indian Penal Code states that anyone who “does any obscene act in any public place” may be subject to arrest. Police are granted moral authority to intervene. Kissing in public violates this act. According to Kiss of Love activists, the rule is “completely arbitrary.” But according to an official statement released by Kiss of Love’s counter-group

By Maddy Crowell, GlobalPost.com NEW DELHI, India — In India, to kiss openly is considered a public disgrace that can mean jail time. This appeared to be the message conveyed on Oct. 23 by Jai Hind News, a popular local news channel in India’s southern state of Kerala, when it broadcast footage of a couple kissing in an upscale terrace cafe in Calicut. Within an hour of the broadcast, a group of right-wing Hindu fundamentalists entered the cafe with iron rods, smashing windows and upturning furniture. They claimed the cafe endorsed “un-Indian” behavior. Less than a day later, the incident ignited a nationwide movement, city-hopping from Kochi to Hyderabad to Calcutta to Mumbai to Delhi. Known popularly as the “Kiss of Love” campaign, the movement’s message is straightforward: Let’s kiss in public. “We wanted to show how humans express their love. A kiss is a short and sweet expression,” explained Rahul Pasupalar, co-creator Saathee.com

January 2015

Ban Kiss of Love, “There is no ambiguity in IPC/Constitution regarding the public indecency. It’s like, ‘When you are in Rome dress like Romans.’” The debate has morphed into a philosophical one over how to define Indian culture. Hindu nationalists claim kissing in public is a thing exclusively for “Western culture.” (Or as one Facebook commenter wrote: “Filthy western people, where shame exists only in the dictionary.”) Other critics of the movement believe the message is right, but the medium wrong: “It turns full-on PDA into some kind of lodestone of liberation,” wrote journalist Sandip Roy. According to Pankhuri Zaheer, a co-organizer of Kiss of Love’s Delhi chapter, “Indian culture is so many things; making it a monolith is a ridiculous thing in itself.” In its brief existence, the movement made national headlines. Protests in Calcutta, Hyderabad and Mumbai, though weaker in numbers than Kochi, were met with strong, often hostile aggression from right-wing activists. In Hyderabad, 21-year-old Arundhati Naluketi, a Kiss of Life organizer, received so many threatening calls she had to change her phone number. Photos of her kissing at the protest were Photoshopped onto nude bodies and spread on WhatsApp. Others have faced similar threats. “The death threats began before the movement,” explains Pankhuri Zaheer, a co-founder of Kiss of Love’s Delhi chapter. “My phone has not stopped ringing. They say abusive things about my mother, my father, about what they’re going to do to me, how they’re going to f*** me, rape me in the streets.” When the movement reached New Delhi on Nov. 7, it came to a (perhaps inevitable) political head. A handful of Kiss of Love activists, primarily University students, shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and directly targeted the rightwing headquarters of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as their intended grounds for In India, to kiss openly protest. RSS protesters is considered a public charged at Kiss of Love protesters, chanting, disgrace that can “Western culture is degrading mean jail time. Indian culture, Western civilization shall not work!” The crowd moved from outside the Metro station to the streets, blocking traffic for hours as nighttime crept in, and police struggled to contain the movement, detaining 70 Kiss of Love protesters. The number of likes on the Kiss of Love Facebook page is now exceeding 138,000. There are plans to protest in Calicut Dec. 7. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has yet to comment, but an affiliate of Modi’s party gave a statement on its behalf: “Our Indian culture does not permit us displaying such kinds of affection in public spaces.” The kiss is becoming part of a growing trend for activists in conservative countries itching to liberate the public sphere. In 2013, a kiss protest was staged inside a Turkish metro station where Islamist extremists stabbed a protestor. In Morocco, a “kiss-in” was held in Rabat; in Tunisia, activists called for a “national kissing day,” and in Saudi Arabia a “free hug” campaign was immediately shut down. “When I saw photographs from Turkey I thought, okay something like this could happen in Delhi. And I’m hoping that the Delhi photographs will give strength to others,” Zaheer said, adding, “We’re trying to enlarge the vocabulary of protests.” Saathee.com

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The EU’s 28 leaders jointly agreed to slash greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 percent compared with 1990 levels by the year 2030. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy heralded the agreement in a tweet as the world’s “most ambitious, costeffective, fair climate energy policy.” But critics say key parts of the deal — which also includes 27-percent targets for renewable energy use and energy efficiency increases — remain vague or voluntary. Some question whether targets can be met, especially in coaldependent economies such as Poland and the Czech Republic, which have balked at demands to switch to lower-impact energy sources. Concerns have also surfaced about a revision clause that could allow EU leaders to water down the agreement if other major polluters, such as the United States and China, fail to ratify similar targets in Paris this year. Scientists say achieving the goal of limiting the rise in average global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius by 2050 would require an 80 percent cut in emissions. European leaders are only too aware of the uphill political battle President Barack Obama faces attempting to ratify any such treaty in a hostile US Congress. Nevertheless, the mood across the Atlantic remains cautiously upbeat. Joachim Schellnhuber, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, says China’s rapid emergence as the key player in climate talks could help force the US into action. “The world is not looking only to America anymore,” he says. “If China teams up with Europe, that will change the world — and then the Americans will have to jump on the bandwagon.” Harnessing America’s entrepreneurial spirit will probably prove crucial for finding innovative solutions to climate change, Schellnhuber says. But time is running out. “Change is often slow and cumbersome,” he adds, which is why bringing together the “European sense of realism” and the “American go-getter mentality” is critical. “If we keep on living as we are right now, we will deprive our grandchildren of their opportunities. It’s as simple as that.”

Koren Helbig, GlobalPost.com VALENCIA, Spain — Hidde-Jan Lemstra strides onto the stage of a packed auditorium armed with an air of polished confidence and a snappy pitch for four judges. He’s here to sell his idea for the Unprinter, which uses a laser to remove print from paper in minutes, allowing it to be reused. “The Royal Bank of Scotland in 2013 used 550 million sheets of paper,” he tells the crowd. “If you stack those up, that’s almost twice the height of Mount Everest.” His device would reduce that amount considerably. “Next to every printer, there ought to be an Unprinter,” he says. Lemstra is the head of Reduse, a UK clean-tech startup. It’s one of 18 international startups here to compete for cash in the two-day final of the Best Climate Venture 2014 competition, which wrapped up last Friday. The annual event is organized by the nonprofit group Climate-KIC, the European Union’s main climate innovation initiative. Several hours later, Lemstra is back onstage, this time to collect a check for more than $6,000 after the audience votes his project the best. But that’s small change compared to the more than $50,000 handed to the competition’s overall winner aQysta, which is developing a hydro-powered irrigation system. Since launching in 2010, Climate-KIC has dedicated more than $1 billion to climate innovation. The funding followed deals signed with private, public and academic partners and grants from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, an independent EU agency that launched Climate-KIC. Outgoing CEO Mary Ritter says the amount of cash raised reflects a consensus across much of Europe that it will take urgent action to avoid catastrophic environmental disaster. “People in the US are not putting a lot of money into climate change because an awful lot of people there don’t believe in it,” she says. “In contrast, the prevailing belief here is that climate change is anthropogenic, it’s been created by man and it’s pretty urgent that we do something.” In a significant step forward, the EU last month became the first major global emitter to put its position on the table ahead of an important United Nations climate meeting in Paris next year, a follow-up to the failed Copenhagen summit five years ago. Saathee.com

January 2015

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February 6

sharafat Gayi Tel lene (Director: Gurmmet Singh) Cast: Zayed Khan, Tena Desae, Talia Benson, and Rannvijay Singh

Dolly Ki Doli (Director: Abhishek Dogra) Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Pulkit Samrat, and Malaika Arora Khan

Taken 3 (Director: Olivier Megaton) Cast: Famke Janssen, Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, and Forest Whitaker

Rocky Handsome (Director: Nishikant Kamat) Cast: John Abraham shamitabh (Director: R Balki) Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush, Akshara Haasan, and Mahesh Bhatt

Tevar (Director: Shruti Haasan) Cast: Arjun Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Manoj Bajpayee, and Shruti Haasan

February 13

January 16

Patel Ki Punjabi shadi (Director: Sanjay Chhel) Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Vir Das, Prem Chopra, Payal Ghosh, and Jinal Belani

alone (Director: Bhushan Patel) Cast: Karan Singh Grover and Bipasha Basu Broken Horses (Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra) Cast: Vincent Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Onofrio, Christopher Marquette, Anton Yelchin, and Thomas Jane

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy (Director: Dibakar Banerjee) Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Anand Tiwari, and Swastika Mukherjee

Blackhat (Director: Director: Michael Mann) Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis, William Mapother, and Holt McCallany

Roy (Director: Vikramjit Singh) Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Arjun Rampal

Crazy Cukkad Family (Director: Ritesh Menon) Cast: Swanand Kirkire, Shilpa Shukla, Ninad Kamat, Kushal Punjabi, and Kiran Karmarkar

February 20 Badlapur (Director: Sriram Raghavan) Cast: Varun Dhawan, Huma Qureshi, Yaami Gautam, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Vinay Pathak

January 23 Baby (Director: Neeraj Pandey) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Tapsee Pannu, Rana Daggubati, and Anupam Kher

Mastizaade (Director: Milap Zaveri) Cast: Sunny Leone, Tusshar Kapoor, Vir Das, and Milap Zaveri Meeruthiya Gangsters (Director: Zeishan Quadri) Cast: Prashant Tiwari, Prateek Tiwari, and Shoeb Ahmed

Mortdecai (Director: David Koepp) Cast: Johnny Depp, Olivia Munn, Aubrey Plaza, and Ewan McGregor

February 27

Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan (Director: Milan Ajmera) Cast: Jatin Khurana, Om Puri, Prem Chopra, Rati Agnihotri, and Rishi Bhutani

Welcome Back (Director: Anees Bazmee) Cast: John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Shruti Haasan, Sara Loren, and Paresh Rawal

Khamoshiyaan (Director: Karan Dara) Cast: Gurmeet Choudhary, Ali Fazal, and Sapna Pabbi

OMG Oh My God! sequel (Director: Umesh Shukla) Cast: Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar

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actress Richa Chadda’s mentor. Chadda will play a dancer, Sreesanth will represent the role of “Chetta,” which is the Malayalam word for brother. It seems his character which is based in Dubai will enter Richa’s life at a very important point in the film and will lead to an impactful twist. Bhatt says Sreesanth speaks Hindi with a Malayalam accent which will give authenticity to his character since he will play a similar role in the film. The film, directed by Kaustav Narayan Niyogi, will also star Gulshan Devaiah in the lead role and it is slated to go on floor in January.

Film Clips Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan

Shabana Azmi to Feature in British Film on Indian Royalty

The film Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan pays tribute to the life of second Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Renowned theater actor from Bhopal Akhilesh Jain will play the role of Lal Bahadur Shastri. Veteran actors Om Puri, Prem Chopra and Rati Agnihotri will be seen in strong roles of various political leaders. Jatin Khurana is also featured in the film as Chandrashekar Azad. Various actors portray Lal Bahadur Shastri as a child and as a young man. Filmed at various locations in Allahabad, Mumbai and Delhi, the film will release on January 23.

Veteran actress Azmi will star in the film The Black Prince, the biopic on the life of Maharaja Duleep Singh who during the British Raj was taken away from his mother at age of 15 and forcibly brought to Britain where he was converted to Christianity and groomed like a British subject. Sikh historians have regarded Duleep Singh’s story to be emblematic of colonial arrogance and intolerance. The film is directed by the US-based Indian actor-director Kavi Raz in Northamptonshire in England. Azmi told Bollywood Hungama, “Maharani Jinda is the driving-force behind Duleep to return to Punjab and take back his land. He was taken away to England by Queen Victoria and turned into a Christian.” There is no firm release date on the film yet.

Bhushan Kumar’s next Film Titled Nonsense

Sharman Joshi to star in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ishq Uncensored

After exploring romance, action and thrillers, the production house T-Series is embarking on a quirky comedy. Producer Bhushan Kumar has announced that the comedy Nonsense will see the combination of Sharman Joshi, Zarine Khan and Vir Das. Khan plays a journalist while Joshi and Das play NGO workers who unites warring families. Nonsense will be directed by Ashwin Shetty who marks his debut in Hindi film industry has directed several TV commercials.

Sharman Joshi, who was last seen in Super Nani, will now get set for a love story that will be produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The actor will play one of the protagonists in this film which will be revolving around multiple plotlines. The film, Ishq Uncensored, will be directed by Anuradha Tiwari. The supporting cast will soon be finalized and the film will begin shooting in January.

Mortdecai

Juhi Chawla Set to Make Two Films

Mortdecai is an upcoming action comedy film directed by David Koepp and written by Eric Aronson. The film is adapted from the book anthology The Mortdecai Trilogy written by Kyril Bonfiglioli. It stars Johnny Depp in the title role and also features Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany, Olivia Munn and Aubrey Plaza. The film is the third collaboration between Depp and Bettany, following 2014’s Transcendence and 2010’s The Tourist. In the film art dealer Charles Mortdecai (Depp) searches for a stolen painting that’s reportedly linked to a lost bank account filled with Nazi gold. The film releases on January 23.

She received acclaim for her work in Gulaab Gang, now Juhi Chawla is set for her next ventures in Bollywood. First up is a film titled Happy Anniversary, which will be directed by Dinky Mendes. The second film is director Jayant Leeladhar’s Chalk And Duster where she will portray a multi-talented woman. She read the script and immediately decided to do it. The film is about about teachers, the education system and commercialization of the system. Chalk And Duster is also said to star Shabana Azmi and Anupam Kher in prominent roles.

Anil Kapoor to adapt Modern Family for Indian TV Anil Kapoor, who earlier starred in and adapted the American TV show 24 for the Indian audience is now working on another adaptation. He will adapt the sitcom Modern Family for Indian TV. The negotiations are currently underway to get licensing. The Emmy-winning American sitcom, currently in its sixth season in the US, revolves around three different families. Kapoor maybe a part of the cast depending on if his film schedule permits it. He will next be seen in Anees Bazmee’s Welcome Back and Zoya Akhtar’s Dil Dhadakne Do. In the meantime he is focused on the second season of 24.

Cricketer Sreesanth to act in Pooja Bhatt’s Cabaret Cricket star Sreesanth is testing the film waters and has been signed to play a prominent role in producer Pooja Bhatt’s upcoming production Cabaret. He will portray the character of Saathee.com

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Sangeet

Film Lyrics

POPulAR MusIC OF INdIA

By Kirit Shukla Tribute to music lyricists and poets Song: Tasavir banātā hun... Film: Bārādari Year: 1955 Music: Shaukat Dehlvi Nāshād Singer: Talat Mehmood Lyric: Khumār Bārābankvi Based on Indian Classical Rāgā: Pahādi Tāl/Rhythm: Kaharvā Starring: Geetā Bali, Ajit, Prān, Gope, Murād

Khumar Barabankvi (1919-1999) Khumar Barabankvi, whose real name was Mohammed Haidar Khan, was born on September 20, 1919 in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was raised in a creative and poetic environment in his family. His father Ghulam Haider (pen name “Bahar”) wrote salams and marsiyas, which are poems written in memories of martyrdom of great religious people. His uncle “Qarar Barabankvi” was a well-known poet who guided him and made Islah (Corrections) to his poetry. Khumar was a clever student and graduated from high school with distinction in many subjects. He moved to Lucknow where a romantic turn in his life caused him to quit his studies. He had a melodious voice and soon became popular in Mushairas and became a “Shayar,” He met Jigar Muradabadi, a classical gazal singer. Together they became successful with their poetries and styles of recitation. His work was published in books such as “Hadees-e-Deegaran,” “Atish-e-Tar” and “Raqs-e-Mai,” In 1945 he went to Bombay to attend a mushaira. The film director Kardar and music director Naushad, who were present there, listened to his poetry and were impressed by his gazal. Kardar was making the film Shahjehan with Naushad as music director. He asked Barabankvi to write a few songs for his film along with Majrooh and he agreed. This film was released in 1946. Their songs became huge hits. Many singers like Rafi, Saigal, Talat, Lata, Geeta Dutt, Shamshad have sung his poems. He preferred to attend mushairas rather than devote time to write lyrics for films. He always stood firmly in favor of classical gazal so, he was annoyed with the falling standards of poetry in the films and he kept himself away from Bollywood. In 1986, he agreed to write songs for Love and God, on the insistence of music director Naushad. Later, he quit the film industry and settled in Barabanki. He passed away on February 20, 1999 in Barabanki.

Tasavir banātā hun Lyrics in English: Tasavir banātā hun, tasavir nahin banati, tasavir nahin banati Eka khwāb sā dekhā hai, tābir nahin banati, tasavir nahin banati, Tasavir banātā hun…Bedard muhabbat kā, itanā sā hai afasānā -2 Nazaron se mili nazaren, main ho gayā diwānā, aba dil ke bahalane ki, tadabir nahin banati, tasavir nahin banati, Tasavir banāta hun… Dam bhar ke liye meri, duniya men chale āo - 2, Tarasi hui ānkhon ko, phir shakla dikhā jāo, mujhase to meri bigadi, takadir nahin banati, tasavir nahin banati, Tasavir banāta hun... Meaning (Summary): I am trying to make a portrait of you, but I am unable to make it. A dream I see, but see no hopes of fulfilling it. I am trying to make a portrait of you, but I am unable to make it. This is a tale of love that has been cruel. It was love at first sight. But I see no hopes of uniting my love. Come into my world just for a moment, my eager eyes yearn to see your face. I fail to defy fate. I am trying to make a portrait of you, but I am unable to make it. Lyrics in Hindi:

तसवीर बनाता हूँ, तसवीर नहीं बनती, तसवीर नहीं बनती. एक ख्वाब सा देखा है, ताबीर नहीं बनती, तसवीर नहीं बनती , तसवीर बनाता हूँ ... बेदर्द मुहब्बत का, इतना सा है अफ़साना - २, नज़रों से मिली नज़रें, मैं हो गया दीवाना अब दिल के बहलने की, तदबीर नहीं बनती, तसवीर नहीं बनती , तसवीर बनाता हूँ दम भर के लिये मेरी, दुनिया में चले आओ - २, तरसी हुई आँखों को, फिर शक्ल दिखा जाओ मुझसे तो मेरी बिगड़ी, तकदीर नहीं बनती, तसवीर नहीं बनती , तसवीर बनाता हूँ ...

Some of his films: Shahjehan, Dil ki Basti, Roop Lekha, Adhi Rat, Qatil, Meherbani, Halchal, Jawab, Rukhsana, Shahzada, Captain Sheroo, Mehfil, Menhdi and many others. His super hit classic song lyrics “Tasavir banata hun...” are given in this issue of Saathee magazine in the column on this page. (Note: The contents of this article are compiled from the news, books, internet and my knowledge and love for Indian music.)

Kirit Shukla Contact him at kiritsshukla@hotmail.com

You can watch and hear this song along with other Khumar Barabankvi songs on YouTube and other online video channels as well as radio channels.

Saathee.com

January 2015

Government Data Sharpens Focus on Crude-Oil Train Routes

A ProPublica analysis of federal government data adds and a half times as likely as pipelines to suffer safety lapses. Indeed, since 2012, when petroleum crude oil first began new details to what’s known about the routes taken by moving by rail in large quantities, there have been eight trains carrying crude oil. Local governments are often major accidents involving trains carrying crude in North unaware of the potential dangers they face.

America. In the worst of these incidents, in July, 2013, a train derailed at Lac-Mégantic, Quebec and exploded, killing 47 and burning down a quarter of the town. Six months later, another crude-bearing train derailed and exploded in Casselton, North Dakota, prompting the evacuation of most of the town’s 2,300 residents. In those and other cases, local emergency responders were overwhelmed by the conflagrations resulting from these accidents. Residents often had no idea that such a dangerous cargo, and in such volume, was being transported through their towns. Out of the disasters came a scramble for information. News outlets around the country began reporting the history of problems associated with the DOT-111 railroad tank cars carrying virtually all of the crude. Local officials, environmental groups, and concerned

By Isaiah Thompson, ProPublica.com The oil boom underway in North Dakota has delivered jobs to local economies and helped bring the United States to the brink of being a net energy exporter for the first time in generations. But moving that oil to the few refineries with the capacity to process it is presenting a new danger to towns and cities nationwide — a danger many appear only dimly aware of and are ill-equipped to handle. Much of North Dakota’s oil is being transported by rail, rather than through pipelines, which are the safest way to move crude. Tank carloads of crude are up 50 percent this year from last. Using rail networks has saved the oil and gas industry the time and capital it takes to build new pipelines, but the tradeoff is greater risk: Researchers estimates that trains are three Saathee.com

continued on page 30 26

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Crude Oil Train Routes continued from page 26

citizens began to ask what routes these trains were taking and whether the towns in their paths were ready should an accident occur. In July, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation ordered railroads to disclose route information to state emergency management officials. Railroads had fought hard to keep this information private, citing security concerns. Even after federal regulators required more disclosure, railroads pressured many state governments to withhold their reports from the public. Some have come out, often as a result of public records requests by news organizations: The Associated Press has obtained disclosures in several states initially unwilling to release them. Still, those disclosures offer scant detail, often consisting of little more than a list of counties through which crude oil is passing, without further specifics. There have been attempts to fill in the blanks. KQED in Northern California, for example, combined the information disclosed in federal route reports with maps of the major railroads to show where trains carrying crude passed through California. The environmental group Oil Change International superimposed major refineries and other facilities that handle crude oil onto a national railroad map. A ProPublica analysis of data from the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration adds new details by plotting out where trains carrying crude have experienced safety incidents, When a tank car most of them minor. The data full of oil ruptures, shows such incidents in more than 250 municipalities over the consequences the last four years. We’ve can be dire. used the data to create an interactive map showing where safety incidents on trains were reported, where each train began its journey, and where it was ultimately headed. The data also shows that factors that contributed to major, or even catastrophic, accidents have also been present in hundreds of minor ones: outdated tank car models; component failures; and missing, damaged and loose parts. Bit by bit, a more realistic notion of where the dangers of crude-bearing trains are most substantial is emerging. “Frankly, the [previous] disclosures weren’t of that much use,” says Kelly Huston, a spokesman for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, one of the first state agencies to make those disclosures available for anyone on its website. When it comes to a detailed picture of where crude is moving, Huston says, “The expectation of the public is very far from the reality of what we’re actually getting.” The hazardous materials data reviewed by ProPublica adds to that picture. Only a handful of places around the country have the refinery capacity and infrastructure necessary to handle the massive amounts of oil being extracted from North Dakota’s Bakken Shale: Bakersfield, Carson, and Long Beach in California; St. James, Lake Charles, Lacassine in coastal Louisiana; Philadelphia, Paulsboro, New Jersey. Delaware City, Delaware in the Mid-Atlantic. These cities have become the terminuses for “unit trains” carrying up to 100 tank cars, each containing as much as 30,000 gallons of crude oil. These endpoints also have shaped the paths Saathee.com

along which crude-bearing trains now cross hundreds of communities, many of which have never seen such traffic. Tracks all but abandoned for years have sprung back to life on account of the oil boom. The vulnerabilities of the DOT-111 tank cars in which much of the oil is moved are well known by now. For decades, federal officials have cited concerns over their relatively thin shells, which are prone to puncturing or rupturing in an accident and releasing the hazardous material inside. They also have other components prone to damage, including protruding fittings often left unprotected, and hinged lids held on by bolts that have a history of coming loose, especially if not properly tightened by the original shipper. When a tank car full of oil ruptures, the consequences can be dire. At a panel held by the National Transportation Safety Board in April, one technical expert with the agency described a “fireball release,” in which “the entire content of the tank car, up to 30,000 gallons, is instantly released, along with the potential for rocketing car parts.” When one tank car ignites, the heat can set off a chain reaction, causing other cars to explode as well. In most cases, the tanks cars used to transport crude are supplied by railroad shipping companies, not railroads themselves. Railroads have typically pushed for more stringent safety requirements since they have to move the cars. Shipping companies and oil producers have pushed back against stricter proposals. In 2011, as the crude-by-rail industry was ramping up and federal regulators were preparing to introduce new rules, industry groups adopted voluntary safety modifications to add thicker shells and other protections to new tank cars. But roughly 85 percent of the fleet currently carrying flammable liquids still consists of the older models. And while PHMSA is expected to issue rules requiring safer tank cars, railroads will have years to phase in the upgrades and it’s not yet clear to what extent they will be required to retrofit existing cars. For most local fire departments, a blaze involving even a single tank car, let alone many, would be too much to handle, emergency response officials acknowledge. “[Most] fire departments don’t have the capacity to deal with more than a standard gasoline tank [fire], which is about 9,000 or 10,000 gallons of fuel,” said Richard Edinger, vice chairman of the International Association of Fire Chief’s hazardous materials committee. “Well, one DOT-111 car holds about 30,000 gallons — that pretty much exceeds our capacity.” Complicating matters, many towns don’t even know that trains carrying crude oil are passing through. Along the journey south from North Dakota, for example, many trains now make a stop in the tiny town of El Dorado, Arkansas, population 18,500, bound for a refinery that recently added capacity to accommodate Bakken crude. The PHMSA hazmat data includes more than a dozen leaks found on trains headed for the town. Yet Union County Emergency Management Services deputy director Bobby Braswell, a former Chief Deputy for the El Dorado Fire Department, was unaware of the new crude traffic and its potential risks. “We’ve got a little old railroad here, but if they transport crude, I don’t know,” said Braswell in an interview. If state emergency management officials have a plan to respond to oil train derailments, they haven’t shared it with El Dorado yet: “I don’t remember anybody calling about crude,” Braswell said. continued on page 68 January 2015

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January 2015

Noise Bliss meditations in music

By Samir Shukla The Bombay Royale The Island of Dr Electrico (HopeStreet Recordings) The Bombay Royale evokes vintage musical mashups of Bollywood soundtracks from the 60’s and 70’s within the first few seconds of a song. This outfit is not based in the film capital of India, but rather birthed their sound in their home turf of Melbourne, Australia. They spin surf music, funky disco, Spanish horns, spy movie themes, and Spaghetti westerns with unmistakable Indian vibes where the songs are sung mostly in Hindi and Bengali. The band’s music is an acquired taste to be sure. There’s a listening curve here, but their recent recording released this past summer, The Island of Dr Electrico, is anything but dull. It’s their second fulllength release and the operative clicks here are corky and hip. The band is fronted by two singers known as The Tiger and The Lady, both of Indian origin, while the musicians weave various genres into their unique sound. Listening to some of the songs one envisions a big-mustached villain taunting the heroine while she bursts into song, beckoning her lover to come to her rescue. Picture Asha Bhosle as the background singer. On the song “Wild Stallion Mountain,” The Lady sings about a girl hoping her boyfriend will be accepted by her father. Other tracks like “Khubsoorat Bewafa,” “Henna Henna,” and “Tere Bina” are deliciously vintage, but intricately fused with the 21st Century. There are spacey beats throughout that tie it up all together. For more details visit www.thebombayroyale.com. Manika Kaur I Bow To You Waheguru (United Sound) Manika Kaur has a comforting voice that she unfurls when singing Sikh kirtans (spirituals and prayers). The music is gently flowing, layered, and touched with drone and chants that are hallmarks of kirtans. The album features contributions from tabla and electronica pioneer Talvin Singh, as well as Western and Indian classical performers including Rakhesh Chaurasia on bansuri/flute and Jyostna Srikanth on violin. “When I discovered kirtan as a girl, it was a different feeling from any other music I had known,” reflects Kaur in her press release. “Kirtan brings a sense of peace. You’re singing the most beautiful love letters to God. It’s so deep and beautiful.” She is a devout Sikh, and her music flows from the songs and sacred stories her family shared as she was growing up in Australia. She currently makes her home in Dubai. “We’d sit after dinner, and my brothers and sisters and I would sing and play tabla and harmonium. It was very informal,” recalls Kaur. “My parents Saathee.com

would tell us stories that would keep us strong and motivated. When we had these jam sessions, it was like CPR for soul.” She made home recordings of the melodies and music that she heard in her mind while doing prayers. “The tunes pop into my head in the prayer room,” says Kaur, explaining her process. “I start singing the prayer instead of speaking it.” This spirituality led to recording of this album. She takes the simplicity of kirtans and expands them into complex and moody arrangements. The flow of sound is imbued by violin in “Aukhee Gauree,” flute in “Gur Ram Das Rakho Sarnaee” (a song dedicated to the fourth Sikh guru), and the Indian zither called swarmandal in the chant “I Bow to You.” These instruments add a warm texture to each kirtan. The meditative music retains the calm even when Talvin Singh’s tabla or Bernhard Schimpelsberger’s percussion check in. Kaur is committed to using all proceeds from her music to further charitable causes. This album will support S.O.S., an education initiative for Sikh children. For more details visit www.manikamusic.com. Mark lanegan Band Phantom Radio (Flooded Soil) Mark Lanegan’s ghostly voice should be all over radio. Alas, it’s not. But no matter, Phantom Radio is another fluid effort by this veteran musician, singer and songcrafter. He fronted the Seattle-based rockers Screaming Trees during the heady days of grunge in the 80’s and early 90’s, and has released a steady stream of consistently solid material, including works with Isobel Campbell and Moby. Lanegan’s work has always had a subtle gothic blues underlining that mixes with stoner and psychedelic rock, all the while he has worked to expand the realms of rock throughout his career. Phantom Radio continues that expansion. The album kicks off with the rocker “Harvest Home,” imbued with Lanegan’s smoky voice that once heard is always remembered. There are the electronica-touched songs “Floor of the Ocean” and “The Killing Season.” There’s the shuffling and funky “Seventh Day.” The slow burning “Waltzing in Blue” is like good whisky flowing through your veins. Lanegan’s voice is so powerful that even musically sparse songs like “Judgment Time” have the ability to unhinge the listener, grabbing on like a vice grip. A dark mood prevails in numbers like “I am the Wolf,” while the brooding closer “Death Trip to Tulsa” burns up the speakers as it unfolds. Lanegan is a personal favorite. He, along with Nick Cave, though both stylistically unique, have infused an adventurous musical ethos into rock music for years. I invite you to visit my music blog noisebliss.com. Samir Shukla is the editor of Saathee magazine. contact - saatheemag@hotmail.com

January 2015

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January 2015

Dances of India By Dr. Maha Gingrich Bharatha natyam - a Comprehensive View

more than dancing. They helped us to recognize our inner and outer selves. They taught their students as much by what they said as by what they did not say. They allowed us to nurture and develop our own epistemologies. It is this harmonious blend of relationship between guru and the disciple that renders the transcendent experience in dancing. Major styles within Bharatha natyam: Due to the historic time periods and its backgrounds, many major styles were developed within this dance form. Some of them are: Melattur Style- This style is based on expressive acting and spontaneous movements. Pandanallur Style - This style stresses on deep sitting positions and quite difficult to perform. Vazhuvoor Style – This style the movements flow smoothly with rare leaps. Kalakshetra Style - This style has hints of Devadasi style and is the most popular of all styles.

Bharatha Natyam, when presented in its purity, is one of the most subtle, sophisticated, and graceful dance forms in the world. This South Indian dance style is immensely popular in India and in many parts of the world. Many parents want their children to learn this dance form either to fulfil their own childhood dreams or because they hope their children will learn about the epics and the rich Indian culture through dance. Due to the amazing survival of this dance form, irrespective of Margam: A general format was established using a sequence of the changes in repertoire and modes of presentation from time to time and from progressively hard dances to complete an Arangetram or Ranga region to region, the basic principles and techniques of the art Pravesham, or as we call it here a “Dance Graduation”. This repertoire starts with Kauthvam or Alarippu and remained the same to the present day. continues with Jathiswaram, Shabdam, Padam, Keerthanam, source: Varnam and ends with Thillana. Let us start with the source of this name. The word “Bharatha” is believed to be composed of the first syllable of Music: its three main elements: The harmonious blend of Karnatak vocal music (south BHA for Bhava - meaning mood/expressions Indian music style) and Bharatha Natyam has occurred as early RA for Raga - meaning melody/tune/song as 1572 AD. Instruments such as flute, violin, Mridangam THA for Thala - meaning rhythmic timing/beat (south Indian Drum), Ghatam (clay pot) etc. are used as NATYAM - meaning the combination of both dancing and acting. accompaniments. It is also known that Sage Bharatha has written the great book Natya Sastra (The great treatise on dramaturgy), describing all aspects of dance. This book includes the basic techniques called Adavus; position of the feet and body; single and double hand gestures called Asamyuktha and Samyuktha hasthas; Shiro Bhedas-or head movements; Drishti Bhedas or eye movements; Bhru Bhedas or eyebow movements; Griva Bhedas or neck movements; Nava rasaa or nine emotions and so on.

Costumes: Many styles of dance costumes are being introduced through times, such as Padam style or Sari style; pant styles with 2 or three fans; round fans; V-shape fans; side fans etc. The beauty of the costumes is the fan that emphasizes the main aspect of this dance form “squatting” or Mandalam. The best way to keep the fans in place is to use pure silk saris for costumes. These could be Dharmavaram or Kanchivaram saris.

Temples: Great temple builders, the Cholas, who ruled India between the 9th and 13th centuries, left a wealth of material on dance carved as inscriptions and sculpture on temples. Dance poses abound in the grand temples like the Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjavur, Gangasikonda Choli swaram temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the Iravateswara temple at Darasuram, the Kampahareswara temple at Tribhuvanam, the cluster of temples at Kanchipuram and Kumbhakonam, Meenakshi temple at Madurai are some of the examples. The grand master of all temple architectures for this dance style is my favorite Nataraja temple at Chidambaram, in Tamil Nadu. All 108 dance Karanas or poses are engraved in the temple’s grand entrance doors. These carvings have been preserving the history of dances for ages.

Exponents: There are so many exponents of this dance form, I am afraid I will not have space to mention them all. However, if you are doing a research paper for your high school project or a thesis, you must include these renowned dancers. Balasaraswati, Rukmini Devi, Kalanidhi Narayanan, Ram Gopal, Pillai family, Kamala Lakshman, Vyjayathimala, Padma Subrahmanyam, Dhananjayan, C.V. Chandrasekhar and many more. These gurus have propagated this dance form to thousands of disciples across the world.

I hope this comprehensive view of Bharatha Natyam dance style will help you cherish, appreciate and treasure this three thousand year old tradition. Many years of practice, grace, speed, versatility and complete mastery of the art are necessary Guru shishya Parampara: Even in the age of technology, a to do full justice to a dance form such as this. complicated dance form like this cannot be learned without the For questions or comments contact careful guidance of a guru. All established dancers themselves Dr. Maha Gingrich via e-mail at: will say it starts with the great Gurus being treasure troves of msgingrich@juno.com knowledge, not just book learned or theoretical. They had the heritage of a practical methodology and wisdom. They had the ability to be intuitive in their teachings. They were deeply connected with the inner beings of their disciples. They taught Saathee.com

January 2015

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January 2015

If you watch the Netflix series House of Cards, Kevin Spacey plays Frank Underwood, a congressman who serves as the Whip of the House. As you can imagine, all three spots are very powerful and chosen in separate elections by a majority of the party’s members elected to the chamber. In the minority, there is a similar set up. There is a Minority Leader followed by a Minority Whip. These positions while few in number exude much influence and power when it comes to placing members on key committees. Much of the agenda is discussed with the majority leadership working with the minority leadership. On the Senate side, things operate slightly differently. The majority party still controls the agenda. But there is a Leader from the both the majority and minority party and a Whip from each side as well. In the Senate, almost nothing can be done without the blessing of your party’s leadership with regard to landing plum committee assignments or pushing legislation through for a vote on the Senate floor. The leadership teams yield enormous clout and keep a tight lid on things. Power is centralized and very rarely do you see members of the Senate stray from what Leadership asks. Almost all chairmen of committees on the Senate side are decided by two factors: seniority and the relationship with leadership. It’s pretty standard. The skill of maneuvering between the interests of constituents and the wishes of leadership is one a Senator must master to attain a gavel. Even though the political ads have gone off the air at home, it only signals the start of another race where the stakes for power run extremely high. Coalitions are made between friends and foes alike, vote counts are quickly tallied, and promises are made (and sometimes broken) as members lobby each other hard to achieve their goal. Active legislators seeking to make an impact on their constituencies lasting for years after they have left office are normally the chairman. It’s the epitome of success for an elected official and that’s exactly why the title is so hard to attain. Many have tried with few succeeding. But if you’re so fortunate to win a chairmanship, then your legacy is cemented for generations to come.

bEhINd ThE

Congressional Curtain By Neal Patel let the Real Games Begin So now that Election Day results have been tallied, the real fun begins on Capitol Hill. It’s time for members to select the leaders of their committees, commonly referred to as the chairman, and the heads of their party leadership teams. Let’s first take a look at the horse-trading involved with selecting a committee chairman. The committee chairman position is one of the most coveted spots in both the House of Representatives (House) and the Senate. Based on a combination of seniority and political acumen, the chairman is the elected leader of the committee endowed with the responsibility to decide the legislative priorities of the committee. It’s a very influential position that affords one to build a long list of accomplishments. If used correctly, it can also be used to build many favors over the course of time. Because of these reasons, it’s a highly sought after position that offers both prestige and power, a deadly combination in politics. At the end of each Congress (every two years), the jockeying for a new chairman begins for the next Congress. If you’re lucky enough to be in the numeric majority of the chamber, you are a chairman. But, if you’re in the numeric minority, you are referred to as the ranking member of the committee. In essence, you are the party’s top voice on the committee but because your party is not in the majority, you’re relegated to a secondary role. As I stated, a combination of factors contribute to a member being elected chairman of his or her committee. The primary factor is seniority. The longer a member has served in office, the higher up the committee totem pole they climb. Therefore, the chances of a freshman member serving as chairman are slim to none. However, seniority must be combined with the confidence of your colleagues and fellow committee members. Otherwise, they will not vote for you to lead the committee. Finally, you must have the blessing of your party leadership. Leadership wants to ensure committees are run by solid figures able to keep control of the committee. In essence, the party Leadership wants to make sure a chairman will keep the committee running smoothly without any hiccups. So you have to be a senior member, a proven legislator, a well-liked figure, and friendly with your party leadership just to be considered to become a chairman. And even then, it’s still not guaranteed. However, once you’re elected chairman, it’s quite a nice perch to be sitting on as you serve. Party leadership elections are elected in a little different manner. “Leadership” is the head of the party. It consists of the top positions in the chamber. The House and Senate differ a bit in these positions. In the House, if your party has numeric control of a chamber, also known as a majority, your senior most elected position is the Speaker of the House, which is third in line to the succession of the presidency. The second most powerful position is known as the Majority Leader, which sets the legislative agenda for the chamber. The third most powerful position is the Whip, which is in charge of counting the votes necessary to pass the legislation on the agenda. Saathee.com

Neal Patel

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January 2015

When is a black dog not a black dog? When it’s a greyhound.

Children’s Corner

What do you call young dogs who play in the snow? Slush puppies.

Word World

Why do dogs run in circles? Because it’s too hard to run in squares.

By Kirit Shukla

G E

A R

What does a duck like to eat with soup? Quackers.

What geometric figure is like a lost parrot? A polygon.

What happens when a duck flies upside down? It quacks up. What did the duck say after he went shopping? Put it on my bill.

Make words using 4 or more letters. The central letter must be used in each word. Letters cannot be used more than once. Use all letters for the subject word (underlined in solutions below) 21+ words = Excellent; 11 to 20 words = Good; 10 or less = keep looking. Words we found are in solutions below.

What do you call a crate of ducks? A box of quackers. What do you call it when it rains chickens and ducks? Foul weather. What’s the most musical part of a fish? The scales.

Riddles Riddles Riddles What do you get when you cross a Rottweiler and a collie? A dog that bites you and then goes for help.

Which fish is the most famous? The starfish.

What animal keeps the best time? A watch dog.

How do you confuse a fish? Put it in a round fishbowl and tell it to go to the corner.

When is a dog not a dog? When it is pure bred/bread.

Where do fish keep their money? In a river-bank.

Why don’t dogs make good dancers? Because they have two left feet.

Why did the shark spit out the clown? Because he tasted funny.

What dog loves to take bubble baths? A shampoodle.

What do cartographers give their sweethearts on Valentine's Day? Compass roses.

What type of markets do dogs avoid? Flea markets.

What has one eye but cannot see? A needle.

Why don’t blind people like to sky dive? Because it scares their guide dog.

How did the Vikings send secret messages? By Norse code.

Why did the dachshund bite the woman’s ankle? Because he couldn’t reach any higher.

Did you hear about the fire at the circus? The heat was in-tents.

Why did the snowman call his dog “Frost”? Because Frost-bites.

What should you take on a trip to the desert? A thirst-aid kit.

Why do you need a license for a dog and not for a cat? Cats can’t drive.

How do you catch a runaway dog? Make a noise like a bone. Saathee.com

Word World (solution): AGER, AMEN, ANGER, ANGRY, ARMY, EARN, ENGRAM, GAME, GAMY, GANE, GEAR, GERMAN, GERMANY, GNAR, GRAM, GRAN, GRAY, MAGE, MANE, MANGE, MANY, MARE, MARGE, MEAN, MEGA, MYNA, NAME, NARY, NEAR, NEMA, RAGE, RAGMAN, RAMEN, RANG, RANGE, REAM, YAMEN, YANG, YARN, YEAN, YEARN

What do you call a nutty dog in Australia? A dingo-ling.

January 2015

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January 2015

22. In my spare time ___ 23. In the fullness of time ___ 24. In the nick of time ___ a. Extra time, not reserved for work b. Just before it’s too late c. Be patient! Something will happen if enough time passes and you wait long enough. 25. A legend in his own time ___ 26. A stitch in time saves nine! ___ 27. In the interest of saving time ___ a. Taking an action in order to hurry things along. b. It’s better to deal with a problem early before it gets worse. c. Someone who was very famous for doing something very special suggested strategies to increase your mastery of meaning this month: See how many uses of time you can find in your local newspaper and in articles in your favorite magazines (including Saathee). References: 1, http://www.thefreedictionary.com/time

Mastering Meaning hARNEssINg ThE POWER OF AMERICAN ENglIsh

By Judith L. Bergman M.A. CCC The New Year is a natural occasion to pause and reflect on our thoughts and feelings about what else but TIME! Is there enough time or not enough time left for each of us to pursue our hopes and dreams? Are we saving time, wasting time or killing time? Do we spend too much time dwelling on the past or worrying about the future and not being “fully present” in the here and now? This month we will look at some of the 212 idioms listed in The Free Dictionary (I counted them) in which TIME appears.1 We’ll work with small groups of just three. Match the idiom with the correct meaning (a,b,c) within each group: 1. In time ___ 2. On time __ 3. In no time ___ a. Very soon, quickly b. Eventually c. Punctual 4. Take time out ___ 5. Take time off___ 6. Take time ___ a. Schedule a vacation from work b. Briefly suspend participation c. Work slowly and carefully 7. Buy time___ 8. Buy on time ___ 9. Do you have the time? ___ a. Pay for in installments b. Can you tell me what time it is? c. Arrange to postpone an event hoping the situation will improve 10. Don’t give me hard time. ___ 11. It’s a matter of time. ___ 12. It’s about time! ___ a. Cause trouble b. This should have happened long ago. c. Sure to happen in the future 13. Spending time in or with ___ 14. Doing time ____ 15. Killing time ___ a. Doing an unimportant activity while waiting b. Serving a prison sentence c. Stay at a place, continue with an activity or with a person or group. 16. Living on borrowed time ___ 17.Making up for lost time ___ 18. Having the time of my life ___ a. Catching up, compensating for lost opportunities. b. Living on when death was expected, existing because of good fortune c. Having a wonderful experience. 19. The time is ripe. ___ 20. The time is up. ___ 21. It’s high time! ___ a. Your time has run out; the activity must stop or be finished! b. This should have happened long ago. c. Now is a good time to do something or for something to happen.

answers: 1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-b, 5-a, 6-c, 7-c 8-a, 9-b, 10-a, 11-c 12-b, 13-c 14-b, 15-a 16-b, 17-a, 18-c, 19-c, 20-a, 21-b, 22-a, 23-c, 24-b, 25-c, 26-b, 27-a.

Saathee.com

Judith L. Bergman M.A CCC is the director of Triangle Speech Services specializing in foreign accent modification. Contact: jlbergman@mindspring.com or 919-489-5464 www.trianglespeech.com

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January 2015

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Promote your Facebook Business Page at every opportunity. Put a “badge” (Facebook can generate this for free) showing your Business Page icon on your business Web page. Add the address for your Business Page to your business cards, signage, invoices, handouts and all marketing material (Facebook makes it easy to create a short, readable page address). Where your Web site is a one-way conversation (you speaking to your customers), view your Facebook page as the opportunity to learn from having a two-way conversation with your prospects and buyers. You can add value to your Facebook Business Page through extra add-on applications within Facebook. For example, one app allows your blog to automatically post to your Facebook page (RSS), increasing your productivity by getting additional exposure for each blog post. The same is also possible for your Twitter or podcast feed. For companies that sell on eBay, Facebook has an app that interfaces with your eBay site. Apps change frequently, so be sure to look for the ones that would be right for your business. If you’re a person of few words, you’ll admire the elegance of the idea behind Twitter; each post is just 140 characters. That’s about two sentences to get your idea across. What can you do in two sentences? You’d be surprised. Twitter is also a great place to share links to valuable content (you can shorten them to preserve more of your character limit by using a problem like Bitly.com or TinyURL.com): videos, interesting articles on other sites, blog posts, audio, photos or downloads. Find an article of interest to your audience? Share the link, and then tweet a few thoughts and ask a question to get a conversation going. What else can you talk about in 140 characters? Recommend a business book and say how it influenced you. If you were at an event and saw a speaker who talked about something useful for your readers, Tweet about it! You could even include a link to the event Web site, speaker’s home page, or to a video or blog post related to the event. Or, share a motivational quote, comment on a business-related topic that is in the news, or let readers know if you have an upcoming promotion or special event. As with Facebook, you can reward the people who follow your page with periodic links to free downloadable material of value to their business, or give them sneak previews of special prices before you post the specials on your Web site. People who follow you can ask you questions, either publically or privately, so you’ll want to monitor these so you can answer promptly. Twitter is a great way to give live updates from the businessrelated events you attend. If you’re at a conference, either as a speaker or an attendee, send periodic tweets about what you’ve liked, what insights you’ve gained, what well-known experts you’ve heard or met, and other information that gives your followers a you-were-there feeling. Whenever you use a keyword in your tweets (such as the name of an event, a book, a celebrity/authority or product), make it searchable by putting # in front of it. For example, if you are talking about the book Think And Grow Rich, you would tweet #Think&GrowRich. That way your tweet will show up if anyone searches on the name of the book. You can also see what topics are popular by searching Twitters Trending Topics. Chiming in on a hot topic (if it relates to your business) can draw attention to your Twitter page. Strategically using Facebook and Twitter can expand your audience, help you reach new customers and deepen your connection to your current clients.

Marketing Turnaround By Gail Z. Martin Growing Your Business with Facebook and Twitter Facebook and Twitter have changed the way the world has conversations. More importantly, they have changed how businesses engage with customers and how companies can remain engaged, staying close to the needs and interests of consumers while keeping those same customers connected and informed to encourage future business. Today’s consumers value a connection through Facebook because they want to be able to express their opinions, ask questions, and feel as though they are being heard. They want to do business with people, not faceless corporations. Companies that learn to listen can reap valuable benefits, from uncovering (and being able to fix) customer service issues to discovering competitive advantages when a rival firm has dropped the ball, to new product ideas from the suggestions of loyal purchasers. When you create your Business Page, make sure both your logo and your photo are prominently displayed. People need to find you as a business, but they want to connect with you as the person behind the business. Fill in the Information section, making sure your content is all about the benefit you provide to your customers and what you do for them (not just a laundry list of products and services). Include your other Websites, links to blogs and podcasts and business contact information so your Facebook fans can find you on the Internet. If you already have a profile page, Facebook wants you to use it primarily for personal/recreational content. However, it’s OK to talk about business some of the time, just as you would in real life. Also, with a profile you can invite people to “like” your Business Page, and suggest that your “friends” also visit your Business Page. Just keep your profile mostly personal, to remain compliant with Facebook’s Terms of Service. Content is essential for attracting and keeping readers. Ask questions that are business-related, provide tips and post links to interesting and helpful videos, articles and blogs, even to content that you didn’t create but that your audience would appreciate. Repurpose articles and answers into Frequently Asked Questions and use other information you’ve written into short, helpful one-paragraph snippets of content. Try to keep a conversational tone. Don’t use a hard sell, and don’t constantly promote. Instead, draw your readers in with open-ended questions and try to get them into a dialog. Facebook users want to connect with the person behind the business, so keep the conversation “business casual”, as you would at a networking luncheon. That means that it’s OK to talk a little bit about superficial personal subjects, such as your pets, vacation highlights, sports teams, etc. Always make sure that the information you share shows you in an ethical, trustworthy light. Be human, but also be professional! You can also reward those who “like” your page with occasional special discounts and coupons. One of the most popular ways to engage readers is with ‘memes’, photos that incorporate inspirational quotes or funny captions. These memes can underscore your branding, play on shared interests, and be enjoyable and memorable enough that your friends and followers want to forward the memes to their contacts, spreading your name far and wide in a positive way. Saathee.com

Gail Z. Martin owns DreamSpinner Communications. Contact her at Gail@GailMartinMarketing.com

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About Thinking By Balaji Prasad From Two to Infinity in Zero seconds Man is a complex, multi-dimensional animal, living in a far more complex, multi-dimensional world. But who among us hasn’t faced “binary” thinking in our lives? Binary is everywhere. You are either a “winner” or not. You are a straight-A student or you’re not. You are “good at math” or you’re not. And so on. But the reality is not so simple. For example, “Math” is an abstraction that encompasses multiple ways of working with symbols and patterns that represent the real world: Geometry, Algebra, Arithmetic, etc. Some people may be more proficient in some sub-disciplines of math compared to others. What is “good” can also vary – depending on, say, whether you’re in a highly competitive environment or not. And, saying that you’re “not good” can subtly hint at a permanence of this incompetence. So, intuitively, even with this simple example, we can see that these kinds of simplistic positions can be plain wrong. Worse, if you end up believing them, you may act in ways that would perpetuate these beliefs as truth throughout your life, barring some “enlightening” experience. This is why many students declare, for example, that they are “not good” at math. Good. Not good. Is man condemned to live in this limbo, obsessively splitting the world into two halves?

So, why binary – why not seven? Maybe because underneath what Dr. Miller was pointing out is really the notion that our brains strive to keep things simple, to keep us lazy and avoid going crazy. Two is certainly less than seven, and a lot more manageable. It lends itself to associative memory gymnastics such as you say “black”, I think “white” and you say “big”, I think “small”. Our language has perpetuated and perpetrated this binariness too, in all its glory, in the way our linguistic constructs are peppered with opposites. So, for better or for worse, like the computers that we create, perhaps unwittingly in our own image, we are, without a doubt, binary beings … unless, we strive hard to overcome our conditioning to fit better with a universe that is not digital – a world that is pure, pristine, beautifully analog in its richness. One, with which we can dance in a universal celestial dance!

Celestial Dance ‘Tis strange this magic coin forsooth, I flip it over, men this side, On other face – there’s women so smooth, I spin again, and am mystified, to see sweet child, adult uncouth, Then East and West flips final ride. The wondrous coin, each time, cleaves more, In deep unease, I sit on shore, Perhaps this coin is devil’s deed? I wonder what it holds in store, What twisted plant will grow from seed? I shudder … picture blood and gore.

Why Do We Think in such a Binary Manner? I fling thing in infinite lake, There is some explanation for why it generally seems to be And horror now! I find I’m blind, “this” or “that” - but rarely in between. No difference black and white now make, First, our brains may be small – really small! That may not And wrong from right now I can’t find, be intuitively obvious, given that we have billions of neurons This wretched thirst I must needs slake, and trillions of the synapses that form the substratum of the My life now starts a slow unwind. flashes of thought that spark and stream rapidly and powerfully, in every instant, through our being. But, if we see Since sight is gone, perhaps insight … that size is a relative concept, our brains could be miniscule in will turn things back, and make it right? comparison with the infinity that life is, in all its vastness across What came from coin, that magic coin, time and space. that circumstance and mind did join, The cosmos is, well, cosmic in its proportions, and Snap out now man, from dreadful trance! incomprehensible to things that are far removed from it, in And step into celestial dance, dimensionality. Time too. If we each look at our own lives, we Don’t stay with that comical stance, can neither recall every moment from our past, nor can we from willy nilly circumstance, project every possibility that will play in a murky future that Just dance the dance: celestial dance! can be carved out in infinite ways. Second, there’s Professor George Miller. This Harvard professor seeded the world with his conception that we now I wish you all a Happy New Year, and may you have the most know as “cognitive science.” In 1955 he published a seminal wonderful celestial dance! paper, “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two.” His thesis was that we are able to hold approximately seven “chunks” of information in our heads at the same time, give or take two. Obviously, we cannot reduce such a thing to simple formulas, and if we write all the disclaimers and caveats to this, Balaji Prasad is an IIT/IIM graduate, it will probably start resembling one of those unwieldy a published author, SAT/ACT Online and Congressional bills that no one reads but everyone has opinions on. However, his idea seems intuitively true – that we are great Offline Coach, interview, resume, and career coach at NewCranium. at juggling concepts, but like every good juggler, we max out Contact: 704.746.9779 at some point “somewhere in the neighborhood of seven,” as balaji.prasad@newcranium.com he said. Saathee.com

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their skin? One of the core teachings of the Sanatana Dharma is that the Soul is part of Godhead. We are taught to look beyond the exterior shell (human body) and see others as being equals. In the early days of Islam, the first Muslims held the belief that in order to be Muslim then you had to have been from what is now modern day Saudi Arabia. I think we all know how that cultural belief held up. Today there are over one billion Muslims around the world and in the colors of the rainbow. When we dedicate a Hindu Temple, we are dedicating a House of God, not an exclusive club. In the Bhagavad-Gita 9:26 God in the form of Lord Krsna states as follows: “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” That one simple passage speaks volumes about the loving inclusiveness of Godhead. For Lord Krsna is saying there should be no reason not to feel comfortable in Temple. Even if you have no money, no flowers, if all you have is just a cup of water, the Pujari will gladly offer that water at the Altar. All people must develop a relationship with their Soul, their inner Self so that they can view others as equal spirit souls and that regardless of the exterior shell (human body) none of us judges who or what someone else believes because of the color of their skin. Aum Shanti.

The Chai Table A Readers’ Forum

Funny…You Don’t Look Hindu By Shakti Ganapati Subramanian This essay of sorts is really meant for a specific segment of the Hindu population whose ancestry is from India. I use the words “specific segment” because not all Hindus from India share identical opinions on the topic I am going to discuss. Years ago while assisting students from India at UNC Charlotte’s “International Festival” a young lady looked at me and said: “Funny… you don’t look Hindu.” Granted my mother’s side of the family was from Russia and Austria and my father’s side of the family was a mix of Transylvanian Alps region of Romania and Mongolia. After the young lady had made the aforementioned statement I looked at her. She was black and had a Cross around her neck. I smiled and simply replied: “And what colors do Christians come in?” My question was meant to cause the young lady to dwell on the fact that the color of one’s skin does not indicate the spiritual path the person follows. Back in 1996 while in India my friend from Pune and I stopped at a Temple in a rural area. To my astonishment the person outside the Temple did not allow me into the Temple. My friend (Mr. Medhekar) informed the gentleman that I was Hindu. So I presented my passport with the name Shakti Ganapati Subramanian. I then had Mr. Medhekar translate the following message to the person at the entrance to the Temple: “The Divine resides within us all. The soul is not Indian or American rather it is part of Godhead.” We then left. Some people from various States here in America have mentioned that when they have visited local Hindu Temples, and that due to the color of their skin these visitors are (a) not greeted or (b) actually informed that unless they are Indian they cannot really be Hindu. I would like to explain why I feel that such opinions are in fact contrary to the teachings of what the world refers to as “Hinduism.” First of all the word “Hindus” came about because the people who observed the inhabitants of the Indus River Valley botched the pronunciation. Second the real term for what the world refers to as Hinduism is “Sanatana Dharma.” Dharma is a Universal philosophy which I describe in detail on my website. If I had to classify my religious / spiritual path it would be as follows: “I am a Dharmist (one who understands and follows Dharma) who believes in Karma, Ahimsa, Dharma, Reincarnation, and the Vedic and Agamatic Scriptures. In simple terms no matter how you slice it or dice it, this white guy is a Hindu.” In 1994 people in India wrote me and stated I should accept the name Shakti Ganapati Subramanian which I legally adopted two years later. A number of Hindus and religious figures in Hinduism consider me “Hindu.” The problem as I see it, is that a minority of people from India have the notion that you have to be born Hindu in order to be Hindu. From a Scriptural point of view such beliefs are not supported. As a matter of fact such beliefs go against the teachings of Hinduism. What human being has the right to determine who may or may not belong to a particular religion based on the color of Saathee.com

Pooja Ghar: Shrine at Home By Dr. Jayant Mehta A small designated corner or special room for Pooja (worship) is a unique feature of every Hindu home. When I was growing up in India we had a small replica of a temple (about 14” x16” and about 6” deep). This was the place where my parents kept few images of gods and the whole family used this corner for individual or group prayer. Framed pictures and small images of the gods were washed, red powder-kum kumand rice was offered and a lamp was lighted. Milk or a sweet food item was offered to the gods of this mini temple every day. Over the years, family members kept on adding new idols and photographs. At one time number of “gods” became so large that no one in our family was willing to take the job of daily ritual of washing these images. Seven different moorties and 20 pictures framed with a glass cover had to be washed daily. Then one had to place a red dot on each god. Rice, flower, Arti, the entire sholopchar Pooja was becoming lengthy and tedious. The whole process took about half an hour every morning. REM sleep in the early morning and keeping the school time was more important. We brothers and sisters used to try our best to escape this daily task. We recited verses very quickly with a hope that we can finish fast if we recite them a little faster! One day my grandfather found a very practical solution. After reciting a “visarjan verse” he discarded most of the pictures and idols. He made a rule that there will be no more than five images in the temple and the Pooja ritual will be brief. Washing brass statues and other rituals will be offered weekly. This simplicity was most welcome. Now, we stopped disliking the task of daily Pooja. During examination time, we the school kids, used to spend little extra time to get God’s favor but during the vacation time we almost forgot Him! This is a part of my childhood memory while growing up in India. continued on page 58 54

January 2015

Chai Table

continued from page 54

Forty five years ago when I came to the USA, I restarted this tradition in my house in the USA. Pooja stage was kept clean and simple. Number of images was kept to a minimum five. If a calendar or a gift of a new god’s image arrived, we will offer a brief prayer and asked the “god” to merge with the five deities in our Mandir at home. Then we did not feel guilty about throwing away the new or old images. I am glad we still have a small Mandir at our home. Devotional music and fragrance sticks were used but ritual was short and simple. My family members keep on adding new images but I try to limit the number. I love my grandfather’s idea of simplicity during prayers. Clean and clutter free Pooja Ghar can facilitate meditation and devotional service with good concentration. In our Pooja ghar, I explained the essentials of Hindu Dharma to our US born children. I share this experience because I admire this ancient idea of daily Pooja at home. When I visit some of the big community temples, I see lots of images, as if it is a museum. I see clutter on the stage where a big row of images are kept. In USA, when we want to build a large new temple, we need to raise funds, lots of funds. In order to please different denominations we add on new Moorties in the community temples. We try to please everybody. This dilutes our concentration and meditation during our visit to this out of home temples. I also have trouble of accepting a statue of a living human being when placed at the same level as the Moorty of Lord Vishnu, Shiva or Durga. In order to raise money for the maintenance we organize fundraising events and provide free high carbohydrate food. Socialization, fun and free food become more important than spirituality. I have observed that lots of Hindus are quite afraid of throwing away old pictures and calendars that have god or goddess pictures. Every picture of God need not be in Pooja room. You can discard some of them after offering a brief respect or do a visarjan Pooja. A picture is nothing more than an imagination and the work of an artist. It becomes an objection of devotion when you pour your faith to it. Statues can be submerged in lakes or rivers, as long as it does not contaminate the water supply. A picture can be burnt or offered during a brief hawan. Our love for God should be free from fear and greed. I do not think that our temple gods need lots of silver and gold. According to Bhgavat Gita, “Simple offering of flower or water is enough to please the God.” Main offering is that of love and devotion. It is our faith that makes a stone statue “god”. I appeal to all my Hindu brothers and sisters to modify Hindu traditions in the USA. Change according to the time and place, otherwise; like dinosaurs we will perish. Do not put large public wealth in elaborate stone structures at the cost of millions of dollars. Do not fill our temples with gold and silver. Look at the history. Gold and diamonds in the temples attracted Muslim invaders to attack Hindu temples. Huge wealth in a temple is a dead investment. God does not care for this material wealth. I realize the importance of large community temples, where people can perform group prayers or visit a special temple for the Darshan. We have 600+ such temples in the USA. I think any more excess should be avoided. (ati sarvtra varjyet). Let us make existing temples perform multiple tasks for the NRI community. NRI dollars can be better spent in education, health care and socio-political fields. Stop building too many temples, enough is enough. Imagine the Saathee.com

increasing cost of maintaining these institutions. We are begging for donations every year. Hindu Dharma is not a temple-based faith tradition. Break the narrow path of denominations and support the main stream of Vedic Dharma. Bhakti starts at home and our heart is the best devalaya of God. Doing your duty is dharma which should be practiced both at work and in day to day life. I think Pooja Ghar- a place of worship at home - is the cornerstone of daily Hindu worship. It is simple and effective. Family that prays together stays together. All knowledge needed for ritual is available in books and on internet. We do not need a middle man. Simple rituals, silent meditation and swadhyay - self study - will bring faith in our family and dayto-day life. Roots of Santana Dharma are in our mind and our heart. Honesty and kindness in our thought, speech and action is the essence of Dharma.

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Our love for things that cause climate change

COULD MEAN THE END OF LIFE WITH CHOCOLATE The wake-up call we probably needed. By Sara Yasin, GlobalPost.com Humans are to blame for 90 percent of the greenhouse gases driving global warming. The polar bear population in the southern Beaufort Sea has dropped by 40 percent. The pacific bluefish tuna — one you sushi enthusiasts are likely to miss — is headed toward extinction. Droughts are turning California into one huge desert. All signs point to a pretty terrifying future for the world if scientists’ warnings about climate change continue to fall on deaf ears. But now, it looks like our inability to address climate change adequately might cost us one of the world’s most pure, innocent, and wonderful pleasures: chocolate. According to Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s largest chocolate manufacturing company, our growing love for chocolate might mean “a potential cocoa shortage by 2020.” The numbers prove it: last year, chocolate consumption exceeded production by 70,000 metric tons, and that deficit is predicted to increase to more than 14 times that amount by 2020. The demand has meant a soar in cocoa prices — which have shot up by 60 percent since 2012. The Switzerland-based company is one of a growing list of chocolate makers warning about the possible end of cocoa confections. But the shortage isn’t just about the world going crazy for Saathee.com

chocolate — it also has a lot to do with climate change. A decrease in cocoa supplies can be pinned on West Africa’s dry weather, which is only getting worse. In Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire — responsible for more than 70 percent of global cocoa supply — a study released by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture predicts a 2 degree Celsius (3.6 F) increase in temperatures by 2050. Higher temperatures mean that more water evaporates into the air from leaves and earth, leaving less behind for cocoa trees — a process called “evapotranspiration.” There’s also a fungal disease called “frosty pod,” which has ravaged between 30 and 40 percent of the world’s cocoa production. Brazil, once the world’s second largest exporter of chocolate, is now its biggest importer, after being hit with “witch’s broom,” another fungal disease that devastated the Brazilian state of Bahia in 1989. Increased difficulties in growing cocoa will only mean that farmers turn to different, more profitable crops. Just last month, China (which has seen a huge jump in chocolate consumption) and the US signed a deal agreeing to bring down carbon emissions, and President Barack Obama stressed the urgency of addressing climate change during the annual G20 summit. Here’s hoping that we can reverse the already worrying impact of climate change — after all, it would be especially terrifying to live through it without chocolate. January 2015

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hinDu cEnTER support hindu Center expansion Leave a Lasting memory on hC Wall.

sponsor a briCK $1001 $5,001 for 5 X 7 marble plaque $10,001 for 8 X 11 marble plaque expansion project update: Grading work, parking Lot work and foundation work has been completed. building work in progress and stone work will begin soon!

2015 membership Drive Annual membership: $101, students & seniors $31 Donate brick and become life member for $1001!

Upcoming Hindu Center Events & Activities: Pongal / Makar Sankranti January 17, Saturday Kite flying - Jan 17, Sat, Noon to 5 PM (Weather permitting) Republic day January 25, Sunday Maha-Shivratri February 17, Tuesday Holika Dahan Mar 5, Holi Cultural Show Mar 7, Dhuleti Mar 8 Voice Of India Radio Program: Sunday 9:30 AM to Noon on WNOW - 1030 AM Please support our Hindu center by advertising your business or sponsoring a show for a special occasion on the Voice of India. For more information please call Kokila Kumar 704-264-7280 or email voiceofindiahc@yahoo.com

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Puja: Sat., Jan 17 (5-8 PM with mahaprasad) abhishek/ pooja with Bhajan/shlokas, followed by kari/Bhogi pallu & Mahaprasad Kari/Bhogi Pallu: Parents/ Grandparents will Bless & Shower their kids with fruits, candies, coins, Cranberries etc., supplied by Hindu Center. Please bring kids and don't miss this unique event. Dress up in Indian tradition outfits if possible.

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Crude Oil Train Routes continued from page 30

Along the trains’ route to the Mid-Atlantic, according to PHMSA’s hazmat data, is Mineral City, Ohio, where Tuscarawas county emergency services director Patty Levengood said she didn’t know whether fire departments in her jurisdiction had been trained or otherwise advised on the new oil traffic. Such planning was “pretty much left to the individual chiefs,” she said. Other responders said they are acutely aware of the new risks facing their towns, and some expressed alarm. Asked whether his fire department had the capacity to handle a single tank car fire, Duane Hart, fire chief for Juniata County, Pennsylvania, answered with an emphatic “I know we don’t!” Crude trains now pass through Port Royal, a town of 925 in Juniata County for which Hart’s department provides services. In many circumstances, all local responders would be able to do in the event of a large tank car fire is simply let it burn, experts say. At the recent NTSB rail safety panel, Gregory Noll, a chairperson for the hazardous materials committee of the National Fire Protection Association, summarized the situation bluntly. “There’s very little that we as a responder are going to do,” he said, “other than... to isolate the area, remove people from the problem, and allow the incident to go its natural course until it essentially burns down to a level where we can extinguish it.” But that approach would still involve tremendous damage in the many densely populated areas through which crude is now moving by rail, officials acknowledge. “The standard evacuation is typically a half-mile,” said Jeff Simpson, a 30-year firefighter who lives in North Virginia and teaches a course called “Training for Railroad Emergencies.” “But if you’re in the middle of a big city, the footprint is going to be much bigger.” The Pittsburgh-based nonprofit news organization PublicSource reported in August that up to 40 percent of that city’s roughly 300,000 residents live within the potential evacuation zone of trains carrying crude through the city. Another Pennsylvania metropolis, Philadelphia, has become one of the biggest destinations in the U.S. for Bakken crude thanks to newly retrofitted refineries and a brand new rail unloading facility opened just two years ago. The city appears frequently in hazmat reports: In at least 65 cases over the last two years, tank cars bound for or arriving in Philadelphia were found to have loose, leaking or missing safety components. These parts are meant to prevent flammable contents from escaping in the event of an accident. There was a more serious incident last January, when a train full of oil derailed a few miles from the city’s downtown. Luckily, no one was injured. The train was soon righted and the railroad made repairs, assuring city officials that the danger had passed. But even after the derailment, Philadelphia “has not issued new plans, directives, or protocols in response to the increase of crude oil shipments,” wrote city director of Emergency Management Samantha Phillips in an email to ProPublica. The Philadelphia County Local Emergency Planning Committee “has not been active on the transportation of Bakken crude oil,” Phillips added. The agency’s website contains no emergency info specific to a fire involving crude oil, or other hazardous substance, other than a video featuring “ Wally Wise-Guy, the Shelter in Place Turtle.” Video advises that “in the event of a hazardous materials emergency ... do what Wally Wise Guy does — go inside.” Find interactive maps at www.propublica.org/article/govt-datasharpens-focus-on-crude-oil-train-routes. Saathee.com

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Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

News Notes Tourist Visa on Arrival in India Enabled with Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) Scheme Launched New Delhi: Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, along with Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C), Tourism & Culture and Minister of State for Civil Aviation launched the Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVoA) enabled with Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) Scheme here today.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-resident Indian Day) is celebrated in India each year to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. The day commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in Bombay on 9 January 1915. Established in 2003, it is sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs of the government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region of India. The next one will be held from January 7 – 9, 2015 at the Mahatma Gandhi Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities. These conventions are also very useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields. During the event, individuals of exceptional merit are honored with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to appreciate their role in India’s growth. The event also provides a forum for discussing key issues concerning the Indian Diaspora. Details at www.pbd-india.com.

Vibrant Gujarat 2015

The facility will be available at nine international airports in the country namely Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Goa. The TVoA enabled with ETA Scheme will facilitate nationals of 43 countries including Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kingdom of Tongo, Laos, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Niue, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Papua & New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea (i.e. South Korea), Republic of Marshall Islands, Republic of Nauru, Republic of Palau, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam and Vanuatu. Launching the facility, the Union Home Minister said that India has a unique advantage in tourism sector owing to its geographical location and that no other country offers such abundance of variety in weather conditions. He also assured that his Ministry would ensure a safe and secure environment for visiting foreign tourists. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Tourism & Culture and Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma reiterated Government’s priorities: “Our Government is acting swiftly to fulfill the promises made to its people. Today’s launch of Tourist Visa On Arrival (TVOA) facility enabled with Electronic Travel Authorization Facility (ETA) is one step in this direction”. It is bound to positively impact the economy of the country, he added. “The implementation of TVoA enabled with ETA will send a clear and powerful message that India is serious in making travel to the country easy”, the Minister hoped. The information and instructions for the TVoA enabled with ETA is available on the following link: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html Saathee.com

The 7th Vibrant Gujarat Summit, which will be held from January 11 – 13, 2015 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, is a Government of Gujarat effort to boost the state’s business sectors via investments. The goal is inclusive and sustainable development. The sixth edition of the summit provided enormous prospects to the State to display its strengths, progressive stand, initiatives taken to improve governance, investor friendly climate and art & culture of Gujarat. Six summits held so far have contributed to

transformation of Gujarat into a “Global Business Hub.” The brand “Vibrant Gujarat” began as an “investors’ summit” has now evolved into an ideal platform for knowledge sharing, social and business transformation. The Summit gradually evolved into a round-the-year investment promotion exercise with events scheduled well in advance of the main Summit planned in 2015. The prime focus of Government of Gujarat is development and the key areas for development identified included: Innovation, Sustainability, Youth & Skill Development, Knowledge Sharing and Networking. Also, this continued on page 74 70

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Summit is an ideal convergence for other states and other countries to showcase their strengths, highlight business opportunities, facilitate knowledge dissemination etc. It also provides an attractive opportunity to its participants to understand the potential of Gujarat in various sectors. Besides, it provides platform to interact with policy makers, industry leaders, and renowned academicians from all over the world. For more details visit www.vibrantgujarat.com.

More people die from eating too much than from not eating enough

While most people probably think about obesity as a health problem, it also has pretty serious economic consequences. Obesity costs the global economy about $2 trillion a year, or 2.8 percent of global GDP, almost the same as smoking or armed conflict, McKinsey Global Institute, the research arm of management consultancy McKinsey & Company, said in a report. So that’s $2 trillion a year that could be spent on something else, like helping the hungry, if we all stopped gobbling so much. That’s food for thought as you ask for a second serving of dessert. This is a list of the top 10 countries with the most obese people.

1. US; 78 million or 33.3 percent of the adult population 2. China; 46 million or 4.4 percent of the adult population Obesity is a growing problem, wherever you are. 3. India; 30 million or 3.8 percent of the adult population 4. Russia; 28 million or 24.1 percent of the adult population By Allison Jackson, GlobalPost.com 5. Brazil; 22 million or 16.2 percent of the adult population 6. Mexico; 20 million or 26.9 percent of the adult population Here’s a statistic to think about after stuffing yourself with 7. Egypt; 18 million or 35.9 percent of the adult population turkey and pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving. More than half of 8. Germany; 16 million or 24.3 percent of the adult population the world’s 671 million obese people live in just 10 countries. 9. Pakistan; 14 million or 13.6 percent of the adult population And — surprise, surprise! — the highest proportion, 13 10. Indonesia; 11 million or 6.8 percent of the adult population percent, are in the United States. “Obesity is an issue affecting people of all ages and incomes, everywhere,” said Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, which led the study of 188 countries published in The Lancet. “In the last three decades, not one country has achieved success in reducing obesity rates and we expect obesity to rise steadily as incomes rise in low- and middle-income countries in particular, unless urgent steps are taken to address this health crisis.” Obesity is measured by a person’s body mass index, which is a weight-to-height ratio. A person with a BMI of 25 to 29 is considered to be overweight, while someone with a reading of 30 or more is obese. According to the World Health Organization, more women than men are tipping the scales at obesity levels. Fridge-loads of studies have been published about the global obesity epidemic and, owing to its huge health, social and economic impact, that trend is likely to continue. It is estimated that the number of overweight and obese people has more than doubled over the past 30 years, from 857 million in 1980 to 2.1 billion people in 2013, the equivalent of nearly 30 percent of the world’s population. In fact, there are now almost two-and-a-half times as many overweight and obese people on the planet as there are undernourished. And more people die from eating too much than from not eating enough. Yikes. The reason we are so fat — and getting fatter — is pretty simple: We are consuming more calories than we are burning off. This wasn’t such a problem for our ancestors, who were more physically active and survived on a diet that was based on less calorie and fat-dense food. But in the modern age we have computers, Netflix, potato chips and sugary sodas. Saathee.com

NASA Opens Cube Quest Challenge for Largest-Ever Prize of $5 Million Registration is now open for NASA’s Cube Quest Challenge, the agency’s first in-space competition that offers the agency’s largestever prize purse. Competitors have a shot at a share of $5 million in prize money and an opportunity to participate in space exploration and technology development, to include a chance at flying their very own CubeSat to the moon and beyond as secondary payload on the first integrated flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft & Space Launch System rocket. “NASA’s Cube Quest Challenge will engage teams in the development of the new technologies that will advance the state of the art of CubeSats and demonstrate their capabilities as viable deep space explorers,” said Michael Gazarik, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Prize competitions like this engage the general public and directly contribute to NASA’s goals while serving as a tool for open innovation.” Challenge objectives include designing, building and delivering flight-qualified, small satellites capable of advanced operations near and beyond the moon. The challenge and prize purse are divided into three major areas: Ground Tournaments: $500,000 in the four qualifying ground tournaments to determine who will have the ability to fly on the first SLS flight; continued on page 78 74

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coming soon - The crossings Pristine 3 Bedroom / 2.5 bath transitional home. Fresh paint and new carpet. Updated with new granite counters, appliances and fixtures. Wonderful neighborhood with recreation area, walking trails, playground and pool.

new listing - Piper Glen Enjoy dramatic views of the golf course in this gracious 4 bedroom / 3.5 bath one-story home with finished basement and great cul-desac location. Living room with coffered ceiling, elegant Great Room with fireplace and entertainment center. Gorgeous kitchen with dark granite counters. Simply beautiful! $679,000

Rental - coventry court Fabulous Opportunity for 3-Bedroom Townhome in Sought-After Ballantyne Area! Hardwoods throughout 1st Floor. Ceramic tile in baths with new carpet and paint throughout. Granite counters, recessed lighting, stainless steel appliances. Surround Sound Speakers in Family Room & Master! Huge Master BR & Walk-in Closet! Oversize Garage w/Storage Area All this in Charlotte's Best School Zone & within Walking Distance to the New Publix!

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new listing - Waverly hall Extremely well maintained Gorgeous 2 story with large floor plan. Shows pride of ownership. Total upgrades on all baths and kitchen, formal dining room. Nice size bedrooms and closets complete with remodeled bathrooms. Perfect placed patio shaded by mature trees, look out to large backyard, perfect for entertaining. Termite bond! One year home warranty! Lots of storage. Storage shed. This one is a must see! $239,900

new listing - Providence Plantation Beautiful two-story home in a great neighborhood with a voluntary homeowner association. Immaculately maintained and with great bones. Cozy loft overlooks two-story Greatroom, Master bedroom on the main floor and a spacious finished basement just perfect for relaxing and entertaining. Screened porch overlooks wooded back yard. Add your personal touch and make this home your own. $349,900

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coming soon - southampton Immaculate home on one of the best wooded and fenced lots in the highly desired Southampton community. NEW ROOF!! 2600 sq. ft, 5 Bedroom / 2.5 baths. Spacious kitchen and two formal dining rooms. Beautifully updated master bath, new fixtures and appliances. Gleaming refinished hardwood floors. Amazing backyard with huge deck and patio.

new listing - hunter oaks Pristine home in beautiful Weddington. New 2014 roof! Shea home in Hunter Oaks, 3,00 sq.ft., 4 bedrooms plus Bonus, 3 full baths. The HVAC is less than a year old. Just perfect for entertaining with a Home theater, surround sound, and built-in Bose system at the deck. Lovely kitchen with granite counters and SS appliances. Main level bedroom and full bath. Large master suite with separate area ideal for an office or nursery. Spacious lot with irrigation system. Schedule your personal tour today. $399,000

Happy New Year! www.RealtorAnish.com Wishing you and your family all the happiness during this festive holiday season and throughout the coming New Year!!! This year, again due to your support, i have maintained my #1 rank at the helen Adams Realty Ballantyne office! i am grateful for the business and referrals from following families in 2014. Timothy & Paula Reilly Rishi & Sikha Bhatnagar

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News Notes

continued from page 74

Lunar Derby: $3 million for demonstrating the ability to place a CubeSat in a stable lunar orbit and demonstrate communication and durability near the moon; and Deep Space Derby: $1.5 million for demonstrating communication and CubeSat durability at a distance greater than almost 2.5 million miles (4,000,000 km), 10 times the distance from the Earth to the moon The Cube Quest Challenge seeks to develop and test subsystems necessary to perform deep space exploration using small spacecraft. Advancements in small spacecraft capabilities will provide benefits to future missions and also may enable entirely new mission scenarios, including future investigations of near-Earth asteroids. “Cube Quest is an important competition for the agency as well as the commercial space sector,” said Eric Eberly, deputy program manager for Centennial Challenges at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “If we can produce capabilities usually associated with larger spacecraft in the much smaller platform of CubeSats, a dramatic improvement in the affordability of space missions will result, greatly increasing science and research possibilities.” All teams may compete in any one of the four ground tournaments. Teams that rate high on mission safety and probability of success will receive incremental awards. The ground tournaments will be held every four to six months and participation is required to earn a secondary payload spot on SLS. The Lunar Derby focuses primarily on propulsion for small spacecraft and near-Earth communications, while the Deep Space Derby focuses on finding innovative solutions to deep space communications using small spacecraft. Together, these competitions will contribute to opening deep space exploration to non-government spacecraft. NASA’s Centennial Challenges drive progress in aerospace technology — of significant value to the agency’s missions — and encourage broad-based participation in aerospace research and development. The challenges help find the most innovative solutions to technical challenges through competition and cooperation. There have been 24 Centennial Challenges events since 2005. NASA has awarded more than $6 million to 16 challenge-winning teams. NASA’s Centennial Challenges Program is part of the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is responsible for innovating, developing, testing and flying hardware for use on future NASA missions. During the next 18 months, the directorate will make significant new investments to address several high-priority challenges for achieving safe and affordable deep space exploration. For more information about the directorate, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech The Centennial Challenges Program is managed at Marshall and the Cube Quest Challenge is administered by the agency’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. For more information on the Cube Quest Challenge, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/cubequest To learn more about NASA’s challenges and citizen science efforts, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/solve Courtesy of NASA.gov Saathee.com

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Recipes & More

The cool vibe of citrus can’t be beat - and the concept just got better with the arrival of Chilean navel oranges.

Fresh citrus makes cooking come alive (ARA) - Has your snacking and cooking become boring? It’s easy to fall into a flavorless rut. If this sounds like you, take note from top chefs and health enthusiasts alike and look to citrus for the flavors and nutrients we love. Nothing tastes more refreshing than the sweet tang of fresh citrus. And now you can enjoy the seedless pleasures of navel oranges fresh from Chile, where their winter harvest is in full swing. One juicy segment after another - that’s one of the best ways to enjoy easily peeled navel oranges. Keep a bowlful of wedges front and center in the fridge for healthy refreshing snacks, or cut into segments for fruit plates or garnishes. Think oranges are too much trouble? Think again. For painless peeling trim slices from the top and bottom. Place one end down on a cutting board. Cut or peel strips from top to bottom, removing the white pith. Separate segments by pulling or cutting between surrounding membranes and enjoy. Fresh navel oranges are terrific in healthful salads, but also think of them in cold soups and fruity drinks. Who wouldn’t love a sprightly Chilean Navel Orange and Radish Salad with Citrus-Dijon dressing? Another day, dip into Chilean Navel Orange and Tomato Gazpacho, a delightfully different twist on a beloved cold soup. Or, how about a smoothie made by whirling in a blender a combo of navel segments, vanilla yogurt and mango sorbet? Other navel orange inspirations include: On the grill • Skewer orange pieces with pork or chicken cubes. Brush with teriyaki sauce or another marinade. • Sprinkle thick, peeled orange slices with ground ginger. Grill until lightly caramelized. • Use as a bed for fish or cut up and add to salads.

Chilean navel Orange and Radish salad Ingredients: 3 Chilean navel oranges, peeled 4 cups mixed baby greens (about 5 ounces) 1 small green apple, cut into matchsticks (about 1-1/2 cups) 3/4 cup thinly sliced radishes (about 4 radishes) 2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallion (green onion) 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 1/2 teaspoon honey 1/8 teaspoon salt Pinch of ground black pepper Method: Into large bowl, cut oranges into segments, reserving membranes. Add greens, apple, radishes and scallion; toss gently. In small bowl, squeeze two tablespoons orange juice from membranes; stir in vinegar, mustard, honey, salt and black pepper. Divide orange salad mixture equally among four salad plates; top with dressing. Serves four. Chilean navel Orange and Tomato Gazpacho Ingredients: 3 Chilean navel oranges 3 plum tomatoes 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallion (green onion)

Method: Grate one teaspoon zest from one orange; set aside. Peel all oranges. Into a small bowl cut one of the oranges into segments; cut into small pieces; set aside. Cut remaining two oranges into two-inch chunks; place in a food processor. Quarter two of the tomatoes; add to the food processor along with red pepper, vinegar, oil, salt, black pepper and reserved salads and such • Add navel orange segments, zest and toasted almonds to a orange zest. Pulse until orange mixture is very finely chopped but not pureed, about 10 to 12 times. Chop remaining tomato; couscous or mixed grain salad. • Cut orange segments into halves for chicken salad dressed add to orange in the small bowl along with scallion. Divide with a tangy yogurt-dill dressing. Serve in a Boston lettuce gazpacho among four soup plates; top with chopped orange, tomato and scallion mixture. Serves four. cup or on a sandwich. • For a refreshing salsa, coarsely chop orange or Clementine segments, cucumber and red onion. Season with chipotle pepper, cilantro and lime juice. Kirti Shah, CPA • Send your salad in a Mediterranean direction with sliced Certified Public Accountant oranges, sweet onions, oil-cured olives and a pesto dressing.

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Quick sips • Make an ultra-easy sorbet with a food processor by pureeing frozen Chilean navel orange or grapefruit segments with a little confectioners’ sugar. • For a nutritious smoothie, give frozen grapefruit, navel or Clementine segments, banana and cranberry juice a whirl in your blender. Navel oranges join an elite collection of Chilean citrus that also includes lemons, mandarin oranges, Clementines and Saathee.com

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January 2015

Community Focus events of note

2015 Us Figure skating Championships U.S Figure skating has announced that the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships will be held from January 17-25, 2015, at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, N.C. The U.S. Figure Skating Championships is the organization’s largest event and was also held in Greensboro in 2011. The 2011 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships featured 252 skaters. Since that event, U.S. Figure Skating has added juvenile and intermediate competition to the event, which has added another approximately 100 participants to the competition. The coliseum is located at 1921 W Lee St, Greensboro. Details are available at www.northcarolina2015.com.

nrityagram Dance Ensemble The Nrityangram Dance Ensemble presents the performance “Songs of Love & Longing” on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 8 pm at the Reynolds Industries Theater on the campus of Duke University. Surupa Sen (choreographer/dancer) and Bijayini Satpathy (dancer), the duo from South India’s Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, will perform a special program of solos and duets inspired by the epic Indian poem the Gita Govinda. They will be accompanied by a musical ensemble featuring voice, harmonium, mardala, violin, and bansuri, recounting the love between the immortal Krishna and the human Radha described in the 12th-century ballad. Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, based in an intentional community near Bangalore, is regarded as India’s foremost dance company, and the leading exemplar of the classical dance form Odissi. Calling their New York debut “one of the most luminous dance events of the year,” the New York Times marveled as the company “performed with a burnished grace, a selfless concentration, and a depth that reflected their intensive training.” Although dedicated to an ancient practice, Nrityagram is also committed to carrying Indian dance into the twenty-first century by making new choreography and collaborating with contemporary Indian musicians. Tickets start at $10. For info www.nrityagram.org and www.dukeperformances.duke.edu/calendar.

Republic Day Celebrations The Hindu Center of Charlotte will celebrate India’s Republic Day on Sunday, January 25, 2015 at the Gandhi Bhavan at the Center located at 7400 City View Dr. There will be flag hoisting, singing of anthems, cultural show and lunch. For more details call 704-535-3440 or visit www.hcclt.org. nuv Yug India Fest After successfully producing Indian cultural arts festivals in North Carolina for over a decade, the organization Nuv Yug embarks on a journey to assist communities in other major cities to start similar festivals based on the organization’s processes and system. The inaugural Charlotte India Fest will take place from March 14 - 15, 2015. The festival features dance performances, visual arts, crafts, food, vendors, and exhibits of India’s culture. There will be an India Fest in Atlanta on March 28, 2015 as well as in Raleigh, NC from April 11 – 12, 2015. The Fest in Charlotte will be held at The Park Expo and Conference Center. For further details visit www.indiafestusa.net.

Community news

shantala shivalingappa Lauded as a rare dancer by artists and connoisseurs the world over Shantala Shivalingappa brings a captivating contemporary sensibility to the 2,000-year-old traditional South Indian Kuchipudi dance form. Deeply moved and inspired by the grace and purity of Kuchipudi, she dedicated herself to intense and rigorous training from one of its greatest teachers, Vempati Chinna Satyam. Her ensuing associations with seminal choreographers and directors including Pina Bausch and Peter Brook fueled her rapid rise in the West and sparked a new global dance generation with her charm, musicality, and the vibrant storytelling embodied in her performances. Live musicians accompany her for this performance. She will present a performance called “Akasha.” She will perform on Wed, February 18, 2015 at 7:30 pm on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. Single tickets start at $10. For more details visit www.carolinaperformingarts.org. Saathee.com

Mental Health Research award The Psychiatric Foundation of North Carolina is seeking nominations for the V. Sagar Sethi, M.D. Mental Health Research Awards. Candidates may not self-nominate. Submission deadline is January 15, 2015. The award seeks to honor a scientist for significant contributions to basic research in the neurosciences, psychology, or pharmacology at a molecular, cellular or behavioral level. Criteria include: • Significant contribution to basic research; • Research has had a significant impact or is highly likely to have significant impact on clinical psychiatric care; • Candidates hold an M.D. or Ph.D. and are conducting active research in the United States The award recipient will receive $7,000 and travel support to present a lecture during the NC Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting & Scientific Session, October 1-4, 2015. Nominations should be submitted by January 15, 2015. A one page nomination letter and the nominee’s CV should be sent via mail, fax, or email to one of the following: 82

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Psychiatric Foundation of North Carolina Attn: Sethi Award Selection Committee, 4917 Waters Edge Drive, Ste. 250, Raleigh, NC 27606 For more information visit www.ncpsychiatry.org/sethi-award or contact the Foundation’s staff at info@ncpsychiatry.org or 919-859-3370. Include “Attn: Sethi Award Selection Committee” in the subject line of email. Previous recipients: 2014 - P. Je-rey Conn, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University. 2013 - Charles Nemero-, M.D., Ph.D., the University of Miami. 2012 - Patrick F. Sullivan, M.D., the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Vision Express lead a team to India for Health Camps

For the third year in a row, Vision Express, a Western North Carolina-based nonprofit, and Rug & Home teamed up to host health camps in rural villages near Varanasi, India. A team of ten volunteers, including an ophthalmologist and several nurses from the Carolinas went to India in early November to serve in various capacities in the health camps. They collaborated with twentyfive Indian medical professionals and thirty volunteers from the surrounding region in India. With over 2,500 patients seen over the course of three days, the health camp included practitioners from a multitude of specialties, ranging from general practitioners to gynecologists, cardiac specialists, dentists, ophthalmologists, and pediatricians. The volunteers who took this journey from the Carolinas assisted, observed, and collected data on the patients seen by the physicians. The ultimate goal was the cross-culture exchange of knowledge and ideas for the betterment of future health camps. The focus of the camps was on women’s health issues, with a special focus on screening for cataracts. Treatable cataract blindness is one of the most prevalent problems faced by women, young and old, in the underprivileged population in this region of India. Vision Express was established with the express purpose of eradicating cataract blindness for this group of females. Rakesh Agarwal, CEO of Rug & Home and Founder of Vision Express, believes, “These health camps serve as a small step in the cross-cultural exchange between the two biggest democracies in the world. My hope was to create long-lasting relationships and a bridge amongst the U.S. and Indian physicians and volunteers.” As a part of the cultural experience, the U.S. team toured the Taj Mahal in Agra, the forts and palaces in Jaipur, and the major sites in New Delhi. Other than air travel, all expenses were paid by the Agarwal Family. The essay below was written by one of the volunteer team members, Jessica Shirley, who traveled from Western North Carolina to India. She is the Director of Student Services for the Western Carolina University School of Nursing. “Growing up in rural Atlanta, one does not often see cows sauntering down sidewalks or cars careening down roads with little care for regulation. These were just a few of the many realities I experienced during my recent trip to India as a member of the Vision Express team. After touching down in New Delhi, I Saathee.com

soon realized that India was, in one breath, a colorful mix of beautiful ironies. During the camp days, I observed patients with extreme conditions thankful for the free medical care all the while adorned in the most opulent of attire. Village women waited in the clinic lines dressed in their grandest saris and jewelry which made for an undulating sight to behold. Children, without shoes on their feet, sang and danced and drew for our team with delightful abandon. This was day one of the trip and the beautiful ironies had only begun to unfold themselves to me. At the conclusion of the second day of camp, we were invited by the local team of doctors to tour a non-profit hospital. The conditions were, at best, primitive by American standards. However, the doctors and nurses could not have been more proud of their equipment and resources. Again, the beautiful ironies of India amazed me. On the last camp day, I had the privilege of speaking to over 120 eagerly attentive nursing students at Banaras Hindu University. While this opportunity was, I feel, extremely valuable to both the students and myself, it was the ride to and from the event that has had a lasting impression on me. My escorts, local members of the Vision Express team, regaled me with stories of the many dynamic nuances of India’s history and Hindu culture. As we drove down streets lined with trash and past homes without proper toilets or power, I was entranced by how dear Indians hold their culture, their history, their religion and one another, despite what conditions they must endure. Once again, I was moved by the unmistakable ironies that define India. Leaving camp was bittersweet. I developed many great friendships and had quickly grown accustomed to the rhythm of life in the camps. I did not want to leave but knew there was so much more to explore and experience. As it turns out, India did not disappoint. Rakesh Agarwal had planned a cultural immersion itinerary for the team for the next few days that far exceeded all our expectations. The remainder of our trip was filled with thrilling rides on elephants in Jaipur, walks past snake charmers and eager merchants willing to haggle over a few hundred rupees, and rides down narrow, noisy streets in Agra to view the majestic Taj Mahal. The genuine kindness of the locals wanting to know more about my culture was always met with my desire to know more about theirs. All of these extravagant activities were in stark contrast to the poverty that permeated each Indian village, community and city. For all of these mesmerizing ironies and so many more, I encourage others to experience India and participate in any opportunities to contribute to a greater good.” Vision Express provides sight-restoring cataract operations to underprivileged Indian women suffering from cataract blindness. The individuals who are given the opportunity to have this corrective eye surgery are once again able to play active roles in their families and communities. For more information visit www.visionexpress.net. Manzoor Cheema awarded Human Rights award Triangle community member Manzoor Cheema is the recipient of the 14th Annual International Human Rights Award. This award is given by The Human Rights Coalition of NC. He was given the award at a dinner reception on December 9, 2014 NC State University Club in Raleigh. Cheema has been active in human-rights campaigns since 1999 and is known to many in the Triangle area of North Carolina for his work in independent video production chronicling a broad range of grassroots struggles for human rights and social justice. In 2005, he launched the public access television show, Independent Voices, which, through 2009, produced fifty episodes including excerpts rebroadcast by Democracy Now and earned the program recognition from The 84

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People’s Channel, of Chapel Hill, NC, as best documentary-based television show. This TV show was broadcast from 70 public access television stations across the United States. Independent Voices covered items of international interest. Independent Voices also featured human rights activists in South Korea and grassroots social justice activists in Pakistan. In addition to his video production work, Cheema spent four years writing for Houston-based Pakistan Chronicle newspaper, where he focused on issues faced by the marginalized South Asian community members. In 2012, he traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan, to visit with the progressive, Pakistani organization, Awami Workers Party, to explore collaboration between Pakistani and American labor movements. He has worked actively to connect workers’ struggles in the United States and Pakistan. He has been collaborating with activists in Pakistan to highlight persecution of Pakistani labor-rights and environmental-justice leader Baba Jan. Cheema established the Social Justice Committee of the Triangle Interfaith Alliance and has helped guide this committee to rally interfaith community members against harassment based on faith, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or income level. For more information on the Human Rights Coalition of North Carolina visit www.hrcnc.org/Home.html. Children’s Day 2014 By Yash Garg India celebrates Children’s Day on November 14. Heritage India Association of North Carolina (HIANC) celebrated it on Sat, November 15, 2014 at the HSNC Cultural Hall, Morrisville. This annual celebration of Children’s Day offers an opportunity to children to work as organizers, managers, volunteers and performers, as well as develop skills such as team spirit, leadership, and cultural awareness. The event presented a variety of dances from folk to Bollywood and from modern to classical dances performed by teams of vibrant and highly skilled youngsters, musical performances and Indian fashions show. Priyanka Mohanty and Arpita Das – two High School students —were the Emcees for the event. The program began with lamp lighting by the Chief Guest Harold Wein Brecht, Mayor of Cary, and Mark Stohlman, Mayor of Morrisville, NC, who proclaimed Nov. 15, 2014, as Children’s Day in their towns. Dance is a strong yet fun medium to unfold creativity, build team spirit, boost confidence, enhance social skills as well as it introduces creative expression, cultural arts, fitness, and the universal language of love, peace and harmony. FolkFusion Dance competition was conducted in three categories: 1st. 5-8 age group – two groups were in tie – one choreographed by Sangeeta Nayak and another by Shweta Bhatnagar; 9-12 Group category winning dance was choreographed by Anuja

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Patil and the Teens winning dance was choreographed by Alicia Thomas and Ambika Mittal. Winning Teams in all categories received a Heritage Award Trophy and all participants of the winning teams received “Star Performer Heritage Medal.” Three teens received Heritage Award – Ridhima Desai and Priyanka Mohanty were recognized for their contributions to the community services and Jaytheert Rao for excellence in academics. Each Heritage Award honoree also received illustrated book on India through the courtesy of Prakash Devalapalli. Dr. Ritu Kalra Chandak, pediatric dentist, offered a free dental camp; she not only checked children’s teeth, but also gave them dental kits. The HIANC organizing committee is appreciative of numerous individuals, especially Sangeeta Nayak, who chaired the cultural program committee and selected items for fashion shows, and Harish Chander, who sold tickets at the front desk in the gallery. There was also a fashion show presented.

Miss India Usa 2014 On December 14, 2014 at the Royal Albert’s Palace, Fords, New Jersey, Pranathy Gangaraju of Georgia was crowned Miss India USA 2014. Miss India USA is the oldest running Indian pageant outside of India. The 33rd annual pageant was

organized by the New York-based IFC, headed by Dharmatma Saran, Founder and the Chief Organizer of the Pageant. Riya Kaur from New Jersey was crowned Miss Teen India USA and Namita Dodwadkar of Massachusetts was also crowned the first Mrs. India USA in the same pageant. Gangaraju, 19, is a student majoring in acting and production. She will represent USA in the 24th annual Miss India Worldwide Pageant, also organized by IFC, to be held in Goa, India in June of 2016. Riya Kaur, 15, would like to become an actress or a doctor. She was crowned Miss Teen India USA among eighteen other contestants. The first ever Mrs. India USA is Namita Dodwadkar, 28, a senior scientist at Novartis and holds a Ph. D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences. The pageant started with a performance by all the contestants led by the outgoing queen Monica Gill and choreographed by Shilpa Jhurani. All contestants presented their best in the Indian and the Evening Gown segment after which the top ten were selected. The panel of judges included Dr. Ravi Jhagirdar – President of AAPI, Satya Shaw a cultural activist from Florida, Dr. Binod Sinha – a medical doctor from Edison, Susmita Patel – celebrity makeup artist and Ines Hernandez a fashion designer from Dominican Republic. The crowning was followed by dinner and dance.

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Community Organizations Carolina Khadayata samaj Istdav Shree Kotyark Prabhu’s Mahotsav was celebrated at Jaswant and Usha Mehta’s residence in Huntersville, NC on November 7, 2014. All Khadayata families of NC and SC are welcome to be part of the Carolina Khadayata Samaj. For Further Details: carolinakhadayatasamaj@yahoo.com Jaswant Mehta704-839-1965 or Rita Shah at 704-321-0740

Charlotte agaram Tamil Palli Agaram Tamil Palli serves the Tamil speaking community in Greater Charlotte area by conducting Tamil language classes. For further details contact: Megalai Ezhilarasan agaramtp.coord@gmail.com 704-456 9881 http://agaramtamilpalli.wordpress.com CPCC Central Campus, 1201 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28235

Carolinas Christian assembly - Charlotte Everyone is cordially invited to join for Sunday worship, Bible class, Sunday school: Sundays from 9 am - 12 pm. English and various Indian languages are used in the Sunday services. Contact for further details Rev. Dr. K.C. Paul (704.771.1414), Rajan Mathew (704.756.4969), Jose Varughese (704.453.6177), Varughese K. Thomas (803.322.9549).

art of living (Healing with the Breath) Art of Living is dedicated to serving society by strengthening the individual. This is done through self-development programs that recharge the body, mind and spirit and allow people to function at their optimum potential. People from all backgrounds, religions and cultural traditions come together in service and celebration. For Further Details: 980-216-8732 charlotte@us.artofliving.org www.artofliving.org or www.artofliving.org/charlotte

Charlotte Gita study Group Beginners and advanced students of the Gita are welcome. The group meets the second and fourth Sunday of each month from 3 - 5 pm. This course is based on the Home Study Course of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Saylorsburg, PA. Each session starts with a meditation followed by a recorded lecture in English, supplemented by discussion among the group. For further details: Rishi and Shikha Bhatnagar, rishi@solveron.com, 513.518.5300 Shridhar and Kruti Dave, skdave@hotmail.com, 704.844.9567 Naras and Beena Eechambadi, narasee@gmail.com www.freewebs.com/gitastudy

association for India’s Development - Charlotte A volunteer movement committed to promoting sustainable, equitable and just-development. AID Charlotte supports grassroots organizations in India and initiates efforts in various interconnected spheres such as education, livelihoods, natural resources, health, women’s empowerment and social justice. For further details: Kiran Uppalapati 704.307.6450; Venkata Ramana Duddu 662.231.2350.

Charlotte Hindu Center Table Tennis The group meets every Wednesday from 6.30 - 10 pm. New players come after 7.30 pm for orientation. The TT action takes place at the Vihar Hall of Charlotte’s Hindu Center, 7400 City View Drive , Charlotte, NC 28134. All levels and types of play. Free coaching and lessons. For further details: 704.607.8412.

BaPs shri swaminarayan Mandir A spiritual, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to improving society through individual growth by fostering the Hindu ideals of faith, unity, and selfless service. Activities include: Daily Arti - 6:30am & 6:30pm; Weekly Satsang Sabha held every Sunday which includes Bhajans and Spiritual Discourses: Adults: 4pm, Young Men (Ages 23-36) - 3pm, Young Women (Ages 23-36) – 4pm, Teenagers - 4:30pm, and Children - 5pm. The Temple is located at 4100 Margaret Wallace Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28105. For Further Details: 704.573.0805 www.baps.org

Charlotte Indian Christian Fellowship We meet on the third Saturday of every month at 6:30 pm for Prayer, Bible Study and Fellowship. Anyone who is interested to spend an evening with us is welcome to come with your family and friends. For Further Details: Hema at 704.841.7060 hadhopper@hotmail.com Charlotte Indian Karaoke Group CIKG invites karaoke lovers to come and sing Hindi songs on karaoke. It does not matter whether you are a beginner or experienced. The most important thing is to get together and have fun. The event is held once a month, usually on Friday or Saturday. Entry and participation is free. For Further Details: Dinesh Patel at cikgrocks@yahoo.com

Bethel Christian Fellowship Bethel Christian Fellowship offers services in various Indian languages (i.e. Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, etc.) Sunday school Time - 11:15 - 11:45 am; Sunday Worship Service time: 11:45 - 1:15 pm. Sunday Service Location: Fort Mill Church of God, Student Life Center Building, 216 Academy Street, Room 102. Fort Mill, South Carolina 29715. Saturday Service Location: Life Builders Church - 730 Oak Dale Rd, Charlotte NC 28216. For further details: 803.792.7223; pastorofbcf@gmail.com (Pastor: Rajan Samuel). Saathee.com

Charlotte Kriya Yoga Group Charlotte Kriya Yoga Group Promotes Kriya Yoga Meditation practices as taught by lineage of realized masters such as Mahaavatar Baba Ji, Lahri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteshwar Giri, Paramahamsa Yogananda, Hariharananda, and Prajanananada. A sincere seeker who follows the path of Kriya 88

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Community Organizations 704.814.9355704.814.9355 (Lakshmi Muthukrishnan) lakshmi7778@yahoo.com cmacmusic@yahoo.com www.onlinecmac.com

Yoga with love and devotion and a desire for spiritual growth can attain Self-realization- even in one lifetime. The Center hosts two annual initiation programs and a weekly Sunday meditation for initiates. For Further Details: Agupta1@Carolina.rr.com www.kriya.org

Dada Bhagwan Group What is Gnan Vidhi? It is scientific process of attaining Self Realization in the presence of Atmagnani. It is the gracing of real knowledge that separates the real Self from the non-self. The benefits of Gnan Vidhi are many like attaining awareness of the soul, getting solution through right understanding, removing wrong beliefs and destroying past sins. For further details contact 877 505 Dada (3232). www.dadabhagwan.org

Charlotte Malayalee association The purpose of this association is to promote and facilitate the cultural, educational, social and economic welfare of the Charlotte Malayalee community. For Further Details: Sunu Sebastian (sunu@email.com) or www.cltma.org.

Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India (EVFI) was established to help in the overall development of the remote tribal and rural villages in India. Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA along with EVFI is committed to the cause of eradicating illiteracy from tribal areas. Education is the key to self-esteem, self-sustenance, economic wellbeing and happiness. The Carolinas Region of the EVFUSA conducts fund raising and awareness programs in North and South Carolina. For Further Details: Ekal Charlotte Chapter: Kameswar Tulasi himadeeps@yahoo.com Ekal Columbia: Janak Dalal / jaydalalcolumbia@gmail.com

Charlotte Marathi Mandal CSMM promotes Maharashtrian culture and language. Maharashtra mandal is committed to serve Carolina Marathi community with various cultural, social and traditional Marathi programs and events. For Further Details: csmmonline@gmail.com www.charlottemarathimandal.com Charlotte Tamil sangam Charlotte Tamil Sangam works to bring together the vibrant Tamil community in the Charlotte area and strives to promote the Tamil language, arts and culture. For Further Details: Lakshmanan Krishnan (lakshmanank@hotmail.com) or visit www.cltts.org

Gurdwara sahib - Charlotte The Sikh Heritage Society strives to unite and enrich the lives of the Sikh & Punjabi communities of Charlotte and surrounding areas. “Gurdwara” address: 1760 Stoney Creek Lane, Charlotte, NC 28262. Regular Program: Every Sunday: 10 - 11am, Asa Di War by Bhai Satnam Singh Jee, 11:00 am 12:00 pm, Keertan by Children, 12:00 pm — 1:15 pm, Keertan by Bhai Satnam Singh Jee, 1:15 pm - 1:30 pm, Ardaas, followed by Guru Ka Langar. Upcoming Events: Jan 4: Gurpurab for Guru Gobind Sing For Further Details: Gurdwara: 704.509.2828704.509.2828 704.541.0350704.541.0350 (Sajjan Dhaliwal) sajjan@carolina.rr.com, 704.948.8091704.948.8091 (Inderjeet Rajpal), irajpal@aol.com

Charlotte Telangana association Charlotte Telangana Assoc. was formed to promote Telangana cultural activities within greater Charlotte area and also bring together all the Telangana people living in the area to discuss, plan, and take action around the development of Telangana focusing both on rural and urban Telangana areas. For Further Details: www.charlottetelangana.com Charlotte Vipassana Meditation Group Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation. It was taught in India more than 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills. The Charlotte Vipassana Meditation Group holds weekly group sits and monthly all day sits for established students (those who have taken at least one ten day course from S. N. Goenka or one of his assistant teachers). Ten-day courses are also available for all students. There is never a charge for a course. To apply for a 10 day retreat visit www.patapa.dhamma.org For Further Details: 704.277.5013, rbddesai@gmail.com 704.563.5440, dspranger@gmail.com www.dhamma.org

Hindu Center of Charlotte The temple holds many regular events and religious ceremonies. The temple library is stocked with books, CDs, DVDs and other materials on varied genre such as religion, culture, history, philosophy, yoga and health. The Hindu Center is located at 7400 City View Drive, Charlotte, NC 28212. Upcoming Events: Jan 17: Sankranti / Lohri / Pongal Jan 25: Republic Day Celebrations For Further Details: 704.535.3440 / 704.607.8412 (facility manager) admin@hcclt.org or www.hcclt.org

Classical Music association of Charlotte (CMaC) CMAC sponsors many classical concerts during the year in Charlotte. Membership forms are available at concerts. For Further Details: 704.541.3361704.541.3361 (Rama Rachakonda), Saathee.com

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Community Organizations For Further Details on JCGC Contact: JCGC President Vibhakar Modi 704.258.4507 info@jaincenter.us www.jaincenter.us

IaMC (Indian american Muslim Council) Charlotte Chapter IAMC is an independent organization committed to promoting peace, pluralism and social justice for all through advocacy. The organization is also committed to promote and protect human rights and human dignity in India as they are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace. IAMC-Charlotte, seeks to reach out to Indian Muslims living in and around Charlotte to join efforts to promote Peace and Social Justice for all, and to strive for Inter-Faith, Inter-Community understanding particular focus on Indian Diaspora. For Further Details: Ashfaq Mehdi 704.904.5778 Afzal Syed 704.770.1103 iamc-charlotte@yahoogroups.com

Kiran Kiran, Inc. is a community based South Asian organization promoting self-reliance and empowerment of South Asian women and men who are in domestic violence through crisis counseling and intervention, language assistance and translation and resource referrals in a confidential manner. Kiran operates a 24/7 hotline service. Services offered at Kiran are confidential and free of charge. The organization spreads awareness about causes and effects of domestic violence in the community and cooperates and collaborates with organizations in the USA and elsewhere with similar objectives. Kiran assists and provides information on referrals to professional and community services regarding legal issues, health care, short-term child care, psychological counseling, and temporary shelter and housing. For Further Details call or visit website: 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1877- NC-KIRAN or 1-877-625-4726 Phone: 919-839-6203 / Email: kiran@kiraninc.org www.kiraninc.org

India association of Charlotte (Festival Of India) The organization works to foster fostering better understanding of the rich diversity of Indian culture by the larger community in and around Charlotte. A key activity is the annual Festival of India, which will be held every September in uptown Charlotte. For Further Details: Toni Sawhney 704-604-2133 Lal Vishin 704-545-3727 www.indiafestival.net

life Bliss Charlotte Meditation Center The Charlotte chapter of Life Bliss organization is run by volunteers who are trying to spread the knowledge of Yoga and Meditation by letting people experience the teachings of Vedic Science in its purest form delivered by the enlightened master Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda. Life Bliss Foundation is part of a worldwide movement for meditation and healing. Paramahamsa Nithyananda is a global leader in the science of enlightenment. Nithyananda is revered as a living avatar (divine incarnation) by millions worldwide. He is the author of more than 300 books published in 27 languages. For Further Details: 10127 Legolas Ln, Charlotte, NC 28269 LifeBlissClt@gmail.com 704-766-1420 / 704-992-6114 www.innerawakening.org

Indian Performing arts association of Charlotte (IPaaC) IPAAC (Indian Performing Arts Association of Charlotte) promotes classical Hindustani music by inviting well-known artists from India. IPAAC is offering music classes at various locations in Charlotte. For details send an email to musicschool@ipaac.org. For Further Details: Chaula Jain 704.364.0984 Jyoti Kulkarni 704.804.1275 contact@ipaac.org www.ipaac.org Jain Center of Greater Charlotte (JCGC) The JCGC serves the spiritual, cultural, social, and community needs of Jain families in and around metropolitan Charlotte area. JCGC is dedicated to the practice, understanding, promotion, and preservation of the Jain faith. Activities include celebrating major religious festivals such as Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushan, and Diwali, and routine programs like Swadhyay, Poojas and children’s Pathshaala. The Jain Center is located at 7631 Mallard Creek Rd. (near Harris Blvd., in Charlotte, NC 28262). Upcoming Events: Sunday, Jan 4, 2014 (Chaudas): Pakkhi Pratikraman @ 7 pm Sun, Jan 11, 2014 (Chhath): Paathshala for children @ 10:30 am Monday, Jan 19, 2014 (Chaudas): Pakkhi Pratikraman @ 7 pm Wednesday, Jan 21, 2014 (Ekam): Snatra Puja @ 10:30 am Sunday, Jan 25, 2014 (Chhath): Monthly Meeting & Paathshala for Children @ 4 pm All Other Weekdays: 9:30am - Mon-Friday - Prakshal and Pooja, 7:30pm - Aarti and Mangal Divo Weekends: 10:30am - Prakshal and Pooja,7:30pm - Aarti and Mangal Divo Saathee.com

net IP Charlotte NetIP Charlotte is the only official Carolinas chapter of North America’s Largest Network of Indian Professionals. NetIP Charlotte provides a forum for on-going Career Developmental and Professional Networking activities. It arranges various events and maintains deeper ties with Businesses & the community. It provides various effective ways for Carolinas’ Indian Professionals to connect with other successful professionals. For Further Details: www.netIPnc.org Pratham - Charlotte area Pratham organizes grassroots programs in the area of primary education. Pratham has made an impact on the learning levels of several million children through its Read India campaign. Pratham has developed an accelerated learning technique which helps children to read and write in two months. With nearly half the children in India who attend schools are not 92

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Community Organizations Center of Charlotte at 5 pm. After the bhajans, there is Aarti and Mahaprasad. In addition, on the 3rd Sunday of every month, an additional Satsang Sabha is held at sponsor’s house at 3 - 5 pm. For Further Details: 704.392.4488 - Ramesh Dhanani admin@issvcharlotte.org

learning to read and write at the required level, Pratham is trying to fill an important gap in the area of primary education. For Further Details: Anju Desai (ajdesai66@gmail.com or 980-622-0125) and Shubhra Chakraborty (shubhra.chakraborty1@gmail.com) or 704-942-4798). www.prathamusa.org. Probasi of Charlotte Probasi’s goal is to organize cultural and educational program related to Bengal in the Charlotte area, to increase Bengali cultural awareness, and to provide community service. For Further Details: www.probasi.org

shri Rang avadhut Parivar (Parspar Devo Bhav) The group meets Thursdays from 6 - 8 pm in Charlotte. The group recites Datta-Bavani, singing devotional Dattatraya Bhajans and reading Guru-Lilamrut. Detailed information about Charlotte meetings, literature, Videos, Nareshwar Ashram and Shri Avadhut’s life is available. For Further Details: Bharat Shah - 704.724.6247 Nagesh Patel - 704.399.7805

sahaj Marg Meditation Sahaj Marg, which means Simple or Natural path, is a Raj Yoga system of spiritual training based on the heart centered meditation. The features of this meditation include transmission of divine energy into the heart of the practitioner and cleaning of deep impressions, thereby regulating the mind. Regular practice of this system of meditation integrates the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of human being, while still encouraging people to maintain a normal family and working life. In the Charlotte area, group meditation is held at the Unity of Charlotte on Sundays and Wednesdays. For Further Details: Srikanth Katakam 704.496.4411 naturalpath.nc@gmail.com www.srcm.org

shrinath Dham Haveli The Shrinath Dham Haveli performs prayers and rituals on a regular basis. The haveli is located at 1006 Vickie Lane, Matthews, NC 28104. For More Details: 704-224-6500 704-763-3059 vsccarolinas@gmail.com www.charlottehaveli.org. sindhi association of the Carolinas The Sindhi Association of the Carolinas (SAC) is organizes religious, cultural, community, and social events in Charlotte. SAC also sends donations for the needy to the schools in India for Scholarship and also sends donations to refugees in camps in India. For Further Details: soniahassani1@gmail.com or 704.779.2396.

sangamithra Foundation Sangamithra Foundation is a Charlotte based charity organization formed by a group of people who thrive to make a difference in the society. The team has taken the path of identifying the needs of underprivileged communities in India and provides support to meet those needs. Sangamithra has made its presence known in the Charlotte community by its participation in the 2013 Festival of India, as part of its fund raising activity. In addition, with liaisons in both the UK and the UAE, Sangamithra is reaching out on a global scale and working collectively towards realizing its vision. If you would like to be a part of this noble cause, please touch base with Sangamithra Foundation. For Further Details: www.sangamithra.org; www.facebook.com/SangamithraFoundation info@sangamithra.org;

southPark Cricket Club South Park Cricket Club is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it has been an active member of the Mid Atlantic Cricket Conference since 2002. The club’s home ground is located at the Reedy Creek Park, 2900 Rocky River Road, Charlotte, NC. For Further Details: 847.722.9865 (Baseet Ahmed), baseer_11@yahoo.com www.southparkcc.org srishti of Charlotte Srishti works to fulfill the NC community’s need for togetherness and the desire to showcase Bengali culture, heritage, literature, theatre, music and popular arts. Literally, the word Srishti means an act of creation. Though established and coordinated by a group of Bengali families, Srishti welcomes and brings together people of varied cultures, ethnicity, languages, background and nationalities who are interested in East Indian traditions. For Further Details: Samiksha Bose: 704-321-1964 Santanu Sarkar: 704-541-3451 http://srishticharlotte.org/

shantiniketan senior Center of Carolinas The Shantiniketan Senior Center of Carolinas (SSCC) is located at Melange Health Solutions, 145 Scaleybark Rd., Charlotte, NC. The Center is open from 10am - 3pm. The Center presents members with activities, outings, access to physical care and mental wellbeing and care. For More Details: Nimish Bhatt 704-560-4910 / 704-491-1186 nimishbhatt@bellsouth.net shree swaminarayan satsang Mandal Vadtal On the 1st Saturday of every month, Shree Swaminarayan Satsang Mandal Vadtal has kirtans and bhajans at the Hindu Saathee.com

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Community Organizations Main sabha: 4 pm to 6 pm Gujarati classes: 2:30 pm to 3:45 pm Arti at 6 pm followed by Mahaprasad Fresh Shayona snacks available on Sundays. For Further Details: bapsgreensboro@gmail.com

Telugu association of Greater Charlotte area (TaGCa) The organization’s mission is to bring together Telugu speaking people and to promote Telugu Culture. TAGCA organizes regular events and programs. For Further Details: www.tagca.org

Greensboro Cricket Club (GCC) Good news for cricket lovers! There are several teams that play cricket in Greensboro. The goals of GCC are fun, fitness, and friendship. For info on play and location contact below players. For Further Details: 336.501.3566 (9:00 am - 9:00 pm, S&S) Dev, Greensboro Warriors, happy4mehta@yahoo.com; Venky, Triad Tigers, venkyhot@hotmail.com.

Trimurti Temple Charlotte, nC Trimurti Temple is open daily, morning puja (10am) and evening puja (7pm). Sunday abhisekhams (11am) and other special pujas. Temple is located at 6441/6519 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC 28216. All Sundays at 11 am Venkateswara Abishekam For Further Details: 980-219-7556 contact@trimurtitemple.org www.trimurtitemple.org

Gujarati Cultural association of Piedmont (GCaP) The Gujarati Cultural Association of Piedmont serves the Asian Indian community through sponsored events, cultural, educational and social programs. GCAP, 127 Landmark Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410 For Further Details: Jack Dhekar: 336.254.1727 Manubhai Patel: 336.253.7182 www.gcap.us

Vallabh Pushti samaj of Carolinas (VPsC) VPSC has announced Shrinathji Haveli – “Shrinath Dham” in Charlotte with support of all Vaishnav families of Carolinas. VPSC is starting construction in the near future of “Shrinath Dham Haveli” for benefit of entire Vaishnav Samaj and Pushtimargiya devotional activities. VPSC is moving forward with objective to fill devotional need for hundreds of Vaishnavs in Carolinas to worship and pray together, perform “seva and rituals” and to observe and celebrate festivals and to perform and engage in humanitarian and educational activities. Regular “Paath and Bhajan” recitations are held on 2nd Sunday of each month from 4-6 pm at Shrinath Dham Haveli Address - 1006 Vickie Lane, Stallings, NC 28104. For Further Details: vsccarolinas@gmail.com Prathmesh Shah: 704.763.3059

India association of the Triad (IaTnC) Greensboro The objective of the Association is to promote social, cultural and educational interests of its members, develop understanding between members of the Indian community and other residents of the Triad, and make the latter aware of issues of concern to the Indian community. For Further Details: Kumar Bhardwaj: 336-601-0567, kumar.vansh@gmail.com Ruby Singh: 336.430.9068, rs7227@gmail.com www.iatnc.org Indo-american society of nC (IasnC) The objectives of IASNC are to support the Indian, South Asian and American community residing in Greensboro, NC and vicinity and other individuals interested in learning the culture, traditions, and arts of India. Specifically, IASNC promotes Indo-American cultural, arts and sports events and also school based volunteering activities. For Further Details: Krishna Balu336-292-9462, balu4428@infionline.net www.iasofnc.org

Greensboro art of living (Greensboro) The Art of Living Foundation offers programs to uncover the strength, peace, and joy that lie at the core of every human being. Part I courses are offered regularly in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Charlotte and now Greensboro. The Part I course covers breathing techniques to eliminate stress & tension; skills for improving relationships at home & at work; practical wisdom to get the most out of life; insight into the laws that govern the mind & emotions; low-impact yoga and the masterpiece of the Art of Living Course is a powerful breathing-based technique called Sudarshan Kriya, or the healing breath. For Further Details: Nirupama Shankar @ shankar.nirupama@gmail.com Puja Verma @ puja_usa@yahoo.com http://us.artofliving.org/greensboro

Indo-Us Cultural association of Winston-salem The Indo-US Cultural Association’s primary mission is to increase awareness of the cultural heritage of India which is tremendously rich in its diversity and history. The Association seeks to reach out to the thriving Indian-American community within the Piedmont and Triad areas to share the vibrant Indian culture and promote cross-cultural understanding. For Further Details: Subba Reddy Meka, President, 336.577.5285 http://indouswinston.org/contact.aspx

BaPs Greensboro BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is located at 922 Gallimore Dairy Road, High Point, NC 27265. Every Sunday sabha times: Shishu (Toddlers) sabha: 4 pm to 5 pm Bal/Balika sabha: 4:15 pm to 5:30 pm Kishore sabha: 2 pm to 3:30 pm Saathee.com

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Community Organizations self-esteem, awareness, and clarity of mind. Advance courses are also available once every few months. Art of Living founded by Sri Sri Ravishankar’s mission is to create a violence free, stress free society and One World Family. Art of Living center holds follow-up sessions on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Kirtan Satsang every Friday evening. Art of Living Center 4000 Bear Cat Way Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560 For Further Details: 919-793-8490 rdu@us.artofliving.org www.behappytriangle.org

benefits can be achieved through the natural remedies of yoga therapy, Ayurveda, naturopathy and diet. 8136 NC Highway 119 South Mebane, NC 27302. For Further Details: 336.421.0690 848.459.7401 (Dr. Manoj) lifemissionusa@gmail.com www.lifemissionusa.com Quan am Buddhist Temple All interested in Buddhism are welcome. The temple is located at 1410 Glendale Dr. Greensboro, NC 27407. For Further Details: www.ChuaQuanAm.com

association for India’s Development (aID)- Duke University Chapter: AID’s mission is effect social change in India, by supporting projects with grassroots non-governmental organization in India in the areas of literacy, health care, rural credit, women’s empowerment etc. For Further Details: http://www.duke.edu/web/aid/

sri sathya sai Baba Center of Greensboro, nC The Center regularly conducting Sai Bhajans, Study Circle, various service activities and SSE class (for students) in Greensboro, NC all Sundays — 9:45 am to 12:15 pm For Further Details: Swami Rajendran 908-875-6964 Dr. Varatharajah 336-851-9150

atlantic Coast sikh association This is one of the oldest Sikh associations in the Southeastern USA. It meets every Sunday from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at its gurdwara, located at 3108 Sparger Road, Durham, NC 27705. Kirtan is done by Bhai Dyal Singh Jatha. Classes for Punjabi and religious studies are held for children at the same time. For Further Details: 919.309.1045 - Bhai Dyal Singh www.acsagurdwara.org

Temple of the Holy name Prabhupada Village is a rural Hare Krishna community situated in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Puja/Worship of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai/Sri Pancha Tattva starts at 5:00 am every day. Every Sunday at 3 pm there is chanting, dancing, feasting and philosophy. The temple is located at 1283 Prabhupada Rd, Sandy Ridge, NC 27046. For Further Details: 336.593.2322 or 336.793.7138 prabhupadavillage@gmail.com www.prabhupadavillage.com

Balagokulam Gokulam is where Lord Krishna’s magical childhood days were spent. It was here that his divine powers came to light. Every child has that spark of divinity within. Balagokulam is a forum for children (4-15 years age) to discover and manifest that divinity. It will enable Hindu children in the US to appreciate their cultural roots and learn values. This is done through games, yoga, stories, songs, shlokas, arts/crafts, and Seva (selfless service) in the community. Balagokulam sessions are free for all and are held on Saturdays. For Further Details: balagokulam.rtp@gmail.com hss.charlotte@hssus.org (Charlotte region) www.balagokulam.org

Raleigh academic Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (aFICE) Interested in exploring the diverse cultures of the world? Become a host family for a high school exchange student! All the students will come from various countries around the world, and all students speak fluent English. They are of high school age (15-18) and will attend local high school in their respective communities. Each student will live as member of their American host family, sharing household duties and responsibilities. AFICE is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to bringing cultural gaps by allowing foreign students the opportunity to live as part of an American community. For Further Details: lathapamarthi@earthlink.net www.afice.org

BaPs shri swaminarayan Mandir BAPS Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir invites everyone to the regularly scheduled events: Ravi sabha - every Sunday at 4 - 6 pm followed by Aarti and Maha Prasad. Mahapuja – every Purnima at 7 pm. Many classes are conducted. Fresh Indian snacks and sweets available at Shayona. 1020 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560. For Further Details: 919.469.6605 www.swaminarayan.org

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Community Organizations Carolina and adjacent states. The association is organized exclusively for charitable, cultural, social and educational purposes. For Further Details: 919.461.2386 (Ratan Ray), ratanray@hotmail.com 919.510.7943 (Swaty Sen), swaty_sen@yahoo.com banc_members@googlegroups.com www.banc-online.org Bharatiya senior Citizens of nC The Bharatiya Senior Citizens of NC (BSCNC) is organized for folks of Indian origin aged 60 and above. The BSCNC members meet every month. The next meeting will be on Sat, Jan 17 from 10 am - 3pm at Cary Senior Center in Bond Park, Cary. For Further Details: Kusumben Desai (919.677.8513919.677.8513) Raojibhai Patel (252.236.4391252.236.4391) Carolina Rajasthani association The group organizes several events throughout the year. For Further Details: Sushma Maheshwari - 919-880-8529, sushmaofnc@yahoo.com Shruti Singhi - 919-412-4819, mshruti@yahoo.com www.carolinarajasthanis.org Chinmaya Mission Chinmaya Mission is a worldwide organization promoting spiritual growth, started by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. The Chinmaya Mission Raleigh Durham (CMRDU) chapter conducts Balavihar classes from 3 year old to youth on Sunday from 10 am to 11:30 am at Reedy Creek Middle School, Cary. The classes are tailored to each age group by special curriculum created by experienced Swamijis and Acharyas exclusively for CM Balavihar. Trained teachers conduct the classes. Curriculum includes learning to chant the Bhagavad-Gita verses, shlokas, singing devotional bhajans, stories from scriptures, family pujas, meditation, and fun activities like overnight lock-ins, picnics, and competitions. Introduction to Hindi and Sanskrit is also included. All festivals are celebrated. Parents wishing to enroll their children in Balavihar can register through the website. A regular adult study group is conducted for adults on Sunday mornings at Reedy Creek Middle School, as well as other locations in the Triangle. For Further Details: www.chinmaya-RDU.org Dada Bhagwan Foundation The Foundation was formed with the goal of spreading peace and harmony to the world through the science of Akram Vignan - the science of Self Realization as expounded by the Shree A.M. Patel, known as Dadashri or Dada Bhagwan. DBF organizes Spiritual Satsangs /Gnanvidhi (2 hour scientific process of self-realization) of Pujya Deepakbhai around the world. There are no formal lectures here, but it’s in the format of questions and answers on various topics. This is a practical spiritual science. Dada Bhagwan Satsang on Harmony in Life: VCD Satsang of Pujya Deepakbhai and Pujya Dr. Niruma, various character building activities for Kids and Youth. Every 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturday of each month from 5 to 7 pm Saathee.com

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followed by Prasad at the HSNC Hall, 309 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC. For Further Details: 877.505.3232 ext 1003 rabhatt@yahoo.com www.dadabhagwan.org | www.kids.dadabhagwan.org Datta Yoga Center - Raleigh Mission: Spread the teachings of Sadguru Sri Sri Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji of Mysore. Activities: Namasankeertana - Bhajans written, composed and sung by Pujya Sri Swamiji. Future projects: Kriya yoga classes by Pujya Sri Swamiji-trained teachers from India. The group meets on the first Saturday of every month and every major festival day for Satsang and Namasankeertana (divine singing). Everyone is invited to attend the satsang with family and friends and receive divine blessings. For Further Details: 919.484.1993 (Srinivas Chittineni) 919.461.0843 (Suresh Kota) Duke Diya Duke Diya is a Duke University student organization that is committed to providing a forum for interaction through political, cultural, community service, and social events relating to South Asian Americans. For Further Details: 732.865.3173 www.dukediya.com Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation RTP Chapter Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India (EVFI) was established to help in the overall development of the remote tribal and rural villages in India. Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA along with EVFI is committed to the cause of eradicating illiteracy from tribal areas. Education is the key to self-esteem, self-sustenance, economic wellbeing and happiness. The Raleigh Chapter EVFUSA conducts fund raising and awareness programs in the Triangle area. For further details: Ekal/RTP: raginiusa@yahoo.com EKTaa south asian student Organization EKTAA (meaning unity) is the South Asian Student Organization at North Carolina State University (NCSU). The organization was founded in 1970. The motto is “unity within diversity.” EKTAA strives to spread culture and heritage of South Asia all over the campus as well as the local community and the organization works hand-in-hand with many organizations on and off the NCSU campus, as well as South Asian organizations from area universities. For Further Details: www.ektaa.org Geet Bazaar Radio Program Every Sunday morning from 10 am - 12 noon on WKNC 88.1 FM, join hosts Afroz Taj and John Caldwell, for a wide variety of music from India, Pakistan, and other countries and languages of South Asia. Geet Bazaar will also publicize community events free of charge. January 2015

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Community Organizations For Further Details about the Geet Bazaar program contact: 919.851.1119919.851.1119 (Dr. Afroz Taj) taj@unc.edu GEM - Raleigh Church of God Attend worship services, prayer meetings or Sunday School. For Further Details: 919.395.6208 (Pastor Thankachan M.) globalem@gmail.com Gokul Bhajan and Vedic studies Weekly satsang of parents and children singing bhajans and glorifying past times of Lord Krishna. There are multimedia assisted programs every Friday 7 to 9 pm at the Hindu Bhavan Main Hall (309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560). Children learn slokas, learn presentation skills, manage and lead various projects such as book distribution, charity for cow protection, food for poor, prison seva, igokulam, and many more. Classes are conducted on a semester basis, with tests and scores. Children and parents also have unique opportunities for learning and developing software for ios, android and web applications. Example: Gokul Darsan (See Apple Store) For Further Details: bkdasa@gmail.com Phone: 919-491-9536 www.gokulbhajan.com Heritage India association of north Carolina (HIanC) Heritage India Association of NC aims at providing Indian cultural experience through performing arts, cultural arts, fine arts & crafts of India. Its mission is “to preserve and promote Indian heritage and culture.” During the year, Heritage India Association of North Carolina presents several events and also coordinates Indian dances for the main stage performances for the Raleigh International Festival. For Further Details: yashcgarg@gmail.com Hindi Vikas Mandal of nC Hindi Vikas Mandal (HVM), based in the RTP area, promotes study and appreciation of Hindi language and strives to foster Indian culture and traditions through Hindi. HVM has a special focus on the youths for the preservation of Indian Culture and heritage. For Further Details: Saroj Sharma 919.851.0225 V.P. Tiwari 919.423.0365 Hindu society of north Carolina - Morrisville, nC The Hindu Society of NC is located at 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC and serves the greater Triangle area. Temple Timings : Sunday to Monday - 7am-9pm (all day open). Morning Aarti: Mon-Friday-10.30am, Saturday-10am, Sunday 10am. Evening Aarti: Mon-Friday- 8pm, Saturday-Sunday 6pm. Regular religious events: Ramayan recital, Sunderkand, Hanumanchalisa, Shiva abishek, Gayatri Bhajans, Vaishnav Bhajans , Vedic havan, Jain Pooja, Vishnu sastranam, Ekadashi Bal Krishna abishek, Lalitha sastrnamam, Skananda shasti Kavacham, and Sholaka chanting. All major religious celebrations are observed throughout the year. Facility rentals Saathee.com

are also available. Activities: Yoga Classes (twice a week), Hinduism and Meditation classes; Weekend Community Classes: Jain pathshala, Hindi classes, Sanskar Gurkul Classes,Tamil classes, Balmukund classes; Youth Affairs: Ohm Squad is the youth wing of HSNC involved in the youth activities like camp, games, craft and arts, music, shlokas. Regular pooja services are done in the temple. Priest services are available at home and/or at the Temple at a nominal charge. For Further Details: Saroj Sharma at 919.654.5224919.654.5224 Trilok Pillai (manager) at 919.599.9567919.599.9567 hsnc@hsnconline.org www.hsnconline.org Hindu students Council (HsC) - nC state University HSC-NCSU is a chapter of the national organization Hindu Students Council (HSC). HSC-NCSU is a cultural and religious student organization. It aims to provide opportunities to learn about Hindu philosophy, spirituality and cultural heritage through various activities, events and projects and is dedicated to provide “seva” (service) to the community. For Further Details: 919.676.0298 (Mrinmoyee Sanyal) msanyal@ncsu.edu www.hsc-ncsu.org Hindu swayamsevak sangh (Hss) The HSS conducts weekly activities to develop character and leadership skills in participants, emphasizing values such as self-discipline, self-confidence and a spirit of selfless service (seva) for humanity while maintaining Hindu cultural identity in harmony with the larger society. HSS is inspired by the idea that the whole world is one family. HSS started in 1989 in the United States and currently has over 100 chapters (shakhas) across the country. The Research Triangle Park chapter meets every Saturday. Activities are tailored to include yoga, games, songs, lectures and discussions on Hindu dharma and culture. For Further Details: hss.rtp@hssus.org - Triangle area hss.charlotte@hssus.org - Charlotte region. Hum sub Hum Sub is dedicated to sharing the social and cultural traditions of India with the residents of the Research Triangle Park and North Carolina. For Further Details: 919.371.4470919.371.4470 www.humsub.net Immanuel assembly of God Immanuel Assembly of God is a Full Gospel Christian church serving the Indian / South Asian community in Raleigh and RTP area of North Carolina. The church is located in Morrisville. For Further Details:919.442.8537 thechurch@immanuelassembly.org www.immanuelassembly.org Indian american Forum for Political Education (IaFPE) IAFPE, known as the FORUM, is the oldest and largest Indian 102

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Community Organizations American organization for political education in the country. This is a non-profit organization with numerous chapters throughout the United States. The North Carolina Chapter is in Raleigh and has just established a new committee for a 2year term. IAFPE is excited and motivated to educate the community on political issues and help the community with various services. Support is needed from the community and members to help us grow and provide relevant services and informative events. For Further Details: Nilesh - 919.656.4361 www.forum-nc.org Indian Classical Music & Dance society (ICMDs) ICMDS is dedicated to the task of promoting Indian classical music and dance in the Triangle area. ICMDS invites the top artists from all over the world to perform in the Triangle area. For Further Details: www.icmds.org Indian Talent Discovery Foundation Indian Talent Discovery Foundation (ITDF) is established to promote any form of art that has originated in India by any individual. The primary objective of Indian Talent Discovery Foundation is to encourage local talent to excel in the chosen art to become professionals. The art can be in any form such as Indian Classical and Bollywood dance, Indian music, Astrology, Numerology, Palmistry, traditional medicine, Vaasthu Shasra, and so on. For Further Details: Supriya Goli (919-342-8678) contactus@itdfoundation.org www.itdfoundation.org Indo-american Friendship Foundation Did you know that about 90 percent of rural orphans are female and most of them are abandoned at birth due to their gender? Not one of them gets the opportunity to become a doctor, engineer, or even receive basic education. Because they cannot live in the orphanage when they turn 18, many of them fall victim to different types of exploitation, including sex trade. IAFF has created an orphanage education fund to help qualified orphans to rise as high as they can climb in the educational/professional ladder. For Further Details: 919.362.7653 (Dr. Subhas C. Mohapatra) www.iaff1.org Instepp InStepp is located in Durham and its mission is to create a vibrant community by empowering women who’ve come up against some challenges in their lives to rise above those challenges and succeed personally and professionally through innovative, gender-responsive training, educational and prevention services. If you need assistance transitioning into the workforce after losing your primary source of income from a significant other due to divorce, separation, death or disability, ask about eligibility to participate in New Choices, an economic self-sufficiency program for women. Services include employment & career counseling, resume Saathee.com

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development, employability skills training, federal and state benefits application, financial and tuition assistance, community and college referrals, computer skills training and more. InStepp welcomes all women from South Asia and understands the differences in customs and religions across South Asia and can provide services in many different South Asian Languages. For Further Details: 919.680.8000 / pmanhas@instepp.org www.instepp.org International Buddhist Progress society - nC Temple All are invited - the temple, inaugurated with modern environmentally-friendly design in 2010, is open 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Sunday, with Sunday services at 10am followed by free vegetarian lunch. The temple is located at 2529 Prince Drive, Raleigh NC 27606. For Further Details: 919-816-9866 www.blianc.org International Community Church CC is a worship center for people from India and neighboring countries. The pastor is Joseph B. Jesudason and the church office is located at 1215 Franklin Jones Road, Suite #204, Raleigh, NC 27606. For Further Details: 919.233.2900 www.internationalcommunitychurch.org International Hindi association International Hindi Association (IHA) promotes Hindi language and literature and has chapters all over the United States. The Raleigh Chapter periodically organizes Kavi Sammelans with local and indigenous talents. Open to those interested in listening to poetry or in reciting poetry. For Further Details: 919.656.5224 (Saroj Sharma) 919.678.9056 (Sudha Om Dhingra) www.hindi.org International swaminarayan satsang Organization (IssO) ISSO is a socio-religious organization and its primary objective is to advance the Sanatan Dharma in accordance with the principles and teachings of Shree Swaminarayan Sampradaya, founded and ordained by Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan Himself. ISSO Raleigh-Durham chapter organizes a regularly scheduled biweekly “Satsang Sabha,” every other Saturday, at HSNC Cultural Hall (309 Aviation Pkwy., Morrisville, NC27560), which includes Kirtan bhakti, Katha, Aarti and Mahaprasad. Pujya Santo visit often to impart the divine knowledge of Swaminarayan Bhagwan. Devotees come together to practice their religious duties in harmony. For Further Details: 919.964.1008 isso.nc@gmail.com http://issonc.org IsKCOn new Goloka Temple of north Carolina New Goloka temple is a member of the International Society January 2015

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Community Organizations for Krishna Consciousness, also known as the Hare Krishna Movement. The Radha-Krishna temple is in a rural, peaceful setting at 1032 Dimmocks Mill Rd. Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278. Visitors are welcome any day of the week to come have darshan of Sri Sri Radha Golokananda. Every Sunday at 4pm, there is a special program consisting of arati, kirtan, Bhagavad-gita discourse, and a sumptuous prasadam feast. From 4:30-5:30pm, there is a Sunday School program for children ages 3-7 and 8-12. Children take part in learning Bhagavad-gita slokas and bhajans, understanding the basic philosophy, reciting and hearing stories from the Vedas, enacting dramas and other fun activities. New Goloka also provides educational classes, seminars and programs for adults. New Goloka Daily Darshan Times 4:30 – 5 am, 7:15 am1:00 pm, 4:15 - 5:45 pm, 7 - 8 pm. Saturday and Sunday Darshan open from 7:15 am to 8 pm. For Further Details: 919.593.6827, golokanandapriya@hotmail.com www.newgoloka.com Kiran Kiran, Inc. is a community based South Asian organization promoting self-reliance and empowerment of South Asian women and men who are in domestic violence through crisis counseling and intervention, language assistance and translation and resource referrals in a confidential manner. Kiran operates a 24/7 hotline service. Services offered at Kiran are confidential and free of charge. The organization spreads awareness about causes and effects of domestic violence in the community and cooperates and collaborates with organizations in the USA and elsewhere with similar objectives. Kiran assists and provides information on referrals to professional and community services regarding legal issues, health care, short-term child care, psychological counseling, and temporary shelter and housing. For Further Details call or visit website: 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1877- NC-KIRAN or 1-877-625-4726 Phone: 919-839-6203 Email: kiran@kiraninc.org http://www.kiraninc.org lakulish Yoga and Health Retreat Lakulish Yoga and Health Retreat is a secluded resort in Caswell County, located at 8136 N.C. Highway 119 South, Mebane, NC 27302. It is a place of natural beauty that stimulates a spirit of detachment and inspires and uplifts visitors. This resort is hallowed by a Yogi, a Sannyasi who ensures that the true practice of Dharm and Yoga flourishes here, offering the North Carolina community and visitors an ongoing program of free Yoga Classes. The classes are offered each Wednesday from 6 - 8 pm, and each Saturday from 11 am - 1 pm. For Further Details: 336.421.0690 lifemisionusa@gmail.com www.lifemissionusa.org

nuv Yug Nuv Yug is a cultural organization with a mission to promote Saathee.com

awareness of Indian cultural arts and heritage. Striving to create synergy among various cultural groups from the South Asian region. Upcoming Events: April 11 -12, 2015: India Fest, JS Dorton Arena, Raleigh For Further Details: www.nuvyug.net Pakistani american association The Pakistani-American Association (NCPAA) is a nonpolitical, non-sectarian, cultural and social organization that promotes Pakistani culture to all the communities in the Triangle Area of NC. Several events are presented during the year including a family dinner on the second Friday of every month. For Further Details: payamber@ncpaa.org http://ncpaa.org Pratham - Triangle area Pratham is a grass-roots organization that works towards universalizing primary education in India. With a goal of reaching 20 million children, Pratham is one of the largest NGOs in field of literacy movement in India. Pratham continues to evolve, grow and works to meet the continually changing needs of the children it educates. Pratham’s North Carolina chapter actively aims to collaborate with individuals, local organizations and community associations and seeks ideas, volunteers and resources to deliver the vision of “Every Child in School and Learning Well.” For Further Details: Rajeev Thalla - rajeev.thalla@gmail.com Monica Awasthi - awasthimonica@yahoo.com www.prathamusa.org Professional Indians’ association [PIa] PIA is a meetup that serves young South Asian professionals in the Triangle Community. The group is made of Indian professionals and grad students interested in cultural events, socializing and meeting/making friends with like-minded people around the Triangle. Monthly events include meeting at bars/restaurants, Bollywood movie nights, potlucks, Indian concerts/performances, outdoor activities, community service and volunteering. This will also be an opportunity for professionals to share their thoughts on respective industries, social causes, the economy and politics. For Further Details: http://www.meetup.com/PIATriangle/ Punjabi Unlimited Punjabi Unlimited is dedicated to promotion/creation of a public awareness and education about Punjabi Arts, Culture, Sports, Language, Music, Dance etc. All welcome who are “Punjabi at Heart.” For Further Details: Gurpreet Burmi president@punjabiunlimited,org; Arvinder Singh vicepresident@punjabiunlimited.org www.punjabiunlimited.org Raleigh sai Center Parthi Sai devotees of Triangle area meet every Sunday from 106

January 2015

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Community Organizations 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the Mini-Hall of Hindu Bhavan in Morrisville. There will be Study circle, Bhajan Practice, Veda Chanting etc. during the 4-5 pm slot depending on the week, followed by bhajans from 5:00 - 6:00pm. The center carries out several service activities as well. The Human Values Education (SSE) classes for the children of different age group will be from 3:30 - 5:00pm. All are invited to participate in the Satsangh and service activities. For Further Details: Rakesh Huria, President, Raleigh Sai Center at 919-244-1263 E-mail rsc.president@yahoo.com.

Regular spiritual practice under capable guidance enables aspirants to progressively experience the sublime presence of the divine in their daily lives. Sahaj Marg system of meditation is freely offered to seekers worldwide through Shri Ram Chandra Mission. In Triangle area, group meditations are held on Sundays and Wednesdays. For Further Details: (919) 303-7447 (Raj Solanki) (919) 493-6180 (Devi Sekar) raleigh.center@gmail.com> www.srcm.org, www.sahajmarg.org

Ramakrishna Vedanta society of north Carolina The Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of NC draws inspiration from the timeless, philosophical wisdom of the Vedanta as practiced and preached in the modern day by Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda. Perhaps you know a great deal about Practical Vedanta and the message of the harmony of religions and the spiritual oneness of Existence or perhaps you are just curious and want to learn more. Regardless of background and/or knowledge the organization welcomes participants. For Further Details: www.vedantanc.org

sahaja Meditation Ongoing meetings, seminars and workshops are available in Raleigh. There is never any charge for Sahaja Meditation instruction or for receiving one’s self-realization which is the birthright of every human being. Anyone can do it. Sahaja Mediation is free and without obligation. RSVP in meetup: Sahaja-Meditation-Triangle-Group Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. 9308 Fairbanks Drive Raleigh, NC, 27613 More information: http://www.sahajamediation.com http:///www.coolcheck.org For Further Details: balaram.krishna@gmail.com 919.757.3135

RTP Maharashtra Mandal RTP Maharashtra Mandal is a home away from home for Marathi-speaking people. The goal of the Mandal is to advocate the vibrant culture, the rich heritage as well as the wellendowed language of Maharashtra. The Mandal is dedicated to showcase the cultural, social and traditional attributes of Maharashtra to the local community through variety of entertaining programs, events and get-togethers. All aficionados are warmly invited to join. For Further Details: Mohana Dighe: 919.378.1947 Sameer Mohile: 919.851.8799 Deepa Kardekar: 201.673.6193 www.rtpmm.org

sky Meditation and Kaya Kalpa Yoga Sky Meditation and Kaya Kalpa yoga benefits include Longevity, Wellness and Stress Management. Triangle Sky Meditation group holds weekly group meditation and simplified physical exercises every Friday in Cary for those who have attended Shri Vethathiri Maharishi’s Kaya Kalpa Yoga course. Kaya Kalpa Yoga Courses are held several times a year for anyone 14 years and above. For more details about the course visit www.vethathiri.edu.in For Further Details: 919-830-9764 vikram.renganathan@gmail.com

s. V. Temple of north Carolina S.V. Temple of North Carolina is built on over nine acres of centrally connected triangle area. This grand tribute to Lord Venkateswara and his consorts is designed to exacting standards of shilpa shasthra and features the only shrine in North America to incorporate abodes to Lord Viswaksena and Lord Sudarshana/Lord Narasimha as part of Srinivasa Parivaram. The temple rituals are performed in accordance with Pancharathra Agama Shastra. Upcoming Events: Dec 2: Geeta Jayanti For Further Details: 919.468.0040 comm@svtemplenc.org www.svtemplenc.org sahaj Marg Meditation - Triangle area Sahaj Marg translates to “The Natural Path.” It is a natural, simple system of Raja Yoga meditation and spiritual practice that helps one realize the ultimate potential within oneself. Saathee.com

south Indian Fine arts academy (sIFaa) SIFAA is a non-profit organization that works to arrange and promote concerts and performances in the Triangle and Triad areas, concentrating on Carnatic music. For Further Details: 919.773.1580 www.sifaa.org Tamil Cultural association of north Carolina (TCa nC) TCA NC was formed for the purpose of providing youths with exposure to Tamil culture. Everyone is invited to join TCA and become part of the organization promoting Tamil culture in the Triangle area. For Further Details: tca_nc@yahoo.com www.tcanc.org Tamil sangam of Carolina The Tamil Sangam is an organization that promotes understanding of Tamil culture and provides a medium for people of Tamil culture to get together. The activities include music, drama, lectures, Tamil movies, etc. 108

January 2015

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Community Organizations For Further Details on Tamil Sangam of Carolina: 919-460-7432 - Sarulatha Guruparan www.tamilsangamofcarolina.org Telugu Christian Fellowship of nC (TCFnC) The Telugu Christian Fellowship of North Carolina (TCFNC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to reach out to Telugu Christians living in North Carolina, to be united and bonded together as a Telugu Christian family of God and encourage and pray for each other. TCFNC provides a place for Telugu Christians for time of worship, prayer and fellowship. They also provide a forum for kids to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and to equip them to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ. The group organizes, each year, an Annual Telugu Christian Family Conference. For further details: www.tcfnc.org Phone: 919-43-TCFNC (82362) Triangle area Telugu association (TaTa) The Triangle Area Telugu Association (TATA) is a non-profit organization (started in 1983) committed to building a vibrant Telugu Community and promoting Telugu culture and language in the Triangle area of North Carolina. For Further Details: committee@tataonline.org www.tataonline.org Triangle Bangladesh society (TBsnC) TBSNC strives to arrange musical programs by artists who have captured the hearts and minds of millions of Bengali-, Urdu- and Hindi-speaking music fans all around the globe. For Further Details: 919.741.9343 (Ishtiaque Mohiuddin) Ishtiaquem@gmail.com www.tbsnc.org Triangle Chapter-India Development & Relief Fund (IDRF) IDRF is a registered, tax-exempt non-profit organization that supports volunteer-based, honest and highly experienced nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in India in serving their populations’ critical needs around education, childcare, healthcare, women empowerment and tribal welfare, as well as relief and rehabilitation in times of natural disasters. For Further Details: www.idrf.org. Triangle Gujarati association (TGa) TGA’ s mission is to promote and serve Gujarati culture in the Triangle area by organizing various events throughout the year and impart Gujarati culture and language on the youth. The association sponsors events throughout the year. For Further Details: nctga00@gmail.com www.nctga.org Triangle Rang Mandal Devotees of Pujya Sri Rang Avdhoot Maharaj meet every Saturday in Cary or Raleigh from 8:30 - 10:30 pm to sing devotional Dattatreya Bhajans and Datta-Bavani in a spiritual atmosphere. Special programs organized on Guru Purnima Saathee.com

and Rang Jayanti and on the occasion of Pujya Sri Prem Avdhoot Bapji’s annual visit to the US. For Further Details: rangmandal@gmail.com Triangle Vegetarian society (TVs) The mission of TVS is to build a sense of community between current vegetarians and people who are interested in vegetarianism and have a forum for a discussion of issues. For Further Details: barman@cs.unc.edu www.trianglevegsociety.org Triangle Vipassana Vipassana, which means to see things as they are, is one of India’s most ancient techniques and was taught 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills. The Triangle Vipassana meditation group holds weekly group sittings in Cary, Raleigh on Thursday, Saturday, and Monday and 3-hour sitting on 3rd Sunday each month, and one day sitting once every few months for established students (those who have taken at least one ten day course from S.N. Goenka or one of his Assistant teachers). Ten day courses are available for all. There is no charge for the course. To apply for a retreat visit www.patapa.dhamma.org. For Further Details: 732-213-9660 / carync.sittings@gmail.com Hitesh & Vaibhavi Parekh www.dhamma.org Urdu Majlis Urdu Majlis, the Triangle’s Urdu Literary Society, meets monthly in the FedEx Global Education Center on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. Meetings include discussions of the life and works of major South Asian poets as well as opportunities to share original poetry and other writing. All meetings are free and open to the public. Urdu Majlis is co-sponsored by the Carolina Asia Center and the South Asia Section of the UNC Dept. of Asian Studies. Urdu Majlis is an intellectual endeavor with no political or religious affiliations. For Further Details: Afroz Taj (taj@unc.edu or 919-851-1119) Ashraf Faruqi (pasbaan@hotmail.com or 919-596-4792) 919.85 Vaishnav samaj of Triangle area The Vaishnav Samaj is a group of like-minded devotees who meet for religious worship and understand Pushti Marg Principles at large. Recently, a sub-chapter of Vallabh Youth Organization (VYO) was formed under the leadership of Mrs. Harsha Shah. Regular Bhajan recitations are held 2nd Sunday of the month from 4-6 pm and Seniors are requested to encourage youngsters to participate in the activities. For Further Details: Arvindbhai Shah 919.233.7677 Vithalbhai Shah 919.467.4254 Navinbhai Parikh 919.387.8808

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Community Organizations Carolina Buddhist Vihara (Greenville, sC) Regular beginner meditation program conducted by a Buddhist Monk. Activities are held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings: 6:30 pm (puja), 7 pm (meditation), and 8 pm (“Dhamma” talk or discussion). A “youth program” is also held once a month. For Further Details: dhammasc@hotmail.com

Vibha Vibha is a volunteer driven non-profit organization dedicated to creating a brighter future for underprivileged children. The Raleigh Action Center has a group of energetic and enthusiastic volunteers from varied backgrounds, including working professionals and students. This group came together through a strong belief in Vibha’s mission and a resolve that we can create a positive societal impact in India – even from half way around the world. The group works to organize social events that spread awareness and raise funds to further the organization’s mission. For Further Details: raleigh@vibha.org http://raleigh.vibha.org.

Hanahan TableTennis Training Center There are no membership fees of any kind to play at HTTTC. Free open play and training. Free USATT league. Informal free coaching as time permits. Open to all levels of players from recreational to competitive. The center is located at City of Hanahan Gym, 1255 Yeamans Hall Rd., Hanahan, SC 29410 (Adjacent to Police Station). For Further Details: www.ttHanahan.com

Regional Hindu Society of Eastern NC (Greenville, NC) The temple celebrates major festivals and holds regular bhajan seesions and Geeta study. For Further Details: Temple 252.752.2670 B.S. Srivatsa 508.654.0360 Hindutemplenc@gmail.com

Hindu society of Greater spartanburg The daily Aarti is at 7:00 p.m., Balvihar classes are conducted from 10 - 11:45 am on scheduled Sundays, and Satsang is on second Sunday every month from 5 - 7 pm. Temple is located on 1130 Fairview Church Road in Boiling Springs, SC 29303. For Further Details: 864.599.7048

sri somesvara Temple Sri Somesvara Temple is located near Asheville, NC. Temple hours are 8 am - 7:30pm. Regularly scheduled pujas: Subrabhath Aarti - 8 am, Rudrabhishek Nityapuja - 9 am - 12 noon, Pradoshakala puja and mangala aarti - 6 pm - 7:30pm. The temple also hosts special events. Contact the temple: 828.476.4073828.476.4073. It is located at 95 Mount Soma Blvd., Clyde, NC 28721 For Further Details: www.srisomesvara.org.

Hindu Temple and Center (Columbia, sC) The temple is located at 5704 Kiawah Road, Columbia, South Carolina 29212. It is open on weekdays between 8:30 am to 12 noon and between 5 pm and 8:30 pm. On weekends, the temple is open between 8:30 am to 1:00 pm and 5 pm to 8:30 pm. Bal Gokulam (Sunday School) classes are held every Sunday from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon. Classes are designed to help children build physical, mental, cultural, social & spiritual lives. Contact: 803.772.6940 www.hindutemplesc.org

south Carolina american south asian Cultural association of Columbia, sC The American South Asian Cultural Association of Columbia’s fundamental goal is to increase cultural awareness and develop cultural understanding among American Southeast Asian Community in Columbia area. A monthly Lunch meeting will be held on the Second Sunday of every month between 1 to 3 PM. There will be $7.00 Per Person charge for Lunch (Kids Ages 6-10 pay half price) at Delhi Palace, 542 Saint Andrew Road, Columbia, 29210. Contact in the evenings: (803) 233-7042 OR (803) 233-3995. Bethel Christian Fellowship Bethel Christian Fellowship offers services in various Indian languages (i.e. Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, etc.) and Sunday Worship services are at 11:30 a.m. Address: Fort Mill Church of God, Student Life Center Building, 216 Academy Street, Room 102. Fort Mill, South Carolina 29715 For Further Details: 803.792.7223 Pastor Rajan Samuel @ pastorofbcf@gmail.com www.bethelchristianfellowship.org Saathee.com

Hindu Temple of south Carolina The Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of South Carolina was established with an objective to fill the need for thousands of Hindus in the State of South Carolina to worship and pray together, perform sacraments and rituals, to observe and celebrate festivals, and to perform and engage in humanitarian and educational activities. For Further Details: http://www.hindutemplesc.org/index.php India assoc. of Greater Charleston (IaGC) The IAGC was founded in Charleston to bring together people who were interested in India and to provide a forum to increase the understanding of the heritage of India in US. For Further Details: 803.884.0859 / iagcfolks@yahoo.com International Fellowship Church of Greenville, sC International Fellowship Church offers Sunday worship services and other weekly activities for people of Indian origin. For Further Details: 864.234.1256 (Pastor Suhas Raiborde) www.internationalfellowshipchurch.org

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Community Organizations

Sepa Consulting

Kannada association of Greater Greenville (KaGG) An organization devoted to the awareness and promotion of Kannada culture in the Greater Greenville area of South Carolina. KAGG is a primarily run by volunteers and invites Kannadigas living in and around Greater Greenville area to participate in the organization. Kannada classes for children are being organized to meet at the Vedic Center in Mauldin every other Sunday morning. For Further Details: 864.430.4973 www.kagg-sc.org Masjid noor-Ul-Huda The Mosque is located at 517 Winmet Dr., Columbia, S.C. On the first and third Saturday of every month from 6 - 8 pm, Islamic session is held by Hafiz Mohammed Basheer. Quranic Reading classes are conducted daily, and everyone is encouraged to send their children to these sessions. For Further Details: 803.749.0827 (Dr. Shami) 803.740.5127 (Qari Abdul Khader Multani) 803.754.2632 (Mosque main number) spartanburg Buddhist Center The center’s resident monks seek to preserve Theravada Buddhist traditions and welcomes all who are interested in Buddhism, Southeast Asian culture, or meditation. Since the center opened in 2010, the regular English group meets at 6pm on Thursdays for meditation, a brief dhamma talk, and short discussion. The center is located at 770 Bryant Rd., Spartanburg SC 29303. For Further Details: 864-279-7546 www.patsc.org

Kirti H. Shah Certified Public Accountant

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Telugu association of Greater Greenville The Telugu Association of Greater Greenville, SC, serves the Telugu community of the Greenville/Spartanburg area of South Carolina. The group sponsors several events throughout the year. For Further Details: www.taggsc.org Vedic Center of Greenville The Center is located at 499 Bethel Road in Mauldin, S.C. 29662. Daily Aarti is conducted Monday to Friday at 8 pm. Bal Vihar classes are conducted Sundays from 11:15 am - 12:30 pm. Sri Venkateshwara Suprabhatam is held 2nd Sat of month at 9 am. For Further Details: 864.967.2852

Send your organization’s events and hapenings to Saathee by the 15th of the month and we will publish them here in the following month’s issue. Send to: saatheemag@hotmail.com Saathee.com

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January 2015

Javier Espinoza

Terra McKenzie Paralegal

Julian Cabra

Diana Paralegal

Alexandra Paralegal

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WE SPEAK HINDI AND GUJARATI

Nihar Patel

Monty D. Desai

Pop’s Puzzles & Jokes By Kirit Shukla

Note: * denotes abbreviation of the word or phrase Clues across: 1. The state flower of North Carolina. 8. To deal with problems, troubles etc. 11. Complete inability to produce articulate speech. 13. Utah. (*) 14. To refuse to accept as true or right. 15. Pieces of glasses coated on reverse side with silver. 17. To free, clear or relieve, as of something undesirable. 18. The intensity of electric current is measured in _. (Plural) 19. To stick fast; stay attached. 21. Nickel. (*) (Symbol for chemical element) 22. Emergency Room. (*) 24. A steady relative movement or flow of wind around an aircraft in flight or passing thru its jets. 27. Underwriters Laboratory. (*) 28. The honey making flying insects. 29. The combining form of one billion; the factor of 109. 31. A Hindu goddess and wife of God Shiva and the daughter of Sage Daksha. (Hinduism: Sanskrit word) 33. Radio Frequency Size Effect. (*)35. North Dakota. (*) 36. A bony frame of the human head, enclosing the brain. 38. The soft, white alkali metallic chemical element: Na. (*) 40. Goddess of death and the underworld. (Norse Myth.) 41. Something regarded as exciting & arousing. (Slang) 43. Image Guided Automatic Robot . (*) 45. Inspector General. (*) 46. In or on a higher position; off the ground. 47. A nation with an elected president as its titular head. 48. United States Senate. (*)

Clues Down: 1.The Tāl/Rhythm, consisting of six beats in two equal divisions of three, in Hindustani classical music. 2. A lake on NY State Canal System near Syracuse, N.Y. 3. “Mahatma ___,“ The freedom ﬁghter & ‘father’ of India. 4. Made by twisting or distorting the features. 5. Overtime. (*) 6. An instrument for measuring electrical resistance. 7. Trickling; a falling of liquid in drops. 8. Dalmatian; used in 19th centaury as guard of a carriage. 9. A woman’s handbag. 10. Educational Testing Service. (*) (Trademark) 12. The Goddess of peace, daughter of Zeus and Themis. 16. Old English. (*) 18. The buttocks. 20. The largest city & capital of the Kurdistan Region, Iraq. 23. The plans showing the ways for travelling for motorists. 25. Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic. (*) 26. Michigan. (*) 27. “James __,” church of Ireland archbishop & theologian. 30. An African antelope with an ox like head and horns. 32. A single bulb like spring ﬂower of lily family. 34. Designating or of a speed equal to that of a sound. 37. Louder Than A Bomb. (*) (Largest youth poetry festival) 39. Indiana. (*) 42. Uniform Resource Locater. (*) (An address on www.) 44. Guam. (*) 46. United States. (*) (Puzzle solutions are on page 118. NO peeking!)

Hee Hee Booddhoo: “Guru, if the contractor says that ‘The customer satisfaction is believed assured’. What does it really mean?” Guru: “It means: we are so far behind the schedule that the customer was happy to get anything at all from us.”

•••••••••••••• Mafatlal: “Booddhoo, when your would-be father-in-law asks you for anything you want for wedding, always ask for more than what you want. For example: if you want a bicycle, ask for a scooter. If you want scooter, ask for a car!” Booddhoo: “Yes, I got it. I will remember it.” He went to visit his girlfriend’s home. After a while, his would be father-in-law asked him: “So, what do you think you want for your wedding?” He remembered Mafatlal’s advice to ask more than he wants. So, this was his reply! Booddhoo: “I want to marry your daughter’s mother!”

•••••••••••••• Saathee.com

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January 2015

YOUTH CORNER (Created By Kirit Shukla) (Find & circle the words in the puzzle). (Subject: “Words starting with the letter J”)

JACKAL JACKET JACKFRUIT JADE JAIN JAMBUSAR JANUARY JAWAHARLAL JAY JEALOUSY JELLYFISH JEOPARDY JERUSALEM JESUS

Math Magic Use these numbers only once: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] in empty squares, to get = the final given answers. Note: Follow the order of operation per basic math rule: ×,÷, +, The multiplication or division is done before addition and subtraction.

JEWELERS JIB JINNAH JOB JOJOBA JOKES JORDAN JOT JOY JUBILEE JULY JUNE JUSTICE JUVENILE

The unused 5 letters spell the country, whose capitol is Tokyo”.

(solution on next page)

EZ-BZ TEST YOUR IQ The common letters are “CI” - Fill in the blanks 1. A native or inhabitant of any place. CI _ _ _ _ _ 2. Two fixed points used in determining an ellipse. _ _ CI 3. Another word for boric. _ _ _ _ CI _ 4. An arena enclosed in a tent for performances by acrobats, trained animals, clowns etc. CI _ _ _ _ 5. A number for the relative loudness of sound. _ _ CI _ _ _ 6. A city in N. Venezuela. _ _ _ _ _CI _ 7. Frosting. (A covering on a cake). _ CI _ _ 8. A person who carries a cross in a church. _ _ _ CI _ _ _ 9. To summon to appear before a court of law. CI _ _ 10. To make up one’s mind; determine. _ _ CI _ _ 11. A compound that reacts with a base to form a salt. _ CI _ 12. A descending, slowly moving mass of ice . _ _ _ CI _ _ 13. The eyelashes. CI _ _ _ 14. Any drug used in treating & curing disease. _ _ _ _ CI _ _ 15. A small cosmetic stick for darkening eyebrows. _ _ _ CI _ 16. Pain in the region of the hip and thigh. _ CI _ _ _ _ 17. A flat strip; band; fillet. _ _ _ CI _ 18. An S constellation near Centaurus . CI _ CI _ _ _ 19. Ridicules, absurd etc. _ _ _ CI _ _ _ 20. The smallest secreting portion of a gland. _ CI _ _ _ 21. The speed in a specified direction. (Vector). _ _ _ CI _ _ 22. Agitated; emotionally provoked. _ _ CI _ _ _ 23. Central Intelligence Agency. (*) CI _ 24. Systemized knowledge of nature and the physical world, derived from observation & experiments. _ CI _ _ _ _ 25. A film theater. (British) CI _ _ _ _ (Puzzle solutions are on next page. NO peeking!) Kirit Shukla Contact him at kiritsshukla@hotmail.com

Saathee.com

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January 2015

FYI: Makara sankrānti

Festivals & Holidays January 2015 Jan. 1 - New Year Day (2015 begins) Jan. 1 - Putradā Ekādasi Jan. 4 - Eid-e-Milād Jan. 5 - Shākambhari (Poshi) Purnimā (Full Moon) Jan. 12 - Swami Vivekananda Jayanti Jan. 14 - Makarsankranit/Uttarayan Jan. 16 - Shattilā Ekādasi Jan. 20 - Darsha/Mauni Amās (No Moon) Jan. 24 - Vasant Panchami Jan. 26 - Republic Day (India) Jan. 30 - Gandhi Nirvana Day Jan. 30 - Jayā Ekādasi February - March 2015 Feb. 1 - Vishwakarmā Jayanti Feb. 2 - Groundhog Day Feb. 3 - Māghi Purnimā (Full Moon) Feb. 11 - Shrināthaji Pātotsav Feb. 12 - Lincoln’s Birthday Feb. 14 - Valentine Day Feb. 15 - Vijayā Ekādasi Feb. 16 - Presidents’ Day Feb. 17 - Mahā Shivarātri Feb. 18 - Darsha Amās (No Moon) Feb. 19 - Shivāji Jayanti Feb. 20 - Ramakrishna Paramhans Jayanti Feb. 25 - Jain Atthāi

Makara Sankrānti is a Hindu festival celebrated in almost all parts of India. It marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Makara Rāshi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. The day is also believed to mark the arrival of spring in India. It falls mostly on January 14. It is known by different names in India, including Pongal, Utrān, Sankramana, Māghe Sankranti; Khichdi, and Lohri. It is celebrated in different ways. In some parts of country, people take baths in rivers and ponds and feast upon seasonal delicacies to celebrate a good harvest. These include Gur (jaggery), various sweets made of Til (sesame seeds) such as Tilgul, curds, milk and seasonal vegetables. Drawing Rangoli in groups is a popular event among women during Sankranti. Other rituals are display of cows and cattle in colorful costumes and taken on a procession in open fields. In Maharashtra people exchange multi-colored halvā (sugar granules coated in sugar syrup) and Tilgul ladoos (sweet balls made from sesame seeds and jiggery). The underlying thought in the exchange of d hostilities and resolve to speak sweetly and remain friends. Married women get together and conduct rituals called “Haladi-Kanku,” (turmeric and vermillion) and are given gifts such as utensils and clothes. In Odisha people prepare Makara chaulā (uncooked newly harvested rice) and other sweets to offer to Gods and Goddesses. In Punjab huge bonfires are lit on the eve and are celebrated as Lohri. Kite flying is traditionally observed as a part of this festival. Makara Sankrānti is called Uttarāyan or is Utrān in Gujarati and is a major festival in the state of Gujarat which lasts for two days: January 14th is Utrān and 15th is Vāsi-Utrān. All folks, old and young, look forward to this day to fly patangs (kites). Kites are made of special light-weight paper and bamboo, mostly rhombus shaped with central spine and a single bow. The string often coated with abrasives in order to cut down other people’s kites. f kites as people enjoy two full days of Utrān on their terraces and roofs. It is usually too cold on this day in most parts of USA, so it is not possible to celebrate this outdoor festival.

Puzzle Solutions

Mar 05 - Holi Mar 08 - Daylight Savings Time begins Mar 17 - St. Patrick’s Day Mar 22 - Jhulelal Jayanti Mar 28 - Rama Navami

Math Magic

Saathee.com

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January 2015

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We welcome you to come and receive a blessing through this evangelical, Christ-centered, Bible-based, non-denominational, loving, caring, mission-minded spiritual family church. Saathee.com

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January 2015

downward trend during the last week of the month. You may lose an important opportunity in the last week of the month. lIBRa (sep 23 - Oct 23) - Situations will start improving and you will feel relaxed by the end of the month. Your spouse may prove to be your competitor / enemy during this month. Don’t lose your selfconfidence. A pleasant journey shows much potential. There will be an increase in income if you perform hard labor. A long-time disputed issue will become more complex during this month. A change in business or job is likely to take place.

General Predictions for January 2015 aRIEs (Mar 20- apr 20) - Ventures that you undertake during this month may be fruitful, if linked with government agencies. You may see rise in status and position, however avoid any type of journey or travel during this month. Your enemy will try to damage your image, but fear not, they will not succeed. You might get very good news through communication, but do be careful in the last week of the month.

sCORPIO (Oct 23 - nov 22) - Now is the time to act and make quick decisions. You will be very active and busy during this month. You main gain much success in business / job and will earn favor of your senior officers and authorities. It will be an action-oriented period for you. Don’t try to dodge your responsibilities. Handle any problem with confidence. You will be the winner.

TaURUs (apr 20 - May 21) - There may be delay and obstacles in general pursuits during this month. Your payments will be delayed, although your contact with senior or government authority may help you to some extent. Family happiness is assured. Time is good for celebration of social events. On the whole your reputation and respect will prove to be of great significance and will be highly esteemed. Curb your expenses.

saGITTaRIUs (nov 22 - Dec 21) - During this month, clarity of thought will be missing. You will feel a lack of confidence. You may not be able to keep perfect tuning with your own people. Any risk-taking tendencies should be curbed. Your friends and associates will be of great help. It is important that you respect and trust them. Time is very good for a long journey to a far-off place.

GEMInI (May 21 - Jun 21) - Compromise is better than stubbornness. You will find better prospect for rise in income at your present job/business. Time is not favorable for making any change though. Misunderstanding may spoil family environment. Aggressive and quick actions will help you more than prayers; have faith in yourself. Your friends and sibling will try to take advantage of your goodness. Try to be more practical.

CaPRICORn (Dec 21 - Jan 20) - This is the time to slow down in life. You may want to throw a party, but is not advisable. Don’t get involved in new ventures. Try to maintain your reputation. You will get reward in the coming period. Be careful of minor accidents. It is advisable to spend some time for yourself. This will help you in rebuilding your reputation and personality. Students need to work hard.

CanCER (Jun 21 - Jul 22) - During this month you will enjoy peaceful and good relations with your family members. Your enemies will try to harm you, and even though you are capable to handle them, your positive approach won’t let you get success this time. You may, though, produce more income during this month. Try to compromise with spouse. Also watch your health by checking your diet.

aQUaRIUs (Jan 20 - Feb 19) - You will experience a slow downward trend in your personal life during this month. Even though you will do very well in trade or business, the lack of vitality could be there. Your response from spouse will show some sigh of improvement but it will take some time before getting to any achievement. The period is not good for getting involved in any new partnership deal. Friend or associates could be a good help.

lEO (Jul 22 - aug 23) - Don’t try to act on your instincts during this month otherwise you may set yourself up for trouble. There are chances of indulging in wrong or sinful acts. Health problems or dispute with spouse may disturb your peace of mind. You may find strange comfort by indulging in some type of occultism. A wasteful journey is also possible. Your family and associates will help you in making favorable financial deal.

PIsCEs (Feb 19 - Mar 20) - Your expenditure will be at par and you will make more and more wrong decisions. Try to control your ambitions and restrict your desires. Don’t act haphazardly and avoid confusion. Your secret relations or love affair will be exposed and will disturb your peace of mind. You will see a steady and continuous flow of income. Major family-related problems are clearly indicated.

VIRGO (aug 23 - sep 23) - You will be able to convince others with your keen perception about situation and plans. This will make you popular and quite famous. Old dues/debt may also be realized. Travel in the first half of the month will be very useful and fruitful. You may experience a negative or Saathee.com

By Jalendu Vaidya Contact: 973-223-5047 / hindusvision.com 120

January 2015

Classifieds BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: For sale: Gas station (branded) / convenience store / deli and a liquor store with two rental suits (currently rented) in Florence, SC. Great opportunity. Call 703-398-8500. Convenience stores/Gas stations for lease or sale in NC. Great opportunities with upside potential. Only serious inquiries; must have capital for goodwill / inventory. Please call 803-789-3133. For sale Gas Station w/C-Store + Liquor Store in Clinton, SC. Yearly sales: Inside $780,000, Liquor $96,000, Gas 660,000 gallons, Lotto $300,000, Misc. $12,000. Great opportunity! Asking price w/property $650,000 +inv; bank loan available with good credit; Call for details: 803-528-1215.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

nanny needed in Charlotte (Ballantyne). Full or Part Time. Live in /out for 4 year old twins, light house work, preferred driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license, good pay, call 718-312-9077. Front Desk agent Wanted: For a Motel Help needed: housekeeping franchise hotel in Kinder, LA. Fluent only in Rock Hill, SC. Independent english is a must. Exp. Preferred but motel with 41 rooms. Accommodations will train. This is a live-in position. Pls. provided. Please call 803-329-5252 or Call 910-273-2132. 803-487-3303. Help Wanted: subway & store in Greensboro, NC area. Couple preferred. Help needed in cooking and light housework at home. 3-5 times a week Must speak fluent English, have legal for 2-4 hours daily. Flexible timing. status and computer knowledge. Please $10/hr. University area Charlotte. call: 704-737-1555. (Arbor Hills Subdivision). Call 704-654- Restaurant help wanted in Charlotte NC. No cooking required. English speaking 5361 Elder Care needed: Looking for Kind skill required. Call 704-964-2490.

Gujarati female to look after/ give company to elderly lady. Excellent accommodation provided. Motel for sale in Jonesville, NC. 41 living Units and apartment. National Wilmington NC. Good Pay. Call Patel Franchise. Price reduced! $699k. For 910-616-5001 or 704-408-8772. more info call RK at 704-224-6130. Motel help wanted in Ashboro, NC.

liquor and c-store for sale: Clover, SC. Gross sales yearly $380,000-$400,000 from both stores, monthly expenses only $1,000 (or less)+ $1600 rent; Asking $50,000 + inv. ($80k-$100K). Owner finance available. Rocky 803-810-5105.

Experienced Threading Practitioners or licensed Esthetician in Charlotte & Raleigh. New locations now open. Full or part-time with great pay and flexibility. Experience required. Good English skills. Please call 980-322-1110.

Domestic help needed for Gujarati family in Rock Hill SC. Excellent cooking & cleaning skills required. Benefits include competitive salary & allowance nanny needed in South Charlotte (zip for rent.Must be legal US resident &able 28277/28270) for our 6 months old son. to drive. Call 803-448-4820. Retail sales associate in Columbia SC. Light housework. Call 703-973-0128. Front Desk Help needed: Resident Male / Female / Couple. Full or part single or couple for franchise motel in time. Opportunity to advance quickly Fort Mill, SC (29708). Must have legal into management. Contact 706-877-0315.

Front desk with experience and legal status. Email resume to rameshvpatel@gmail.com or call 336625-1880.

Equipped restaurant for sale or lease in Columbia, SC. Available immediately. 7000sf. Excellent location. Golden opportunity with low budget start-up. Columbia needs quality Indian status & computer skills and speak restaurant. Owner financing available. fluent English. Email resume: Contact Mr. I. 803-206-1171 or mars803@gmail.com. bihari.intwala@gmail.com Motel Help needed: Single or couple Budget Motel For sale: 519 Main for motel in Charlotte (University area). Street, Kenbridge, Va. 23944. 14 Rooms Must have legal status & computer skills with 3 Bedroom House. $150,000 Firm. and speak fluent English. 434-953-8794. Accommodations provided. Email C-store & Gas station for sale: very resume: mars803@gmail.com. busy through way in Matthews NC. Gas station help needed: full time/part High margin & very profitable, good time must have legal status and speak terms call 704-604-4506. fluent English. Columbia, SC. Call: 843C-stores: Taylorsville, NC $170K+ Inv, 368-1064 GR $1.8M; Heath Springs, SC $180K + Indian Restaurant Help Wanted: South Inv, GR $1.6M; Newton, NC $99K + Inv, Indian & North Indian chefs, kitchen GR $750K; 704-821-8888 or helper, front staff in Greensboro, NC. www.Countysouth.biz Willing to sponsor right candidate. Businesses for sale by broker: Shell Excellent salary & accommodation, call branded gas station in Union County, 336-327-4175. Franchise Motel in SC of I-95 and many Gas station Help Wanted: Full time or more listings. Call Paul for more details: part time in Rock Hill, SC. Call for 704-602-0460. details: 803-981-4352. Saathee.com

Refulgent Technologies Inc.: IT staffing company is currently recruiting Java, .Net, SQLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Server and QA candidates. We also do Training & Placement. e-mail: recruiter@refulgenttech.com

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looking for nanny / Cook in Concord, NC. Part time leading to full time. Contact 770-363-5249. Gas station Help Wanted: Couple, fulltime in McCormick, SC (near Greenwood & Augusta) & Lincolnton, GA. Must speak fluent English & have legal status. Good pay. Please call 704299-8535. Part-time/Full-time single or Couple: Needed ASAP for a convenience store / gas station in Gaffney, SC. Must speak English & have legal status & previous experience preferred. Call 704-726-7544 or 864-487-4939. Hotel Help Wanted: Charlotte. Competitive salary and accommodations provided. General / property manager (experience required), night auditor (experience preferred but will train). Must be fluent in English. Email 123nash@gmail.com January 2015

nanny/baby sitter needed in Lumberton NC for a 5 month old. Live in Nanny preferred but not necessary. Please call 443-895-7066. night audit / Front desk help wanted for Franchise motel, Charlotte. Full-time / Part-time. Must have experience, be honest, reliable & fluent in English. Call Nina 704-299-3364. live In nanny needed: Ballantyne area South Charlotte, for 3 year old son. Please call 952-334-3666. Elder care needed in Goldsboro, NC for 67 year old mother. Live in. Must speak Gujarati and have legal status. Cooking and light housekeeping. Call 919-3946224 after 6 pm. nanny needed immediately in Ballantyne (South Charlotte area) for a 2 1/2 year old and 6 month old. Please contact 317-679-5408. nanny needed: Looking for a Nanny part-time/full-time in Concord. Light house work and babysitting. Please call at 704-780-1670. Restaurant Help Wanted: Indian Restaurant in Charlotte NC looking for Waiter/Server. Must have working experience. Please Call 704-512-9177. Elder Care needed: Live-in for 78 years old mother in SC. Please call 843-4428064 or email jay_jinja@yahoo.com. Daytime Help needed for household chores and childcare for 3 month old in Ballantyne area of Charlotte. Call 732334-8555. Cook Wanted: South Indian Cook needed for 3-4 times a week. Ballantyne area, Charlotte. Call 704-968-1237. nanny needed: for 2.5 year old in Fayetteville, NC. Daytime hours. Light cooking and housekeeping. Must be active and have drivers license. Great salary and benefits. Call 312-972-8474.

SERVICES neeta’s Beauty Parlor: Charlotte area open 7 days a week. Full service. Please call for appointment. 704-968-0270. astro Healing Therapist: For guidance on Career, Wealth, Marriage, Health & Reiki Call Dr.Ajay, Wellness Guru. visit www.astrouniverse.com. E-mail: astrouniverseindia@yahoo.com 919-3427169 or (+91) 9444052660. nanny service is available in Cary/Morrisville/Apex during weekdays between 8am and 5pm. Call 847-877-0154. Saathee.com

Makeup artist in Cary, NC. Specialized in Arabian / Bridal / Wedding / Indian / Pakistani /Proms / Photo shoot and makeup. Cell: 563-495-3789 email: egbineleso@gmail.com Mehandi (Henna): Award-winning artist in the Chapel Hill / Durham, NC area specializes in Mehandi parties. Perfect for weddings, birthdays & gettogethers. Creative & beautiful art! Contact: Krishna Priya Dasi: 919-8247734; krsnapriyad96@gmail.com; www.lotuslyrics.com/henna.html; Facebook: Krishna Priya Dasi

Travel agent: best rates to India and the world. Call Atul: 614-216-9094. Gujarati Priest in nC & sC for Ganesh, Randal, Laxmi, Sharda Pujan, Satyanarayan Katha, Wedding, Vastu, Baby Shower, Hawan, Grah Shanti. Kishor Trivedi Home: 336-774-0597 Cell: 336-486-7925 E-Mail: kishor7@juno.com Pari Beauty In Matthews: Threading, Waxing, Facials, massage for new born and mom & other services. 25 years of experience. Special Deals & Great Service. Call: 704-846-7912.

Indian Tutor Grades K-12 in Charlotte. Mr. Singh specializes in SAT, GRE, ACT, PSAT and other AP Exams. Call: (646) 261-4887 or email at: singh.ricky@gmail.com.

Hindu Priest: All kinds of puja. Including: havan, katha, weddings, graha pravesh, funeral services & Shraadh. In Hindi, English & Tamil. Call Balaji 704-877-6320 or 704-545-7220 or email: priestbalaji@gmail.com

Vaibhavi’s Beauty Parlor: Charlotte Ballantyne area in Stone Creek Ranch. Offering Waxing, Facials, and Threading. Please call or text for appointment 843-465-6048.

Tabla Classes for all ages in Charlotte on weekends and evenings by professional tabla player with 20 years experience. Call: 704-232-4463.

Dholi For Hire: Plays the Dhol (drum) for any occasion! Classes Available! Barat, Doli, Graduation, Birthdays, Baby Showers & any other festivity. Affordable rates! Call Arpan Bhandari 704-843-7202 or email: arpandholi@yahoo.com Gujarati Priest: Devendra Dave Independent priest. Ganesh, Randal, Navratri, Diwali’s Laxmi & Sharda Pujas, Satyanarayan Katha, Weddings, Vastu, Baby Shower, Funeral Seva. Call Daveji 704-780-3563. God Blessings to All. astrologer With Gold Medals - Jayanti Lad- Contact for Health, Wealth, Relationship, Child, Enemies, Court Cases, Marriage, Job, Business, Vastu Problems, Preparing & Matching Horoscope. Call 919-463-5180 or Jayantinlad@yahoo.com Ribald Farms nursery & Florist: Specializes in Indian wedding reception design and floral arrangements. For more info contact Shawna Turner at 803328-2266 or www.rockhillflowers.com self help program: North Carolina. Learn: Pranayam, Breathing Techniques, Dhyan, Meditation, Yoga. On Fri,Sat,Sun -7to8am from January, 2015. 4110 Grace Park Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560 Ph 847-877-0154 email: dnshah52@yahoo.com Beauty Parlor in Columbia and Charlotte area: Waxing, Threading, Bridal Henna, Facial. Call for appointment: 704-526-8707.

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Pretty Face - Indian beauty parlour. Threading, facials, waxing etc conveniently located at Ballantyne /South Charlotte area. Please call for appointment 704-726-8928. Music lessons and live Band: Basic harmonium and keyboard lessons in Charlotte area. live band for Garba / Raas, Wedding songs, bhajans, film songs and more. Call Kirit 704-568-8206.

PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE apartment for Rent in Uptown Charlotte. One bedroom New Apartment with balcony & parking. All appliances included. Fitness Center and pool. Attractive discounted rent. Contact 919-518-5310.

Saathee Classifieds Business ads are $25 Personal ads are $15 Upgrade to color or add a box for additional $10 Saathee.com ads posted daily (call for rates) We accept all credit cards and checks. Ads up to 25 words. Deadline for print is the 20th. Web ads daily.

How do I Submit classifieds? 1. on-line: saathee.com (classified section) 2. e-mail: Saatheemag@hotmail.com 3. Fax: 704.527.7590 4. For more info call 704.527.7570 Saathee Magazine PO Box 11468 Charlotte, NC 28220

January 2015

Advertisers Index A & V Satellites ....................................................19

DJ Desi (Amit Vasi) ..............................................10

Patel Brothers (Charlotte) .....................................79

Access Realty & Funding (Chandravadan Shah)....31

DJ Don (David Pandoria) .....................................53

Patel, Champa (Real Estate)...............................105

Accounting Solutions (Muhammad Kamran Awan)31

DJ Lalit ...............................................................51

Patel, Mrugesh (Law Offices)................................87

Ali and Sons Car Care ........................................42

Elegant Designz.................................................125

Patel, Tony (Real Estate) .......................................39

All Car Care.........................................................38

Eshaan Jewelers .................................................17

Paul Joseph - Commercial Real Estate.................46

Anand, Versha (Real Estate) .................................51

Event Decor by Ghazala .....................................99

Payal Groceries ...................................................43

Anil Bedi & Associates PC (CPA & Consultants) ....53

Eye Level Learning Centers..................................81

Peacock Indian Cuisine (Charlotte) .......................21

Apna Travels (Morrisville)......................................61

Fairview Home Mortgage.....................................69

Persis Indian Grill.................................................35

Around The World Market Charlotte ...................107

Family Fare Convenience Stores ..........................51

Puja Boutique (Charlotte) .....................................91

Ashwini Kathak Dance Academy..........................59

Franklins Printing (Charlotte) ................................37

Rajbhog Foods ....................................................75

Asiana Fusion.Sushi ............................................43

Friends Travel ......................................................71

Rajdeep Video & Photography (Ramesh Panjabi)...75

Aspect Commerical Realty (Prashant Parmar).......81

Gandhi International Market.................................49

Ritu Selects - India Inspired Couture.....................85

Aura And More... Boutique (Ladies Fashions)........29

Geological Resources, Inc. ...................................83

Robert Brown LLC (Oza, Rishi: Immigration Law) ..68

Austin Village Eye Care (Dr. Keshav Bhat)..............78

Global Mall / Legacy Jewels ..............................127

Roop Beauty (Pooja Patel) ....................................97

BallantyneTech Academy .....................................27

Golden Green Hotel (Charlotte).............................37

Rug & Home..........................................................5

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Charlotte)........55

Gujarati Natak......................................................15

S S Event Services (Event planning, Photo, Video)101

Barot, Tushar (Statefarm) .....................................81

H2 Laser & Skin ..................................................41

Saffron Restaurant and Catering ..........................93

Bashyam & Spiro LLP (Immigration Law)............121

Halal Yafa Market & CafĂŠ .....................................89

Shah, Anish (Real Estate)...............................76-77

Bhindi Jewellers ................................................2

Hindu Center Charlotte (Events) ......................64-67

Shah, Kirti (CPA - Sepa Consulting) ..................114

Bipin & Smita Parekh (Real Estate).......................71

India Grocers (Charlotte) ......................................12

Shining Star Academy..........................................95

Blooming Buds....................................................53

International Community Church .......................119

Shyama Beauty Parlour .......................................43

Bombay Grille (Charlotte) .....................................28

J&P Metal Arts Inc ............................................37

Simple Pinless.....................................................11

British International School of Charlotte ................39

Jag Insurance Group ........................................105

SJ Iyer Reatly ......................................................93

Carolina Law Group (Monty Desai) .....................115

Jaipur Indian Restaurant (Charlotte)......................97

Skyzone Charlotte Indoor Trampoline Park...........89

Carolina Wedding Belle (Event Design & DĂŠcor) ....31

K & M Accountant .............................................109

Sleep Inn (Charlotte) .........................................111

CaroMont Medical Group (Dr. Manu Patel)............97

KD Financial & KMD Realty................................103

Smart Energy Solutions (CSI)..............................126

Chai Pani (Restaurant - Ashville, NC) ..................114

KD Photographics..............................................113

South Asian Bride Wedding Show ..........................3

Challa Law Offices, PLC (Immigration)..................61

Khanna & Sons Jewelers .......................................7

South Char Endocrinology (K. Narasimhan, MD) .105

Charlotte Chess Club .........................................45

Kirti Shah CPA .....................................................80

SRF Char Meditation Group .................................34

Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat .........................56

Kumar, Kokila (Real Estate - Allen Tate).................99

Staymobile ..........................................................15

Charlotte Music School........................................47

Mahabazar.com (Travel Agent) ...........................111

Sukhadia's Indian Cuisine....................................99

Chiro-Carolina

...............................................48

Maharani Restaurant ...........................................47

Suravali Music Group...........................................87

Circle De Salon ...................................................37

Malani Jewelers ................................................128

Taaza (Fresh) Indina Bistro ...................................45

Concha, David (Immigration Attorney)...................41

Malaya Kitchen (Charlotte) .................................101

Thakkar, Beena (Realty)..................................72-73

Copper................................................................63

MAS Immigrant Justice Center ............................83

The Blue Taj.........................................................63

County South Realty & Business Brokers............113

Mathur, Gitanjali (Allen Tate Realtors)....................41

Travel Universe ....................................................33

Curry and Cakes (Charlotte) .................................59

Matthews Family Dentistry ..................................48

Travelinks..........................................................119

Deccan Dental Lab ..............................................97

Mishra Architecture PLLC ..................................114

Ttravel Guru ........................................................58

Dentist (Dr. Prashant Rao - Cedar Walk Dentistry).78

MyTripFare (Travel agent).....................................75

Tyagi, Rita (Real Estate)......................................101

Dentist (Pineville Dentistry - Lina V. Mistry, DDS) ...34

Nationwide Ins. (Maqsood Khan) ........................125

Uni World Travel.................................................125

Desai Desai Accounting ......................................40

Neeta's Beauty Parlor ........................................109

Vallabh Pushti Samaj of Carolinas (VPSC).............57

Desai, Rajarshi (CPA, PLLC) .................................29

North American Bancard ......................................9

Vyas Travels.........................................................87

Devam Jewelers ............................................22/23

Nuv Yug India Fest (Charlotte and Raleigh)............25

White Horse Weddings.........................................58

Digital Room Photography .................................105

OM Tech Training ................................................93

Woodlands ...........................................................6

Dish Installer Charlotte (USAT Satellite) ................91

Pardasani, Kamlesh (Real Estate) .........................13

Worldwide travels ...............................................69

DJ Hangama ....................................................68

Passage To India - Fine Indian Cuisine..................16

Zevar Bridal Fashion Jewelery ............................10

Saathee.com

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January 2015

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In the Nation, we celebrate traditions One of the great North Carolina traditions is the way we show our warm hospitality. It’s why you live here and why we’re so proud to have helped generations of North Carolina families protect what matters most to them for over 85 years. We put members ﬁrst, because we don’t have shareholdersSM. Come see me in Greensboro, where I have been serving the community for over 10 years. Maqsood Khan Khan And Associates Inc (336)510-0568 khanm5@nationwide.com khanm5@nationwide.com

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January 2015

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