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FRIDAY, January 6, 2017
2017 Begins with Higher Part B Medicare Premium
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Vol. 30 No. 1 Friday, January 6, 2017 • Published Weekly from Houston • 713-774-5140 20 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com
Bollywood Shake rings in 2017 with Five Indian-Americans sworn in as Members of Congress New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball
52-year-old Kamala Harris whose mother was from India, was sworn in US Congress. (AFP)
Bollywood Shake host Ruchika Dias, with revelers at the New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball. Photo redit - Hassan Studio.
H
OUSTON - Bollywood Shake hosted its 3rd Annual New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball 2017 at Safari Texas Ranch Grand Ballroom on December 31st, 2016. The guest list included the cream of Houston crowd who rang in the New Year with style, glamour and excitement! After successful events for the last two years, there was a lot of anticipation and excitement about this year’s event and the event exceeded all expectations once again! Ruchika Dias, Founder & CEO of Bollywood Shake raised the bar this year and delivered
a superbly executed event. The Masquerade theme added some additional elegance, mystery and glamour to the event. The upscale and grand venue was beautifully decorated and exuded glitz and glamour. There was an abundance of music, food & drinks keeping the guests entertained all night! One of Houston’s top DJs, DJ AV kept people on the dance floor all night with their foot tapping music including Bollywood and Top 40 hits. Guests were welcomed to the beautiful event by Samba dancers and a stilt walker! The emcees for the evening were Nina Desai, Mrs. Bollywood
2014 and Riva Verma, a popular RJ on a Houston desi radio station. The emcees looking beautiful and conducted the show wonderfully. The entertainment began with singer J.S. Paras who entertained the crowd with his energetic music. People joined Paras on the dance floor and enjoyed dancing to his music! Then came a melodious performance by 22-year old Jamal Shayan who sang beautifully on his guitar. This was followed by a scintillating performance by Samba dancers followed by a fun interactive session. DJ Continued on Page 9
W
ASHINGTON, (PTI) Creating history for a minority ethnic community that comprises just one per cent of the US population, five Indian Americans took oath as members of the Congress.
Harris, who before the swearing in held the position of California Attorney General replaced Senator Barbara Boxer, who decided against seeking re-election. She is one of the seven new Senators to have taken office in the new Congress.
52-year-old Kamala Harris whose mother was from India and father from Jamaica of African heritage, was sworn in yesterday as the Senator from California by the outgoing US Vice President Joe Biden. She is the first Indian American to have ever served in the Senate.
“Today I was sworn-in to the US Senate. I am humbled and honored to serve you and the people of California. Let’s get to work,” Harris said immediately thereafter.
She was accompanied by her husband Doug Emhoff, sister Maya Harris and other members of her immediate family members during the swearing in ceremony.
After her elections, she has made it clear that her top priority would be to fight out the alleged divisive policies of the Republicans who are now in majority in both the House of Representative and the Senate. Continued on Page 10
Indian Christian Ecumenical Community of Houston, H.O.P.E. and other churches celebrate Christmas
Trinity Church Christmas carol singers.
T
he Indian Christian Ecumenical Community of Houston (ICECH), an organization of different denominations of churches from India celebrated its 35th Christmas Celebration on December 25 2016 at the St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Cathedral Auditorium. This year the celebration by different churches was organized by President Very Rev. Zachariah Punnoose Cor Episcopa.
CSI Church of Greater Houston, St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church, Immanuel Mar Thoma Church, Holy Immanuel CSI Church, St. Stephen’s Orthodox Church, St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, St. Mary’s Syro Malabar Catholic Church Mission. Pearland, India Catholics of Houston, St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Cathedral, St. Joseph’s Syro Malabar Catholic Church, St. Mary’s Malankara Orthodox Church. 2016 collection from the service will be given to the Old age home run by Malankara Catholic Church
Participating Churches include: St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Church of Houston, St. Thomas Evangelical Church of Houston, St. Peter’s Malankara Catholic Church, St. James Knanaya Syrian Orthodox Church, Trinity Mar Thoma Church, St. John’s Knanaya Syrian Orthodox Church, Sr. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Church, St. Thomas
Presidential address was delivered by Vey Rev. Zachariah Punnoose Cor Episcopa. More pictures on page 3 Children of H.O.P.E.
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