Category: Culture

‘A great way to learn about your country is to leave it’ —Henry Rollins, American singer. The recent publishing of my book India and Faraway Lands: 5,000 Years of Connected History marked the culmination of my long-standing quest for understanding India’s past in a wider global context. The seeds of my curiosity were sown over 27 years ago when I arrived in the United States as a graduate student from India. For the first time in my life, I met students from places as far afield as Iceland, Russia, Japan, Egypt, and Brazil. The stimulating exchange of perspectives opened my eyes to the cultures and customs of different parts of the world. I would often ponder over life in India versus life in America, East versus the West, the old world versus the new world.

With the image of India’s golden past firmly entrenched in my mind since childhood, I wanted to understand how, when, and why it fell so far behind. What began as a curiosity gradually evolved into a deep interest in global history. Wading through bookstores and museums over the years, I stumbled upon obscure yet intriguing historical connections between India and other corners of the globe. The realization that the rise of western Europe is a relatively recent phenomenon in the 5,000 years of world history opened new vistas of inquiry.

It struck me that histories of India were often confined to India’s boundaries, thereby missing a vital component: the story of the ‘outside’ or the ‘other side’, leaving the overall picture somewhat truncated and incomplete. The history of the British in India, for instance, began with their merchant ships landing in Surat, Gujarat in 1608. But it was around the same time that they had also landed in North America and established their first colony in Jamestown, Virginia (1607). What was going on in Britain in those days? What did the British merchants and colonists know about India and the Americas before they set sail from the shores of their tiny island nation? Who were the people who made these bold ventures possible? And why did they wait for more than a hundred years to sail out to these lands when Italian explorer Christopher Columbus had landed in the Americas in 1492 and Portuguese voyager Vasco da Gama had reached India in 1498?

Unlike India’s commonly perceived image among Western historians as a static civilization—shielded from the rest of the Eurasian continent by an arc of enormous mountain ranges in the north and surrounded by water in the south—India was an active player in world history. Steep mountain passes in the north-west, like the legendary Khyber Pass, allowed invading armies and trading caravans to pass through; the Indian Ocean was the hub of maritime trade and migration for thousands of years before humans were able to cross the Atlantic and the Pacific. There must be a reason why the who’s who of world history—Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane, Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco da Gama, the Duke of Wellington—set foot in India.

The book shares intriguing tales of several lesser-known adventurers, merchants, and soldiers who landed in India over the centuries: a young Dutchman who stole the maps and navigation secrets of the Portuguese in Goa in the 16th century, opening the doors for the Dutch and the British to Asia; an Ethiopian who rose to be a successful mercenary general, also referred to as the ‘military guru of the Marathas’, defied the Mughals for a quarter of a century; an American from Philadelphia whose spirit for adventure took him through an incredible journey over two decades — as a surgeon in Burma, as Maharaja Ranjeet Singh’s physician in Lahore, and getting proclaimed a prince in Afghanistan!

When I returned to India in 2006, after being away for eleven years, I was keen to rediscover the homeland and travelled from the Himalayan town of Leh up north to the historic city of Madurai down south. UNESCO World Heritage sites like Sanchi and Ajanta Caves were breath-taking and bound to make even an uninterested visitor pause and imagine life in India over 2,000 years ago. And yet, they were often missing on must-visit places of Indian travelers. Likewise, history museums all over India were consistently empty and listless, as if the past did not matter. The common folk’s understanding of foreign lands, peoples, and cultures seemed rather superficial while age-old stereotypes continued to flourish despite all the buzz around globalization, and the fact that nearly 30 million people of Indian origin lived scattered around the world. My experiences motivated me to build upon what I had learnt thus far and write a story of our global past for the lay reader.

My plans got further traction when my book idea was shortlisted at the Bangalore Literature Festival in 2018, providing me an opportunity to pitch it to a panel comprising several leading publishers. It took another four years of research, writing, and multiple rounds of editing before the book saw the light of the day.

Rather than being a definitive history, India and Faraway Lands* aims to stoke the readers’ curiosity about our intertwined past. It is the book I wish I got to read as a restless youngster unsure of India’s place in the world.

The Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia is being restored by India because our civilization is not limited to India, but is spread across countries, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday, December 12th said.

Addressing the Kashi Tamil Sangamam on the subject ‘contribution of temples in society and nation building’ being held here, Jaishankar said, “There are temples not only in India, not only in the Indian subcontinent, but in many regions beyond.”

“I had gone with the Vice President to see the biggest temple in the world — the Angkor Wat temple complex. Today, we are restoring and renovating the temples in Angkor Wat. These are contributions which we are making outside because the civilisation of India has gone beyond India,” he said.

“So, today when we are restoring, rebuilding, and re-energising Indian civilisation, our task is not only in India. Our task is all over the world. But, it is not only where our civilisation went, it is also where our travellers went, our traders went, our people of faith went,” he said.

Recalling his days as India’s ambassador to China, the minister said, “Some of you know that for many years, I have been an ambassador to China. I have seen the remnants of Hindu temples even in China on the east coast.”

He said that there is a very special connection between Ayodhya and Korea, whose people want to be associated with the developments in Ayodhya, he said.

He also mentioned that Shrinath jee temple in Bahrain, and said, “All these were established by our people, when they went out. It is a matter of pride for us that we are building a temple in UAE, that we got approval to built a temple in Bahrain. We have done a lot of work in Vietnam.”

“So, how do we today take our culture out, take our values, our philosophy, our way of life and share it with the rest of the world through activities outside. We are very committed in the foreign ministry to doing that. We also support what people of India are doing outside There are more than 1,000 temples in the US,” he said.

He said that there are 3.5 crore Indians and people of Indian origin abroad, who have taken Indian culture with them abroad. “So, it is also our efforts today to support them, and we do it in different ways.”

Jaishankar also informed the audience that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged Rs 200 crore to build a Ramayan Circuit into Nepal, “so that all of us will have an opportunity to visit our heritage in close quarters.”

“Even in Sri Lanka, we restored the Thiruketheeswaram Temple in Mannar. This temple was closed for 12 years. So the fact that we took interest, made efforts, has made it possible for the revival of that temple,” he said.

Thiruketheeswaram Temple, one of the five sacred Ishwarams dedicated to Lord Shiva, is venerated by Shaivites throughout the subcontinent and the temple was testimony to the most difficult period in the history of Sri Lanka as it was closed for 12 years during the armed conflict and reopened in 2002.

The minister also said that in Nepal after the 2015 earthquake, many temples were damaged because they were old. “We have committed USD 50 million for restoration of cultural heritage in Nepal.

Four years in the making, the 240-feet-long Aquarius Art Tunnel, connecting Terminals D and E at the George Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas, is the brainchild of Indian American contemporary artist Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee. An audio-visual treat for travelers en-route to exotic destinations, the brightly colored murals in vivid reds, blues, greens, and yellows fill the walls from floor to ceiling, evoking a sense of hope and optimism towards nature, the oceans, and abundant underwater life.

The tunnel showcases species of fish, coral, sharks, dolphins, barracudas, lobsters, manta rays, and, even, oil rigs, among many other creatures that call the oceans their home. The floor of the tunnel is a coral carpet, inspired by the artist’s deep-sea dives at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary off the Texas coast, and the accompanying sounds are a combination of classical music and the artist’s own meditative, underwater breath, created by Andrew Karnavas.

“This tunnel is a simple act of kindness to the environment,” said Mahimtura Folmsbee at the official unveiling of the project. “We can all work together to invest in our environment, and here in our city, through small acts of kindness, let us protect our waterways, as they are interconnected to our planet through each and every one of us. Water is OURS – for ALL of us!”
Last week, The United Nations Decades of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UNESCO) endorsed the Aquarius Art Tunnel as a site for its scientific and educational importance towards ocean conservation through artistic outreach as an immersive art installation; it has also been endorsed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Sanctuary in Galveston. The project was commissioned by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, on behalf of the Houston Airport System, through the city’s Civic Art Program and the Houston Arts Alliance.

“The power of Janavi’s work will be experienced by passengers because they will feel uplifted and ready to battle their journey ahead, while taking a piece of our Texas coast with them…and a greater sense of responsibility of being custodians of the earth,” said Theresa Escobedo, Civic Art Program Manager for the City of Houston, and part of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

“Facilitating this type of passenger experience from an international artist like Janavi is both a personal and professional pleasure,” said Alton DuLaney, Curator of Public Art for the Houston Airports. “And the fact that the inspiration material for this work is quietly located right off the coast of Texas increases the identity and sense of place for the airport which we strive to deliver through our passenger engagement initiatives.

Consul General of India in Houston, The Honorable Aseem R. Mahajan, pointed out the commonalities in culture and values between India and the U.S. and how Texas is now home to the second largest Indian community in the country. “Janavi’s work is very vibrant, and as people walk through the tunnel, it will be a shining symbol of the India-U.S. partnership,” he said.

The tunnel also has a special significance for Mahimtura Folmsbee; it is where she, and countless others, take the flight home to India. “I hope to create a bridge between science and art,” she said. “I want to shine a light on an essential natural resource, marine life, that is in dire need of our help, now more than ever.”

In a meeting with Seven Mayors from across the United States, Dalai Lama stressed the need for promoting compassion. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval was among the seven who were part of the group that travelled to the abode of the Dalai Lama in India, at a personal invitation of the 14th head of the Tibetan Buddhist Territory.    

Pureval — whose mother is from Tibet —invited the Buddhist leader to Cincinnati as part of ongoing efforts to position the city as a “flourishing, global destination.”

“I am honored to take part in this incredible opportunity to meet His Holiness and invite him to our bold, dynamic city,” Pureval added. “Having a global leader visit Cincinnati would be huge, and as the highest-ranking elected Tibetan American in the country, my meeting with him showcases our city’s commitment to diversity and growing the city equitably.”

For Pureval, the trip to India is bigger than business or politics. His landslide victory in the November 2021 election made him the first Asian-American mayor of Cincinnati, or any major city in the Midwest.

When he addressed the crowd at Washington Park during his inauguration in January, Pureval reflected on what the moment would mean to his late father, an immigrant from Punjab, India. Pureval’s mother — who joined him at the celebration in Over-the-Rhine — is a Tibetan refugee.

“He was barely an adult when he and my mother… made the impossibly courageous decision to leave everything behind in search of a better life,” Pureval said of his father on Jan. 4. “My dad’s simple bold courage tilted the axis on which my world is based. I owe everything to his belief in America and the worldview it cultivated for me.”

To mark the occasion, a group of immigrants from Tibet and other members of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community traveled to Cincinnati from across the region to witness the swearing-in.

One of those in attendance was Tenpa Phuntsok, assistant director of the Tibetan Mongolian Cultural Center (TMBCC) in Bloomington, Ind. He’s also president of the Tri-State Tibetan Association.

Phuntsok was there, he said, on behalf of “all Tibetans in America,” including the Indiana Tibetan Association, an organization representing Tibetan refugees now living in the United States. 

The group presented Pureval and his family with several gifts, including a letter from the 14th Dalai Lama featuring prayers and well wishes. In the letter, the Nobel Prize winner offered his congratulations and support to Pureval.

Phuntsok also draped Pureval’s neck in a khata, a traditional ceremonial scarf in Tibetan Buddhism. “Mayor Aftab Pureval is truly a symbol of what Tibetans can achieve in America,” Phuntsok said.

Political officials representing several other cities planned to make the trip to India as well, according to Helena Battipaglia, a spokesperson for Pureval. She mentioned Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter of San Leandro, Calif.; Mayor Libby Schaaf of Oakland, Calif.; former Mayor Bill Peduto of Pittsburgh; and Mayor Greg Fischer of Louisville, Ky.

Philanthropist Lonnie Ali, widow of Muhammad Ali, also received an invitation, Battipaglia wrote in a statement. It’s not clear if she attended.

In 2003, Muhammad Ali met with the Dalai Lama in Bloomington to help consecrate the grounds for the Chamtse Ling (“Field of Compassion”) interfaith temple.

The Dalai Lama’s eldest brother, Thubten J. Norbu, was the former Buddhist abbot and a professor at Indiana University. Norbu founded the Tibetan Cultural Center in 1979.

“Because Muhammed Ali was such a beloved figure, he put the Tibetan cause in the mindset of millions of Americans and we are very grateful,” Phuntsok said.

The Maheshwari community of Rajasthan came together this Thanksgiving weekend to relive their culture and connect with each other at the 11^th International Maheshwari and Rajasthani Convention (IMRC). The well attended event was hosted by the Southwest chapter of MMNA (Maheshwari Mahasabha of North America) and held at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Houston. The convention was kicked off by Convenor Sharad Mantri, National President Abhilasha Rathi, BOT Chair Ghanshyam Heda and Co-convenors Archana Bhakkad and Sanjay Jajoo. Guests of Honor included Shailesh Lodha, Dr Ruma Devi, Kartikeya Baldwa, Dr. Renu Khator and the Consul General Aseem Mahajan.

The convention was packed with several highlights such as a trip to the ranch, Ghoomar dances, creative breakout sessions, musical night, Mahasangram, Mahesh Tank, professional networking, Children’s Talent show, Matrimony sessions, Diet Planning and Yoga sessions.  This was the effort of nearly 150 volunteers who worked tirelessly for the last six months to prepare for the event.

Thanksgiving Eve, November 24, marked the beginning of the celebration. A cultural show by the southwest chapter featured more than 115 people who performed several Rajasthani festivals through drama and dance. “Ristey-Reet-Riwaj” was the theme of the performance. The opening ceremony was kicked off by a graceful Ghoomar dance performed by over 40 ladies. MMNA National President Abhilasha Rathi welcomed the guests and appreciated the volunteers by saying “Kuch samay pahle aisa laga keh hum sab thodi der ke liye Rajasthan pahuch gaye hai, itna sundar ghoomar IMRC ki opening ceremony meh pehli baar hi dekha hai. I feel fortunate to be part of the MMNA pariwar and proud to be a Rajasthani Maheshwari!” (It felt like I was in Rajasthan. Rarely has such a beautiful Ghoomar dance been performed)

Convenor Sharad Mantri expressed his delight at the event’s success with over 900+ attendees from all over the world. This convention, he revealed, “made history by involving every age group from toddlers to seniors and created positive vibes in the youth for IMRC.” The Education Foundation of MMNA also raised $115,000, he added.

“Mahasangram” – the conflict between generations generated a great deal of interest and dealt with issues such as family values and the relations between parents and children. Mahesh Tank saw entrepreneurs making business presentations to a panel of four investors. The MMNA Matrimonial Session announced the launch of a  mobile app to help Maheshwaris and Rajasthanis find their special someone. A silent auction was also held for the Rajasthani artwork submitted by the participants.

On Saturday, the entire convention moved from the hotel to a ranch. It was a picturesque day with everyone decked in cowboy attire showcasing Texan culture coupled with TexMex cuisine. The trip to the ranch with 770 plus attendees on 14 school buses was a unique and fun experience for all.

The Rajasthanis Abroad Youth Samaj (RAYS) was equally involved  and took the lead as emcees, coordinators,  and welcoming the attendees. RAYS President Sarika Malani noted that  around 200 youth members joined the activities which ranged from professional networking to card making for the Texas Children’s Hospital. This event re-invigorated the youth, and they were excited at being a part of the convention.” A RAYS member shared this comment “RAYS has given me a connection to Maheshwari culture and roots that no other platform has been able to provide in my life. Our RAYS group chat of youth members has been flooded with messages from new attendees all over the country talking about how incredible their first experience was!”

A live musical concert by a team of 14 performers from Niche Entertainment, India regaled the attendees on the Grand Gala Nite.  The event concluded on Sunday with the closing ceremony, annual awards, and volunteer appreciations. Sushma Pallod received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her selfless work and dedication to the community while Jitendra Muchhal and Padam Maheshwari received special recognition awards.

Sharad Mantri concluded the event by stating, “This grand event would not have been possible without the generous support of the donors and committed volunteers.” All MMNA life members were given a souvenir book as a keepsake of the event which included memories, articles, donor appreciation, interesting stories, artwork, and more from Maheshwaris all over  the world.

Authentic Rajasthani delicacies like Dal Batti and Churma were on the menu and catered by Maharaja Bhog in Houston. Each meal featured a delectable variety of cuisines from renowned vendors. The decorators did apt justice to the theme and created a lively Rajasthani ambience in the hotel.

Long Island Gujarati Cultural Society (LIGCS) . President Vijay Shah along with the entire executive committee, celebrated its Silver Jubilee Anniversary this past weekend. Emceed by Silver Jubilee Convention Coordinator and VP Programs Flora Parekh, the event was sponsored by Mayur Shah and Family.

Several dignitaries, organization Presidents, guests and well-wishers graced the event including Guests of Honor Harshad (Pakaji) Patel of Gujarati Samaj and Anil Shah of VTNY, Naveen Shah (Navika Capital), Amneal Pharma Group, Mr. Dilip Chauhan (Deputy Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Innovation) and several others. Jon Kaiman (Dy. Suffolk County Executive) and Nassau County Office of Public Affairs graced the occasion with Citations acknowledge this major milestone success of the organization. 

Starting with an auspicious Diya ceremony resembling the significance of Diwali, the event had a special pious beginning by beautifully choreographed traditional Ganesh Vandana by Jhanvi Patel and Kathak Bollywood performance by Anjali Patel. 

“The organization is well established, represented, served and ready for another 25+ years to come” said President Vijay Shah in his inspiring message.

The event was followed by a special ceremony honoring all Past Presidents Dr. Manibhai Patel, Tribhovanbhai Patel, Mafatbhai Patel and Bakulbhai Matalia followed by members who have been there since inception completing 25 years of voluntary service Mayur Shah, Bhadresh Acharya, Govind Akruwala, Amarish Kachhy and Ketan Upadhyaya. Special recognition awardees included Flora Parekh, Harshad Patel and Kaushik Shah. Keeping its monthly tradition, November birthday celebrations included a decorated Silver Jubilee cake celebrating 70th Birthday of President Vijay Shah, Youth Volunteer Birthday Harshil Parekh and specially invited guest Smitaben’s birthday. 

DJ Parth with Famous Singer Mahesh Mehta from NJ accompanied by specially invited melodious singer – X Factor & Sajda Sisters fame Rekha Raval rocked the event with their live singing and rocking DJ. Specially designed souvenirs were distributed as momentum. All attendees were honored with Specially designed silver jubilee coins symbolizing the outstanding achievements over past 25 years and going forward distributed by Meena Shah and Aruna Shah. Special moments were captured by Akshat Kaul of Kaul Photography. Secretary Ketan Upadhyaya and Jt. Secretary 

The tireless efforts of all members above and other entire executive committee –Jagdish Mehta, Suresh Udeshi, Prakash Patel, Jayesh Shah, Paresh Parekh, Gopi Udeshi from setting up the venue to cake coordination and front desk, several volunteers and supporters contributed to the mega success of the event. Mouth watering appetizers, dinner and deserts were served. For additional information visit www.ligcs.org.

The wedding season is here in full glory and after two years of slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrations are expected to be bigger. This is reflected in an estimate drawn up by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which expects over 32 lakh weddings will be solemnised between November 14 till December 14.

The bigger the wedding, the more the expense and keeping this in mind the CAIT estimate sees the wedding market generating trade of about Rs 3.75 lakh crore in this period.

The research shows that in Delhi alone, 3.5 lakh weddings are expected to be solemnised. Meanwhile, around 1.5 lakh weddings are estimated across Rajasthan in November, the highest in over two years, according to news agency PTI.

The boom in the wedding industry this year

According to another survey done by WeddingWire India, the Indian subsidiary of The Knot Worldwide, 42.5 percent of wedding suppliers’ monthly profits will surpass pre-pandemic figures.

The company recently conducted a wedding vendor survey with over 220 vendors. and noted that around 31 percent of vendors have increased their charges this year.

Also read: Weddings and tourism: A growing matrimony in the Indian economy

“Guest list of 100-250 is the new normal for 34 percent of couples and families. Themed and personalized weddings are emerging as the latest trends in the wedding market. Couples are also more gravitated toward sustainable options for their big day,” the survey said.

In its most recent Trend Survey, which was done in October 2022, online wedding platform Weddingz.in has recently identified new trends in the wedding business. With respect to trends, 63 percent of millennials are moving ahead with digitization and planning their weddings online rather than following the traditional route.

In spite of being mainly unorganised, a KPMG analysis titled Market Study of Online Matrimony and Marriage Services in India estimated the size of the Indian wedding market at Rs 3.68 trillion in 2016.

Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist at the University of Santo Domingo, has been searching for the lost tomb of Cleopatra for nearly 20 years. Now she believes she’s made a pivotal breakthrough.

Martinez and her team uncovered a 1,305 meter (4,281 feet) tunnel, located 13 meters (43 feet) underground, the Egyptian Ministry for Tourism and Antiquities recently announced — an architectural design experts called an “engineering miracle.”

“The excavation revealed a huge religious center with three sanctuaries, a sacred lake, more than 1,500 objects, busts, statues, golden pieces, a huge collection of coins portraying Alexander the Great, Queen Cleopatra and the Ptolemies,” Martinez told CNN.

“The most interesting discovery is the complex of tunnels leading to the Mediterranean Sea and sunken structures,” she added. Exploring these underwater structures will be the next stage of her search for the Egyptian queen’s lost tomb — a journey that began in 2005.

“My perseverance cannot be confused with obsession. I admire Cleopatra as a historical character. She was a victim of propaganda by the Romans, aiming to distort her image,” Martinez said.

“She was an educated woman, probably the first one who studied formally at the Museum in Alexandria, the center of culture in her time” according to Martinez, who said she admires Cleopatra as a student, a linguist, a mother and a philosopher.

When her husband, the Roman general Mark Antony, died in her arms in 30 BCE, Cleopatra took her own life soon after by allowing an asp to bite her by, according to popular belief. The moment has been immortalized in art and literature — but, more than two millennia later, little is known about where their remains lie.

A series of clues led Martinez to believe Cleopatra’s tomb might be located in the Temple of Osiris in the ruined city of Taposiris Magna, on Egypt’s northern coast, where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean.

Chief among them was the name itself. According to Martinez, Cleopatra was considered in her time to be “the human incarnation of the goddess Isis,” as Antony was considered to be that of the god Orisis, Isis’ husband.

Martinez believes Cleopatra may have chosen to bury her husband in the temple to reflect this myth. Of all the 20 temples around Alexandria she has studied, Martinez said, “no other place, structure or temple combines so many conditions as the temple of Taposiris Magna.”

In 2004, Martinez took her theory to Zahi Hawass, an Egyptian archaeologist who was then Egypt’s minister for antiquities affairs. Her project was approved a year later.

And after years of searching, Martinez feels she is getting close.

The excavations so far have revealed that “the temple was dedicated to Isis” — which Martinez believes is another sign that the lost tomb lies nearby — as well as the tunnels below the sea. Now, Martinez said, she is at “the beginning of a new journey” — underwater excavations.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry for Tourism and Antiquities, the Egyptian coastline has been battered by earthquakes over the centuries, causing parts of the Tamposiris Magna to collapse and sink under the waves.

This is where Martinez and her team are looking next. Although it is “too early to know where these tunnels lead,” she is hopeful.

If the tunnels lead to Cleopatra, “it will be the most important discovery of the century,” she said.

From October 22 to October 26, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Ma Mandir in Robbinsville, N.J. saw devotees gathering to enjoy colors, lights and food during the Diwali celebrations.

As per reports, the Mandir was lit 2,700 diyas, and was decorated with colorful rangoli and flower decorations.

Many devotees, young and old, gave their time to help create decorations, prepare for children’s Diwali, and set the stage for the most significant ritual of Diwali, ‘Annakut’- which literally means ‘a mountain of food’ offered to God to celebrate the beginning of the Hindu New Year, BAPS said in a press release.

More than 1,500 food delicacies were offered at the Diwali celebrations held in BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, N.J. October 22-26, 2022. Photo: BAPS

Annakut was celebrated on October 26, 2022, with more than 1,500 delicacies being offered to Bhagwan.

This year, millions of devotees and well-wishers across the globe are taking part in the centennial celebrations of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual guru and leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.

An exhibition-themed “Century of Service,” an immersive experience into the Life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj was the highlight of the Diwali celebrations held Oct. 22-26, at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, N.J. Photo: BAPS.

At the Robbinsville temple, visitors got to view an exhibition-themed “Century of Service,” an immersive experience into the Life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj who traveled across the world, visited more than 250,000 homes across more than 50 countries and replied to over 750,000 letters, personally counseling individuals, helping them through struggles, and inspiring them to live value-centric lives, the press release said.

One of the devotees Ami Shah is quoted saying, “I start my year at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, NJ. The Annakut is awesome and I love coming here. This year the exhibition on Pramukh Swami Maharaj was just too good.”

“I experienced my culture while getting a taste of fine Indian cuisine,” said another devotee Jignesh Patel.

Sikh Religious Society, Palatine Gurdwara organized a four-day celebration to mark the auspicious occasion of Diwali from Sunday October 23, 2022 to Wednesday October 26, 2022 in Palatine IL. Diwali was on Monday October 24, 2022 and New year was on Wednesday October 26, 2022. Over 2,000 people attended the beautiful Diwali celebration at Gurdwara. With Beautiful Diyas & some fireworks for display. The sangat came from all over the Midwest/Interstate of Chicago.

The events included deepmala as well as katha and kirtan by Bhai Rajinder Singh and Jatha, Bhai Parminderjit Singh and bhai Inderjit Singh Khalsa.

The daily kirtans were followed by langar seva where hundreds of volunteers of all age groups offered their services by serving hot meals to all the attendees. This year’s Diwali Seva at the Gurdwara was hosted by Savi Singh Attal & family of Chicago.

Savi Singh’s son of Mr. Satwant Singh Attal SRS Palatine Gurdwara (Past President) family have been hosting Langar and doing Seva for Palatine Gurdwara for over thirty-six years and have been a prominent Sikh Family of Chicago migrated from India in the late 1970’s. The entire family has committed to the Sangat for over four decades and plans of continuing the Seva and passing it on to the next generations to come. The family loves and enjoys doing Langar in Gurdwaras. Diwali Celebrations has brought religion & culture together throughout the globe.

President Jairam Singh Kahlon and Religious Secretary Tarlochan Singh Multani recognized a few members from the Sikh & Hindu Community for Contributing $50,000 towards Repairs/Maintenance for Gurdwara. Donors were Mr. Anoop & Amita Mamtani, Mr. Savi Singh & Rupi Kaur Attal, Mr. Gulzar S. Multani, Mr. Ketu Amin, Mr. Neal Patel and Mr. Prajesh Patel. Palatine Gurdwara needs close to 1,000,000 dollars for repairs and maintenance and will have a Fundraiser in 2023.

With God’s Blessing the Sangat has grown in the Chicagoland area for close to 50 years. Mr. Savi S. Attal and Family hosted the Kirtan & Langar for the Diwali and will continue to do sewa for the Community.

Rupi Kaur has been crowned Mrs. Illinois American 2022. Rupi completed her MBA in 2013. She has had the opportunities to work with some of the top fortune 500 companies and is currently working in Corporate. She is also a Real Estate Agent affiliated with Coldwell Banker and was featured in the Chicago Agent Magazine in early 2021. A mother of two with a full-time corporate job and a Real Estate Agent, she still manages to get involved in the community and volunteers in many Organizations. Her platform is Women Empowerment and throughout her reign as Mrs. Illinois American, she will continue her legacy to represent her community, her State, and the Country as a whole. 

Sikh Religious Society, a non-profit organization, in Palatine, Illinois was formed in 1974 and its first formal Prakash Divas (the ceremonial acceptance of Guru GRANTH Sahib {Sikh’s holy scripture/book} at this new place of worship was celebrated in 1975.  The organization focuses on Sikh religious services, Punjabi language/ Kirtan classes. Another focus of this society is on the community service, charity and other Non-Profit endeavors to promote the Punjabi culture and heritage.

The venue was colorfully decorated in lights and lamps. As dusk fell, guests played with the traditional sparklers as smoke filled the air.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff opened their home at the Naval Observatory in Washington DC Oct. 21 to host a grand Diwali party.

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Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and Neera Tanden, senior advisor to President Joe Biden, joined scores of A-list Indian Americans who participated in the celebrations, the first to be held at the Vice President’s home. The venue was colorfully decorated in lights and lamps. As dusk fell, guests played with the traditional sparklers as smoke filled the air.

To the puzzlement of many, Harris wore her traditional pant suit, eschewing the saris, anarkhalis, and lehngas sported by her female guests. She later apologized to her guests during a speech, laughing along with her guests as she said: “I’m sorry I’m not wearing a sari, but I did wear some nice jewelry.”

Seeking Light In Moments Of Darkness

In a speech, Harris fondly remembered celebrating Diwali as a child in Chennai. She recalled getting dressed up in new clothes and then going out on to the streets to throw fireworks. “What could be better?” she proclaimed, to long laughs from the crowd.

“As I get older, I really am beginning to appreciate Diwali more. It really is a universal concept: seeking light in moments of darkness, and shedding light in moments of darkness.”

White House Celebrations

“We are not without great challenges, in our own country, and in the world. Celebrations like Diwali remind us of our power to bring lightness to the world,” said the Vice President. There is so much about Diwali that is also enlightenment above ignorance.” President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden celebrated Diwali at the White House Oct. 24.

Diwali, one of the most important festivals in Hinduism, begins today with colorful customs and celebrations. The holiday also has significance for Sikhs and Jains, and is celebrated not just in India, but in Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries with South Asian diasporas. It’s generally celebrated for five days, with the biggest day being the third one. 

More and more major brands are recognizing the festival of lights, running ad campaigns and stocking products related to the holiday in the US. South Asian Americans who celebrate Diwali can now pick up fireworks from Costco, greeting cards from Hallmark and party decorations from Target. The proliferation of the ad campaigns and products, marketing strategists and business owners say, reflects just how much the South Asian population in the US has grown in recent years.

The South Asian Engagement Foundation along with the Durst Organization will be displaying, Diwali-themed animation on the façade of the One World Center, a symbol of New York City’s eternal goodness. The animation will occur daily, Oct 22-Oct 24th from 6pm-2am.

“We are so happy to bring this wonderful animation to everyone via the World Trade Center and so fortunate to work with The Durst Organization to bring this message of peace, harmony and the celebration of good over evil,” said Rahul Walia, Founding Trustee of South Asian Engagement Foundation.

Named the All-American Diwali, the celebration is dedicated to New York’s finest. SAEF plans to honor them through its social media posts, and requests everyone celebrating Diwali throughout the United States to do the same for their own local first responders.

On the inaugural day Oct 22, 630pm, the community is cordially invited to witness the lighting with LIVE AARTI and prayer on the corner of West and Vesey Street with the One World Trade Center as the backdrop. Meeting point is outside 200 West Street.

At SAEF, the work is dedicated to building a strong brand for the Indian American community by empowering them and catalyzing the conversation around Indian Americans.

All American Diwali is a trademark and copyright of the South Asian Engagement Foundation.

The South Asian Engagement Foundation (SAEF) is a registered 501c 3 non-profit organization based in New Jersey. SAEF has a mission to increase leadership potential in Indian American communities by providing incentives using educational initiatives and civic engagements. Amongst its initiatives, SAEF supports programs like the South Asian Spelling Bee and the Cricket Bee. SAEF’s vision is to continue supporting and organizing educational initiatives and cultural outreach to expand national awareness of the Indian American community.

The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin’s New Jersey chapter (AAPI-NJ) held its annual convention gala October 8, 2022, at Imperia in Somerset. Attendees also marked the occasion for celebrating the Festival of Lights – Diwali. More than two hundred guests attended the program, per Dr. Pradip Shah, President of AAPI-NJ. 

Other attendees included Dr. Hetal Gor, RD of AAPI, Dr. Atul Prakash, Vice President of AAPI-NJ, and Dr. Pooja Patel, Secretary of AAPI-NJ and Dr. Jayesh Patel, Treasurer of AAPI-NJ. Several speakers addressed the gathering including Congressman Hon. Frank Pallone Dr. Pradip Shah, Dr. Sudhir Parikh, advisory board member of AAPI-NJ. 

Dr. Pradip Shah outlined the vision of the AAPI-NJ which included but was not limited to, Continuing Medical Education seminars for members, community service included donating blankets, supporting, and helping soup kitchens, and assisting international medical graduates get residency, disease awareness and prevention, women’s health, and encouraging the younger generation of doctors to join the AAPI events. 

Congressman Frank Pallone also outlined the importance of the Indian American community in the U.S. and thanked physicians for their hard work during the pandemic. “We are really trying really hard in Congress to spend money and be up to date for another crisis,” Rep. Pallone said, to have the research and the ability to deal with the crisis better than before. 

Congressman Pallone also said the U.S. Congress is concerned about heart health in the South Asian community, and that he and others are trying to get the bill on this matter passed through the U.S. Senate. It has already been passed through the House of Representatives recently. Dr. Parikh said.  when he was involved in establishing the India Caucus in Congress and how Rep. Pallone was involved in co-founding it. for celebrating Diwali. General Secretary of AAPI-NJ, Dr. Pooja Patel, said “We are looking forward to carry forward the work done by NJ state AAPI.” She encouraged younger physicians to join the organization

There have been dazzling; glorious Navratri celebrations all across Chicagoland and continuing on the rich tradition Bharatiya Senior Citizens of Chicago hosted their own Navratri Sharad Poonam Garba – Taal with Geeta Rabari, on Sunday – October 9, 2022 at DuPage Event Center; Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, N County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL. Geeta Rabari Geeta Rabari is a very famous Gujarati folk singer, and she performs with her group every year during the Navratri festival.

The event attracted over thousands of Gujrati families and Indians alike to celebrate the splendor of Navaratri. The attendees ranged from toddlers to seniors and were dressed in vibrant and colorful Indian attire, especially the ladies and children who were seen wearing bright colorful, dazzling traditional dresses with matching ornaments and extravagant hairstyles. The twirling dancers, clapping hands, instinct sound of wooden sticks struck together, toe tapping music and people wearing colorful clothes marked the grand Navratri celebrations at the Garba; Dandiya Raas with Geeta Rabari!

The festivities began around 6 pm and lasted until10:30pm. The celebration started with the traditional Lamp Lighting ceremony. President Haribhai Patel spoke fondly about the Navaratri celebrations, saying that, “It keeps a part of our rich culture alive, we Gujarati have garba in our blood”. He recognized sponsors, the committee members and volunteers that made the event possible.

This evening also happened to be the ‘Sharad Purnima’, a full moon night. Geeta Rabari with live band is one of the most popular Navratri garba events in the Midwest area. The live band orchestra included the rums, cymbals and all sorts of instruments and together with the melodious magical voice of Geeta Rabari, the DuPage Event Center was transformed into a huge dance floor to accommodate hundreds of bare feet dancers moving with the thunderous drumbeats in swirling circles around the deity of Hindu Goddess Maa Durga. Geeta’s powerful voice, her energetic and colorful performance and stage presence was a treat for her fans that left them wanting for more. She brought a new level of excitement and energy that charged up the whole Gujarati music scene for the entire evening!!

Prominent dignitaries in attendance were Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Michael Burke, Supreme Court Justice; Greg Hart Dupage County Board Member; Chris Dargis, Republican nominee for the 8th Congressional District; Shweta Baid, Alderman Aurora; Meghana Bansal, Trustee Wheatland Township; Nag Jaiswal, Candidate for Naperville city council; Nimish Jani, Community leader; Vinesh Virani, Art of Living; VHP Nirav Patel, BJP President.

The sponsors for the event were Clear Spring Health care insurance, Chhotalal Patel and S International Inc. Other Sponsor were American Standard circuit, Gordhan Patel, Vinesh Virani, Krishna Bansal, Nimish Jani, Brijesh Patel and Chintal Mehta.

There have been dazzling; glorious Navratri celebrations all across Chicagoland and continuing on the rich tradition Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) and Support A Child (SAC) hosted their own Navratri Garba Raas with Rex D Souza and Shivani Shah, on Sunday – October 15, 2022 at Bartlett Park District, 700 S Bartlett Road, Bartlett, IL. Shivani Shah is a very famous Gujarati folk singer, and she performs with her group every year during the Navratri festival.

The event attracted over thousands of Gujrati families and Indians alike to celebrate the splendor of Navaratri. The attendees ranged from toddlers to seniors and were dressed in vibrant and colorful Indian attire, especially the ladies and children who were seen wearing bright colorful, dazzling traditional dresses with matching ornaments and extravagant hairstyles. The twirling dancers, clapping hands, instinct sound of wooden sticks struck together, toe tapping music and people wearing colorful clothes marked the grand Navratri celebrations at the VHPA and SAC Garba.

The festivities began around 7:00 pm and lasted until12:30 pm. The celebration started with the traditional Lamp Lighting ceremony. President Harendra bhai Mangrola spoke fondly about the Navaratri celebrations, saying that, “It keeps a part of our rich culture alive, we Gujarati have garba in our blood”. He recognized sponsors, the committee members and volunteers that made the event possible. “Thanks to the wonderful audience of Chicago and well-wishers who attended the event to make it a huge success” said by Vinesh Virani (VHPA Chicago chapter VP). “It was a colorful, cherished event as kids, youth and adults of all ages participated and brought the liveliness around us.” said by Nirav Patel (VHPA community outreach). 

Shivani Shah started with the Three claps Garba, “Kum Kum Kera Pagale Madi”. She sang the Classical “Raksha Karo Ambe Maa Bhavani”. Rex Dsouza continued amazing Garbas in Two Taali. In Raas everybody enjoyed “Disco Dandia ”, She sang all what the Khelaiys wanted to hear for their dance and continued with Mataji’s Arti & Stuti Harendra bhai Mangrola (VHPA Chicago Chapter president), Vines h Virani (VHPA Chicago chapter VP), Joy Shah (Treasure), Neela Patel (Secretary), Sanjay Shah (Event chair), Nimisha Patel (Event chair) Amitabh Mittal (Joint secretary VHPA), Nirav Patel (VHPA community outreach), Anisha shah (Event chair), Radhika Jain (Bal Vihar chair), Nitin Surti, Chirag Chavda, Harmil Patel (KPS president), Prakash bhai, Dr. Shyamkant Seth, Rakesh Malhotra, Krishana Bansal, Vandana Jhingan and Ganesh Kar.

Shivani Shah learned North Indian classical music. She has done more than 500 Singing Shows Leading my Band as a professional singer. “Performing for VHPA was a something Special and memorable experience,” said Shivani Shah. The crowd was really crazy and we as a team enjoyed performing for such a lovely crowd.

Rex Dsouza was one of the three finalists of Fame Gurukul, one of the most watched television shows in India in 2005. The show’s premise was to select a pair of India’s best singers/performers. On Fame Gurukul, Rex was characterized as having a good mixture of charisma, singing and confidence. Rex Dsouza won the support of many fans due to his personality and talent, which earned him the title of Mr. Gurukul. 

Rex Dsouza’s infectious smile made the girls go weak in their knees but couldn’t make it to the Fame Jodi. But that didn’t dampen his spirits a week after Fame Gurukul announced its winners. He has taken it in his stride and is now doing stage shows around the world, along with singing for Bollywood movies. He is here for the love of performing; he enjoys being on stage and it’s not his style to be nervous. Performed around the world in more than 1500 shows.

 “The crowd in Chicago was amazing as always!!! The energy was great and always exciting to perform in Chicago. Navratri is my favorite time of the year. The color, the energy, the vibe that people carry makes this festival even more awesome!!! Looking forward to performing before the Chicago crowd again and again. Want to thank VHPA for this opportunity, in which I could also help them raise money for the great cause they have always worked on would love to do this event every year” said by Rex Dsouza

Many volunteers demonstrated well organized team effort and worked very hard under the leadership of VHPA President, Executive and Advisory board to make this event grand a success. Without their dedicated and selfless effort, this event won’t be remembered as Best Celebrating Diwali festival in Times Square along with India’s 75th Independence Day with 60-plus performers

Celebrity Chef Vikas Khanna, who is set to host the first episode of the upcoming docu-series ‘The Journey of India’, recently shared that no other cuisine in the world can match up to the Indian cuisine.

The Michelin-star chef said: “I have travelled to innumerable countries in my time as a chef. However, the diversity of Indian cuisine is simply unparalleled. The complexity of flavours and the multiple notes it can hit at once simultaneously makes it unlike any other. Indian food has a soul of its own.”

Vikas will take the viewers across India and the extraordinary ingredients, flavours, recipes and cuisines that define India through the show. The episode will also feature other experts from the culinary industry who share their experiences and vast knowledge on the subject, decoding India’s wholesome food ventures that have put India and its food on the global map.

“I can’t wait to take my fellow viewers through the journey of India’s un-really diverse palette and how it emerged as one of the top global delicacies,” Vikas added.

He also mentioned that the Golden Temple was his glimmer of hope and inspiration, where any celebration began with the langar seva, the selfless service feeding thousands of hungry souls among many other experiences.

‘The Journey of India’ will air on Discovery’s network of channels in India and drop on OTT platform discovery+ on October 10. (IANS)

Barefoot Empress: A Story of the Victory of the Human Spirit, written and directed by Vikas Khanna, renowned Michelin star chef, and produced by Oscar-nominated Doug Roland, premiered Sept. 13, 2022, at the Asia Society headquarters in New York (barefootempress.com).

This movie is produced in association with non-profits Leap to Shine and Global Fund for Widows.

The short documentary’s sold-out debut screening  had more than 250 attendees including industry professionals such as award-winning vocalist Ila Paliwal, India’s Consul General in New York, Randhir Jaiswal, UN ambassador for India, Ruchira Kamboj, entrepreneur and philanthropist MR Rangaswami from California, among others.

The film follows the remarkable journey of Karthyayani Amma, who finally gets a chance to join a first-grade class at the age of 96. Amma spent most of her life as a temple cleaner trying to make ends meet for her family, but when given the opportunity to educate herself, she pushed past societal norms and ended up a star student in her class. With a score of 98 percent on her exams, Amma dreams of studying up to grade 10.

“I am so honored to use my art and voice to inspire change,” Khanna if quoted saying in the press release. “By sharing Barefoot Empress with the world, I hope to spark conversations that create safer learning spaces and bring financial security to girls and women in India.”

Leap to Shine has named Amma a Global Ambassador and pledged to educate five million girls in India.  Khanna is an advisor to Leap to Shine.

“After having spent almost 25 years volunteering for non-profits, I have learnt that transparency, scalability, and impact are the key attributes to make a difference,” said Keyur Shah, director at Leap to Shine. “We achieve that using technology to create profound impact in the lives of those who have the drive to change their destiny with the power of digital learning.”

The leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Friday endorsed the holy city of Varanasi as the first ever tourist and cultural capital of the grouping for the year 2022-23. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said this at a media briefing.

India’s oldest city, Varanasi was named the first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital at the 22nd Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Sept. 16, 2022. During the one year period till 2023 , a numbers of cultural outreach events attracting the presence of Indologists (people who study about India), scholars, authors, musicians and artists, photo journalists, travel bloggers and other invited guests, will be held in city.

The Indian delegation at the SCO summit in this historic Uzbek city of Samarkand was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Uzbekistan handed over the rotating presidency of the grouping to India for the year 2022-23.

“Prime Minister Modi thanked all the member states for endorsing Varanasi as the first ever SCO tourist and cultural capital during the upcoming year 2022-23,” Kwatra said. “This is a befitting recognition of the historic city and opens the door for greater cultural and people-to-people ties between India and the region,” he said.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.

Some ‘Indian Americans’ are switching to self-identifying themselves as ‘Hindu Americans’ and plan to announce the rebranded entity as a political force at a ‘summit’ on Capitol Hill, home to the US congress, late September to deliver their message directly to the lawmakers.

Titled ‘Hindu American Summit for Political Engagement’, the event will see the leadership of the “spirited American Hindu community discussing to actively engage in the US political system”, according to a flyer circulated by the organisers that also serves as an invitation.

But the rebranding effort actually reflects growing unease among Indian Americans with being tied to the policies and positions taken by the Indian government and to be seen by Americans as representing them. They also feel the need to assert their ‘Americanness’ while being still attached to their country of origin, by religion now and not politics.

The summit is being organised by ‘Americans 4 Hindus’ and the ‘American Hindus Coalition’, both unabashedly Hindu outfits, and it will be attended by representatives of the national, California and Texas units of the ‘Americans 4 Hindus’; the national, New York and Florida units of the ‘Hindu American PAC’ (political action committee); Hindus of Georgia PAC, Hindu PACT (World Hindu Council of America); Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America; Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh of America and few others.

As a measure of the seriousness of this rebranding effort, organisers have invited only bodies that have declared their religious identity overtly, with the word ‘Hindu’ in their names.

An event to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence Day — observed by India as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav — has been relegated to the footnote position in the summit flyer, as a sideshow, because, it is being hosted by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), which does not have the word ‘Hindu’ in the name but is a powerful entity nevertheless. It hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at its 2020 annual meet that was held virtually because of Covid-19.

Some of the groups involved in the summit have been active politically for a while, raising money and funding candidates in both state and federal elections. These bodies have been individually active for a while, funding candidates running for political office at federal and state level.

Americans 4 (also calls itself ‘for’) Hindus raised $228,311 in the 2019-20 election cycle, according to Open Secrets, which tracks election funding in the US. Most of his money went to Republicans. The Hindu American PAC raised $55,833 in the same period and gave to both Republicans and Democrats.

“For half a century, Indian Americans have maintained strong loyalty with India but its recent diplomatic confrontations with the western countries is forcing us to rebrand ourselves as ‘Hindu Americans’, similar to the ‘Jewish Americans’,” said Shekhar Tiwari, chairman-founder of the American Hindu Coalition, which is co-hosting the summit.

“Unfortunately this change will create distance with India which might only grow with time,” he added. Though numerically a minority, such Indian/Hindu Americans, Jewish Americans wield enormous political clout, with both Republicans and Democrats. They have used this clout to also support Israel and insulate it from backlash to some of its most controversial actions.

Indian Americans have long held the Jewish American community’s clout as a model, and now Hindu Americans are saying they too can be known for their religious identity as the Jewish Americans, not just for their links to India.

India’s refusal to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been the cause of much disquiet among Indian Americans, many of whom have said they have had to bear the brunt of the backlash from Americans, especially lawmakers, casting doubts on their Americanness.

India has become a “toxic word”, a senior lawmaker told an Indian American constituent, who requested not to be identified so as to be able to report the conversation. Another lawmaker asked an Indian American constituent, who also wanted to go unidentified, to look for alternatives to the phrase ‘Indian American’.

India is spoken of in the same breath as China as Russia’s enablers. The US media is closely tracking, and reporting, India’s continuing — albeit escalating — purchases of Russian oil and fertilisers, helping, in the view of Americans, Russia go around crippling sanctions imposed by western countries over the Ukraine invasion.

Sampat Shivangi, co-chair of Americans 4 Hindus, the other host of the summit, acknowledged that many Indian Americans want to switch to Hindu American, but insisted it’s a fierce debate at the moment and not a settled issue.

Though, Shivangi added, he sees not reason for Hindu Americans to not call themselves Hindu Americans like Jewish Americans, who have embraced their religious identity and not countries they came from.

Jewish Americans have long been a model for many Indian Americans, even those that do not want to cut ties to the mother country, for their clout in American politics, which is way disproportionate to their population size.

“We are the most highly educated and wealthiest community in America and we should not be reluctant to call ourselves Hindu Americans,” said Shivangi, arguing Hindus comprise 85 per cent of Indian Americans, who are estimated to be about 4 million. But, he added, he is happy to go with the name Indian American. These are not binary choices for him.

Shivangi is behind the Amrit Mahotsav event that follows the Hindu summit, and said he has commitments of attendance from several Senators and members of the House of Representatives. (IANS)

Kanniks Kannikeswaran, a U.S.-based music producer, released Raag Darshan- A Tribute to India in 75 Ragas. Created by Dr. Kannikeswaran for India’s 75th year of independence, and performed by Sathyaprakash Dharmar, Abby V., Keerthana Vaidyanathan, Reeshabh Purohit, Savitha Sai Shravanam and Mayur Davay, produced by Shanti Academy, and presented by the Hindu University of America.

This magnum opus was released during the University’s formal event ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ on Sunday, August 14, 2022. Raag Darshan is a musical, lyrical, and visual tribute to the timeless Indian ideals and traditions, presented as a garland of 75 ragas, with lyrics in Sanskrit, delivered by a contemporary orchestra consisting of accomplished musicians.

According to Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran, “The music video is a once-in-a-generation kind of production that strings together names of 75 ragas embedded in Sanskrit supported with powerful visuals from all over India. The lyrical component of the composition has been inspired by the Tamil works of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharati. The form of the Ragamalika is inspired by the Classical Music tradition of Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775-1835) and it incorporates Raagas from both the North and South Indian traditions of Classical music with raga names encoded into the text. Its integration of visuals from all parts of India, from different eras and traditions captures a unique sense of the diversity of Bharat and at the same time, the unity of its underlying spiritual vision.”

Dr. Kannikeswaran explained that intricate connections exist among the ragas, the text and the visuals weaved in throughout the composition. He is known for his pioneering work in Indian American Choral music and a history of more than 25 years in building communities through choral music. His earlier music video, ‘Rivers of India,’ celebrating India’s veneration for water-resources, featured acclaimed musicians such as Mrs. Bombay Jayashri and Mrs. Kaushiki Chakrabarty, and it went viral while receiving critical acclaim.

Raag Darshan is a musical, lyrical, and visual tribute to the timeless Indian ideals and traditions, presented as a garland of 75 ragas, with lyrics in Sanskrit, delivered by contemporary orchestra consisting of accomplished musicians. A distinctive feature of this production is the use of stunning visuals spanning various corners of the Indian subcontinent. The music video can be viewed on HUA’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAFWA_yvh2E.

Gujarat’s traditional dance form Garba has been nominated by India for inclusion in the UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. As per reports by the Ministry of Culture, the nomination will be considered for the next year cycle. Secretary of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Tim Curtis had shared details on it during a presentation made at an event held at the National Museum here to mark the UNESCO tag awarded to Kolkata’s Durga Puja festival last December.

The nomination files will be examined by the evaluation body mid-2023 and the inscription will be decided at the 2023 session of the committee by the end of next year. The Garba dance of Gujarat was currently undergoing technical treatment by the Secretariat.

India currently has 14 Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) elements which are inscribed on this list, including Ramlila, Vedic Chants, Kumbh Mela and the latest being Kolkata’s Durga Puja.

The UNSECO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage was established in 2008 to safeguard intangible heritage elements that help to demonstrate diversity. India currently has 14 intangible cultural heritage elements on the list, the latest being Durga Puja which was included last year. The other listed elements include music, dance, theater, festivals, rituals and more.

Chicago Andhra Association organized a Yoga Workshop on 7/31/2022. The workshop was conducted by a Himalayan Yogi, sri Kiran Chukkapalli. This workshop focused on vinyasa flow, and the smooth transition (flow) from one pose to the next pose. Kiran then guided the attendees practice the flow with Suryanamaskars. He then taught the right breathing technique and explained the benefits of yoganidra. The session concluded with a Q& A.

On this occasion Chicago Andhra Association and its service wing, the Chicago Andhra Foundation presented him with a cheque for $26,750.00 raised by CAA chairman Sujatha Appalaneni and its members and well-wishers towards the embroidery and chula projects for the refugee families, and annual budget for running the Dabuguda school for the children of the Araku Valley. Kiran talked about the plight of the refugees fleeing their home countries to come to India and the difficult living conditions they are enduring in India, and his efforts to help them live a respectable life with basic human rights.

The event was organized by president Malathi Damaraju, vice president Gowrisankar Addanki, secretary Swetha Kottapalli, CAF executive director Ramakrishna Tadepalli, joint treasurer Ramarao Kothamasu, former president SriSailesh Maddi, director Usha Kotha, Trustee Padmarao Appalaneni.

President Malathi Damaraju thanked sri Kiran Chukkapalli for conducting the workshop, Pramod Chintamaneni and the management of Mall of India for providing the venue for the workshop, and all the attendees for making it a success.

About 2,500 languages are in danger of becoming extinct according to Unesco, and some of them are spoken by only 30 people. By the turn of the century, it is estimated that at least 50 per cent of the world’s current spoken languages will be extinct. Unesco uses a set of five categories to define how endangered a language is:

• Vulnerable, where most children speak the language, but it may be restricted to certain domains such as the home;
• Definitely endangered, where children no longer learn the language as a ”mother tongue” in the home;
• Severely endangered is when a language is spoken by grandparents and older generations, and while the parent generation may understand it, they do not speak it to children or among themselves;
• Critically endangered is when the youngest speakers are grandparents and older, and they speak the language partially and infrequently;
• Extinct – there are no speakers left.

Millions of languages have disappeared throughout the world’s history. Many that exist today are threatened as populations move and countries adopt other, more widely spoken languages. Here are the some of the rarest languages left on Earth and where to hear them.

DUMI

Dumi is an endangered language from eastern Nepal. There are four different dialects typically spoken by people in the area — Brasmi, Makpa, Lamdija, and Kharbari. As of 2007, there were only eight native speakers left in the world, according to the Endangered Languages Project. Nepal is very diverse with more than 123 languages spoken. Most people speak the official language, Nepali, which is replacing many of the lesser-spoken languages.

ONGOTA

Ongota is another rare language with only eight native speakers left in the world. Although it’s still spoken in southwestern Ethiopia, it is being replaced with the Tsamai language. There have been several pushes to save the dying language, but it’s considered critically endangered.

LIKI

On the small offshore islands of Indonesia is a group of people who speak an endangered language called Liki. There are a few hundred people who live in the remote village, but only 11 of them were native Liki speakers in 2009. The numbers continue to dwindle as time goes on. One estimate from UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Endangered Languages puts the number of speakers at just five.

PAAKANTYI

Paakantyi is a language spoken by aboriginal Australian tribes — specifically along the Darling River in New South Wales. The name Paakantyi comes from the word for river or paaka. Recent estimates put the number of remaining speakers between 2 and 22, but efforts are being made to bring the language back from the brink of extinction by teaching it in local schools. Perhaps in the future, Paakantyi will no longer make the list of Earth’s rarest languages.

TANEMA

Tanema is an endangered language that’s spoken on the Solomon Islands off the coast of Papua New Guinea near Australia. Tanema is considered critically endangered with only four native speakers left as of 2008. It has been mostly replaced by Teanu, which is the main language on the islands.

NJEREP

Njerep is a language that originated in Cameroon, Africa on the Nigerian border. As of 2000, there were only a few remaining speakers — between four and six, by some estimates — with the youngest speaker at only 60 years of age. Although the speakers could interact in their native tongue, none of them used it on a regular basis, which makes Njerep essentially extinct. Although the language has been extensively studied and catalogued, there doesn’t seem to be any hope in reviving it. Njerep will soon be completely extinct except in record books.

CHEMEHUEVI

Chemehuevi is a language that originated in the Mojave Desert. It once had between 500 and 800 speakers in different Native American tribes throughout the region. When white settlers arrived, however, the tribes were relocated to Colorado. Today, although the Chemehuevi tribe is still active, there are only a handful of people — fewer than two dozen — who still speak the original language.

SARCEEE

Sarcee, also known as Tsuut’ina, is an indigenous language from northern Canada. In 2015, there were a recorded 50 native speakers left, but there have been efforts to revive the language by offering community programs and teaching it in classes throughout the area.

LEMERIG

Lemerig is an endangered language native to the Banks Islands off the eastern coast of Australia. It’s considered critically endangered with only two remaining native speakers. As more and more settlers move to the islands, Lemerig is being replaced by Mwotlap, a more prominent language in the area.

KAIXANA

Kaixana is tied for the title of rarest language in the world. In 2008, there was only one remaining speaker known to UNESCO’s Atlas of the World Languages in Danger. The language originated in Brazil on the banks of the Japurá River, but it’s likely to soon be extinct.

TAUSHIRO

Like Kaixana, Taushiro is a dying language with only one remaining native speaker. It originated in the Amazon rainforest in Peru, where, at one point, there were thousands of Taushiro speakers. When the Europeans came, many tribes were violently removed or wiped out by disease. Today, Amadeo García García is the very last Taushiro speaker in the world and the final member of his tribe. Once he’s gone, his native language will be too.

The ancient Ellora Caves in the state of Maharashtra will become the first monument in India to have a hydraulic lift to facilitate easy movement of people in wheelchairs, according to a statement by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The invaluable ensemble of 34 caves at Ellora in the Charanandri hills of western India’s Maharashtra State not only symbolize a unique artistic creation and a technological exploit but, with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.

The caves, which have temples dedicated to Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, also house the largest rock-cut Shiva temple, called Kailasa Temple in Cave 16. Since it’s located in village Verul in Maharashtra, with Leni being the local word for caves, they are also called Verul Leni.

The 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from A.D. 600 to 1000, brings the civilization of ancient India to life.

As per traditions, the rock-cut activity was carried out in three phases from the 6th century to the 12th century. The earliest caves (caves 1–12), excavated between the 5th and 8th centuries, reflect the Mahayana philosophy of Buddhism then prevalent in this region. The Brahmanical group of caves (caves 13–29), including the renowned Kailasa temple (cave 16), was excavated between the 7th and 10th centuries. The last phase, between the 9th and 12th centuries, saw the excavation of a group of caves (caves 30–34) reflecting Jaina philosophy.

The UNESCO sates: “The ensemble of Ellora is a unique artistic achievement, a masterpiece of human creative genius. If one considers only the work of excavating the rock, a monument such as the Kailasa Temple is a technological exploit without equal. However, this temple, which transposes models from “constructed” architecture, offers an extraordinary repertory of sculpted and painted forms of a very high plastic quality and an encyclopaedic program.”

According to analysts, the authenticity of Ellora Caves is expressed through the architectural forms and designs such as the viharas (monasteries), chaityagriha (sanctuary), and monolithic temples belonging to three different faiths. The materials, locations, and natural setting also play significant roles in determining the authenticity of the property. The Ellora Caves are authentic in terms of the forms and designs, materials and substance, and locations and setting of paintings, rock-cut architecture, sculptures, and unfinished temples of three different faiths, i.e. Buddhism, Brahmanism, and Jainism.

A new report by researchers at Rutgers University at New Brunswick and the non-profit Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) has found that there is a rapid increase in anti-Hindu hate speech on social media platforms in the United States and that this potentially puts thousands of people of the Hindu community at risk.

“Our analysis demonstrates that there is an alarming, recent rise in the use of key terms — particularly, anti-Hindu slurs and slogans — that both connote and disseminate Hinduphobia on popular social media platforms,” the report said. “Accompanying this increase is the proliferation of anti-Hindu genocidal memes in Islamist, white nationalist, and other extremist sub-networks online. While such developments are often mistakenly categorized as anti-Indian xenophobia, we show that the specific content of these memes, hashtags, and derogatory messages very clearly targets decidedly Hindu symbols, practices, and livelihoods. In so doing, these online communities are adapting a pre-existing, albeit understudied, playbook of Hinduphobic tropes to a new sphere of communication.”

The research was led by Prasiddha Sudhakar, an analyst at the Network Contagion lab. Her co-authors were Dr. Joel Finkelstein, Chief Science Officer and Director, Network Contagion Research Institute and Senior Research Fellow, Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience, Rutgers University; Dr. Lee Jussim, Chair, Distinguished Professor, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University; Dr. Parth Parihar, Postdoctoral Fellow, Wallis Institute of Political Economy, University of Rochester;
Denver Riggleman, Former Congressman and Fellow and Visiting Scholar, Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience, Rutgers University.

In its executive summary, the report says, “Hinduphobic tropes such as the portrayal of Hindus as fundamentally heretical evil, dirty, tyrannical, genocidal, irredeemable or disloyal — are prominent across the ideological spectrum and are being deployed by fringe web communities and state actors alike. Despite violent and genocidal implications of Hinduphobia, it has largely been understudied, dismissed, or even denied in the public sphere. This report applies large scale quantitative methods to examine the spread of anti-Hindu disinformation within a wide variety of social media platforms and showcases an explosion of anti-Hindu tropes. Though confined largely to street-level groups and enthusiasts in the recent past, Hinduphobia is now exploding across entire Web communities across millions of comments, interactions and impressions in both mainstream and extremist platforms.”

Sudhakar was quoted by KQED, “I wouldn’t say I was surprised, given that there’s been a massive rise in all forms of ethnic hatred, whether it’s antisemitism, or Islamophobia, or anti-Asian hate.”

The report found that there is a spike in anti-Hindu phraseology in the United States, beginning in the fall of 2021 on social media platforms such as 4chan, Gab, Twitter, TikTok and Telegram.

The report said that NCRI detected recent surges in derogatory posts toward Hindus present in subcultural social media platforms including 4Chan, Telegram, and Gab.

“We found anti-Hindu memes, hashtags, and slogans growing prolifically across these fringe online platforms as well as Twitter. NCRI’s previous analysis shows that extremist content targeting specific vulnerable communities on social media are upstream predictors of real world violence against those communities. State actors use Hinduphobic tropes as part of large scale information operations. (Courtesy: Indica News)

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama has said on July 14th that he is not seeking separation of his homeland from China but is seeking meaningful autonomy inside China rather than independence as he arrived in Jammu from Dharamshala. 

The Dalai Lama said only a few Chinese hardliners considered him to be a separatist. “Some hardliners in China think I’m a separatist,” Dalai Lama said, adding that there are now more and more Chinese people who are realizing that the Dalai Lama is not seeking independence but only a ‘meaningful’ autonomy inside China to preserve Tibetan Buddhist culture.

“People in China are increasingly realizing that I am not seeking the independence of Tibet, but autonomy and preservation of its Buddhist culture,” he told the media in Jammu.

The Nobel Peace Laureate traveled to Ladakh in India on Friday, July 15th, where he is going to stay for a month to deliver discourses and meet followers.

After a long hiatus, the Dalai Lama is making his first visit outside his headquarters in Himachal Pradesh’s Mcleodganj since leaving Bodh Gaya in January 2020 ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic’s outbreak. 

In response to a query about China objecting to his journey to Ladakh, the spiritual head of Tibet responded and denied the claims made by Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, who had told the media that the 14th Dalai Lama was an anti-China separatist.

The visit of the Dalai Lama is expected to enrage China because Beijing recently chastised Prime Minister Modi for sending birthday congratulations to the Dalai Lama, who just celebrated his 87th birthday, saying that India should cease interfering in China‘s domestic affairs using Tibet-related matters.

The famed Thiksay monastery in Leh is among the places the Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit on his journey.

The Dalai Lama is treated as a guest in India, according to the government’s consistent policy, the External Affairs Ministry stated in response to China’s complaint.

Ever since the Dalai Lama sought refuge in India, Beijing has been critical of him. The Tibetan spiritual leader had to seek refuge in India in the 1950s when China invaded Tibet and called it as part of China. The Dalai Lama wanted to promote a halfway settlement with China to settle the Tibet problem amicably.

India and China have been at odds since April 2020 about Chinese Army violations in the Finger area, Galwan Valley, Hot Springs, and Kongrung Nala, among other places. After intense battles with Chinese forces in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, the situation deteriorated. It is important to note that the 16th round of Corps Commander-level discussions between China and India, which are scheduled to begin on July 17, is taking place just three days after this visit.

The fundamental issue at stake in abortion debates is personhood, which is viewed differently around the world, an anthropologist writes. Opponents and proponents of abortion rights often frame their positions in terms of two fundamental values: “life” or “choice.”

However, many defenders of “life” are comfortable with taking human life in situations such as war or capital punishment. Many on the side of “choice” advocate for government regulation of guns or mandates on masking and vaccines.

As I see it, “life” and “choice” are not, in and of themselves, really the issue. The central question is what – or who – constitutes a person. 

This question has long preoccupied anthropologists, particularly those like me who specialize in the study of non-European religions. Some ideas usually taken for granted in the United States and Europe about what it means to be a person are, quite simply, not shared with followers of other religious traditions and cultures.

Ideas about personhood in U.S. culture are largely a product of Christianity, in which personhood is inextricably tied to the notion of the soul. Only a being who possesses a soul is a person, and personhood is treated as a black-and-white matter: Either a being has a soul or it does not.

As a specialist of religion in Africa, I have become aware of religious traditions that treat personhood in very different and more nuanced ways. The majority of people in Africa identify as Muslim or Christian, but indigenous religions remain widespread, and many view personhood as a process rather than a once-and-for-all phenomenon.

Gradual personhood

This is well illustrated by beliefs about babies in the Beng culture of Côte d’Ivoire, which anthropologist Alma Gottlieb details in her remarkable 2004 ethnography, “The Afterlife Is Where We Come From.”

For Beng, all babies are reincarnations of people who recently died. They emerge from a place called “wrugbe,” which is simultaneously the afterlife and a sort of before-life.

The idea that babies are reincarnations, especially of ancestors, is hardly specific to the Beng – or to African religions, for that matter. Indeed, a newborn has not really left “wrugbe” until her cut umbilical cord has dried out and fallen off. Only then is the infant considered in any sense a person. If she dies beforehand, she does not receive any sort of funeral. Even afterward, until children are several years old, people believe they remain poised between “wrugbe” and the world of ordinary humans.

For Beng and many other peoples, rituals mark the development of personhood. Some cultures believe children do not fully have a gender until they have undergone initiation. The process of initiation itself is a symbolic death and rebirth, as though the initiate becomes a new person. In some societies – for example Tallensi of northern Ghana – if an individual ever achieves full personhood, it is only after death, when they become an ancestor, fully involved in the lives of their descendants.

Initiates are welcomed back from an initiation school by their friends and families in Orange Farm, South Africa.
Lucky Maibi/Daily Sun/Gallo Images via Getty Images

Not just humans

“Persons” are not even necessarily human. In Mande cultures in West Africa, such as the Dyula communities where I have done research, every clan is associated with a “ntana,” a large and dangerous wild animal species: lions, leopards, elephants, crocodiles or pythons, for example. Members of the species are considered persons, but only for individuals in the associated clan.

Each one has a story about the origins of their relationship with their ntana – typically of how the ancestor of the species rescued the ancestor of the clan, such as by pulling him out of a pit into which he had fallen. Members of the clan must not kill or eat their ntana, and contact with or even sight of the remains of the dead animal is considered dangerous.

Two aspects of personhood stand out in particular when we compare how paradigms vary from culture to culture.

First, personhood is sometimes viewed as a process, not a steady state, and is not something each individual automatically possessed. Second, personhood is not a purely individual phenomenon, but intrinsically caught up in social relationships – especially between parents, siblings and children; between spouses and in-laws; and between the living and the dead. Christianity, on the other hand, emphasizes the soul and individual salvation: A being either possesses a soul or doesn’t, and this soul’s salvation or damnation is the individual’s responsibility.

In Christian-majority societies, it may not always be apparent to what extent our taken-for-granted notions of personhood derive from a Christian foundation, until they’re compared with other religious traditions. From my perspective, to embed these ideas into law – notably by banning abortion or even allowing its prohibition – is to embed theology into legal principle.

(Robert Launay, Professor of Anthropology, Northwestern University. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service.)

An ancient stone pillar dating back to the 13th century CE in southern India was found containing inscriptions relating to the area’s old Jewish community, according to Indian media reports.

History and archaeology researchers stumbled upon a 13 AD stone pillar, which reportedly had information on Jewish trade links, in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district.

Scholars and students of the Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation said that the stone pillar, which was unearthed at Valantharavai in Ramanathapuram, is a pointer to the trade that had taken place in this area with foreign areas.

The pillar is three feet long and one foot wide and on all four sides, there are inscriptions. The first side, according to scholars, has 21 Tamil lines, the second side has 14 lines while the third side has 15 lines. The inscriptions on the fourth side are not clear.

On the eastern side of the pillar, details of Valaicherry and narrow way are inscribed, while on the southern side, the estates of Thirumudhucholasilai Chettiar, Pathinenbhumi Jeyabalan and Koothan Devanar are mentioned, and Nalu Natani Sona sandhi, Srichola peruntheru, tharisapalli wall, Pizhar Palli, tharisapalli south wall are inscribed on the western side.

“Suthapalli is a Jewish worship place. The trade guild of Ainutruvar had built a Palli (church) for Jews in Periyapattinam. A Hebrew epitaph of a Jewish woman named Mariam at Periyapattinam is mentioned in the Archaeological Survey of India’s Annual Report on Epigraphy 1946-47,” he explained. Nalu Natani Sona sandhi is said to be a meeting place for nanadesi (Tamil word: Nalu Natani) traders.

“There are places and gardens here that once belonged to the trade guilds of Ainutruvar, Pathinenbhumi, and Nanadesi. Based on the writing style, the inscription apparently dates between 1200-1250 AD,” he added.

“The inscriptions begin with ‘swasti shri’ and mention the boundaries of the land donated to Suthapalli or Ainutruvan Perumpalli,” scholar and Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation President V. Rajaguru told IANS.

He said that Suthapalli is a Jewish worship place and according to the Archeological Survey of India records on epigraphy had mentioned a Hebrew epitaph of a Jewish woman named Mariam at Periapattanam. He also said that based on the writing style the inscriptions apparently dated between 1200-1250 AD. 

As per reports, considering how vast India is and the varying backgrounds of these communities, they formed some distinct traditions, learning different languages and so on. One of these Jewish communities were known as the Jews of Madras, also known as the Chennai Jews. These consisted of Paradesi Jews, meaning Jews who came to India following the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, with the world Paradesi being derived from a Malayalam word for “foreign.”

As they came to India following the Alhambra Decree expelling all Jews from Spain, these Jews were largely Sephardi, and as such had many links to other Sephardi Jewish communities. In particular, the Paradesi Jews who came to Madras – now Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu – tended to work as traders and merchants and spoke Ladino, though they soon learned Tamil.

Today, this community largely no longer exists. In fact, it was reported in 2020 that Tamil Nadu’s last Jewish family left.

However, while this is the longest and most established Jewish presence in Tamil Nadu, it doesn’t seem to be the earliest. After all, the Paradesi Jews only came to Tamil Nadu in the 15th and 16th centuries, whereas this latest finding is several hundred years older.

Three of the other groups of Jews in India claim to have been there longer. The Bnei Menashe and Bene Ephraim Jews are both groups who converted to Judaism but claim ancestry from the 10 lost tribes.

Another relevant group were the Nagercoil Jews: Arabian Jews who supposedly came to India around 52 CE and were known to have been as far south as Cochin, also in southern India. But overall, Jewish history in India may predate most of these groups.

The Cochin Jews traditionally date their arrival in the subcontinent during the reign of King Solomon, specifically some immigrating after the destruction of the First Temple. There are records that seem to show the presence of Jews near Cochin after the destruction of the Second Temple, as well, but the first significant piece of evidence is a trade deed from 849 CE with a Hebrew signature among it.

“Jewish trade links with southern India going back to 9-10th centuries (CE) are well established and documented,” Indian Ambassador to Israel Sanjeev Singla said in an emailed statement. “During his historic visit to Israel in July 2017, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gifted a replica of two copper plates one of which was inscribed in mid-9th century in an ancient Tamil script and is believed to be the earliest documentation of Jewish trade with India.”

These copper plates are arguably the most famous relic relating to the presence of Jews in Cochin, which are a royal charter given to Jewish merchant Joseph Rabban, who was involved with the Anjuvannam, around 1,000 CE and is clear evidence of Jewish presence in the area.

Noably, Cochin is located in the modern state of Kerala, itself one of the southernmost states of India directly bordering Tamil Nadu.

The stone pillar

The stone was supposedly brought to the area where it was discovered by a resident of nearby Valanthariai 80 years ago for use in construction.

It was now found by Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation president V Rajaguru, who claimed that the stone was being used to wash clothes, according to a report in the Times of India.

According to Rajaguru, the stone had 50 total inscriptions, though one side of it had its inscriptions destroyed.

The text, analyzed by epigraphist S. Rajagopal, reportedly spoke of a trade guild known as Ainnurruvar constructing Suthapalli in the Ramanathapuram district, specifically in the port village of Periyapattinam, as well as further mentions to the construction of Tharisapalli and Pizharpalli.

Now, what does this mean?

First off, the Ainnurruvar are a well-known medieval merchant guild from Tamil Nadu who were one of the most prominent merchant guilds of their era – and merchant guilds already had significant influence at this time.

Several inscriptions have been found attesting to their existence and activities, and they were heavily intertwined with the expansion of the Chola Empire and have even been found in faraway Sumatra in modern-day Indonesia.

They also were known to have operated around the same time as the Anjuvannam, another merchant guild that mainly consisted of non-Indian traders, which usually included Arabs and Persians – specifically including Syrian Christians, Muslims, Zoroastrians and Jews. 

Next there is the term Suthapalli.  Note that the inscription was written in Tamil. As such, the exact spelling of these transliterations may differ.

This is important because Suthapalli may actually be pronounced as Yudapalli, due to how the Tamil language works. The suffix “palli” means place of worship that were not temples associated with Shaivism and Vaishnavism, with Yudapalli therefore meaning Jewish place of worship.

This is further supported by other lines in the text. Tharisapalli is known from other evidence in Kerala and is considered to be a Syrian Christian church.

Pizharpalli, meanwhile, is Islamic and, according to reports, likely refers to Periyapattinam’s Jalal Jamal Mosque.

We can see more evidence for this in Malayalam, where “palli” is also used to refer to an Abrahamic house of worship. There, a synagogue would have been called Jootha Palli.

“The recent archaeological discoveries in Ramanathapuram are yet another proof of the fact that the Jewish community lived peacefully in India throughout the years.”

The implications of the findings

Though the Chennai Jews would not properly arrive in Tamil Nadu for some time, the activity of Jewish merchants and the prominence of the Cochin Jewish community shows that it is far from unfeasible. 

Interestingly, the Cochin Jews built a number of synagogues in Kerala throughout their history, supposedly including in the 12th and 13th centuries. However, this is backed by some shaky evidence rooted in oral tradition rather than archaeological findings.

Currently, despite the long presence of the Cochin Jewish community in the area, the oldest known synagogue in recorded history in southern India was the Kochangadi Synagogue, built in what is believed to have been in the 1340s CE.

However, the synagogue was eventually destroyed, believed to have been by Tipu Sultan’s troops during the Second Anglo-Mysore War in the late 18th century.

It was never rebuilt, though a stone from it containing a Hebrew inscription about it, including year of construction, was taken by the community and later used in the wall of another synagogue – today, it can be found in the Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry Jew Town in Kerala.

The Kochangadi stone is the oldest known Jewish relic from an Indian synagogue. However, with the discovery of this stone pillar in Tamil Nadu, that might not be the case much longer.

According to reports citing Rajaguru, the inscription on the stone dates between 1200 and 1250 CE. As such, it would indicate that a synagogue was built in Periyapattinam before the Kochangadi Synagogue was built.

And this isn’t too unfeasible either. Periyapattinam is a historic port city and the Ramanathapuram district was visited by several well-known historic travelers and chroniclers, such as Marco Polo. As such, it was a well-known place for merchants – the kind of place Jews would have been found.

But it is likely that this synagogue is no longer around. What fate befell it, though, remains a mystery. It is still proof, though, of how far back the Jewish community in India goes.

“The recent archaeological discoveries in Ramanathapuram are yet another proof of the fact that the Jewish community lived peacefully in India throughout the years,” the Israeli Embassy in India said in a statement following these discoveries. “The foundation of the strong friendship between Israel and India were laid centuries ago and it is part of the basis of our relations in modern days.”  (With inputs from Jerusalem Post)

The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA – CHICAGO) 501 (C)(3) celebrated 8th International Yoga Day with Mindful Meditation Yoga in Naperville on Tuesday, Jun 21st 2022.

 All guests were ushered in by the Welcoming Team, following the Indian tradition with Chandan kumkum teeka and flowers. The yoga event began with the opening address, by the hostess, President of Mindful Meditation Yoga and Vice President FIA, Anu Malhotra, followed by a Welcome address by FIA Chairman & Founder President Sunil Shah, and an eloquent speech by the President FIA-

Chicago, Hitesh Gandhi, followed by the addresses by Chicago, Senator Laura Clymore Ellman, the two Guests of Honor, Dr Vemuri Murthy, Chairman Chicago Medical Society and Dr Sreenivas Reddy, Chairperson of IL State Medical Board 2022, and speech by Special Guest, Consul Vinod Gautam.

The Lamp Lighting ceremony was performed by the dignitaries, Sunil Shah, Hitesh Gandhi, Dr Reddy, Dr Murthy, Ajeet Singh, Keerthi Revoori, Vinod Gautam, along with the sacred chanting of the auspicious Sanskrit hymns & mantras by Anu Malhotra, praying for the peace, good health and wellbeing of this entire world.

 Blissful Aadi Yogi song performance by soulful singer Anil Jha, filled the atmosphere with Yogic aura. And the inspirational talks by leading voices of Chicago, to non stop Powerful Yoga/ Meditation practice by Anu Malhotra filled the room and the hearts of 100 plus people in attendance with vibrant energy! Appreciation Award Certificates were also presented to the Yoga Teachers Anu Malhotra, Chitra Singh, Yash Chaudhary & Deepti Suri, for their magnificent support towards spreading Peace, Joy & Vibrant Energy in the humanity and making world a better place to live in by their dedicated service. 

Other FIA members who attended and supported the event were, FIA General Secretary Richa Chand, Cultural Secretary Pika Munshi, Directors: Bharat Malhotra, Vibha Rajput, Ramesh Nair, Pratik Deshpande, Julie Thakkar and Advisory Board Members: Keerthi Reevori, Ajeet Singh, Suresh Bodiwala, Nag Jaisawal. FIA Chairman & Founder President, Sunil Shah in his speech mentioned, “Together we can create abundance of Peace, Joy, Healing energy and spread it in

Humanity by practicing Yoga in our Daily lives!”. FIA President, Hitesh Gandhi, congratulated Anu Malhotra for her dedication towards Yoga and lauded FIA’s continued commitment to bring meaningful events to the community, and promoting awareness about health and wellbeing. This was FIA-Chicago’s 5th Successful event within the last 6 months. Dr Vemuri and Dr Reddy, both mphasized on the positive impact of Yoga on not just the physical health but the mental health of an individual as well. Anu Malhotra, on behalf of FIA-Chicago thanked all the dignitaries and participants for attending the International Yoga Day 2022 Celebration at Mindful Meditation Yoga.

 FIA Chicago is a 501 (c)(3) status, non-profit umbrella organization of other Indian Associations in the Chicago land and Midwest representing in excess of 300,000 culturally diverse but united together Asian-Indians. FIA has been actively engaged in serving the Indian American community for the past 12 years and has been instrumental in promoting Indian culture. Last but not the least, FIA greatly appreciates its sponsors and supporters. FIA Media Partners for this event were: Suresh Bodiwala, CEO & Chairman Asian Media.

Chicago IL: The Muslim households of the White Eagle neighborhood in Naperville hosted their second annual Eid Fest on Saturday, June 25th. The event, held at the grounds of the local White Eagle elementary school, was attended by over four hundred people from White Eagle and the surrounding neighborhoods. 

Eid, meaning ‘celebration’ or ‘festival’, is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims. There are two dedicated times of Eid in Islam that Muslims celebrate. Eid ul-Fitr, sometimes called ‘small Eid’, is celebrated to commemorate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr literally means “the celebration of breaking the fast.” Eid ul-Adha, sometimes called ‘big Eid’, or “feast of the sacrifice”, comes at the end of the Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj, celebrated this year on July 9th. This Eid honors the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah’s command. In Christianity and Judaism, this is told as the story of Abraham and his son Isaac.

Organizers of the event say that the idea of a neighborhood Eid festival came about last year to bring the Muslim community, of the White Eagle neighborhood, together with its non-Muslim neighbors after COVID. One of the golden rules in Islam is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. The organizers wanted their non-Muslim neighbors to see who their Muslims neighbors were, share in their celebration and clarify a lot of misconceptions people have about Islam and Muslims.  

Last year’s event was so well received that, this year, the organizers decided to make it bigger and invite the adjacent and adjoining neighborhoods to the festival. Each Muslim household, in the White Eagle neighborhood, volunteered and financially contributed to helping put the event together along with local business sponsorship from The Moin Haque Group, Hyline Dental, Movement Mortgage, AIC Multiple Line Insurance Agency, and Avis Budget car rental. The event had free rides, games, face painting, and henna tattoos. Local food vendors offered a variety of cuisine that included Indian, Pakistani, Middle Eastern and American cuisine. Vendors were also on hand selling traditional clothing and jewelry.

The event was also attended by some local officials including Evelyn Sanguinetti, the 47th lieutenant governor of Illinois, Judge Kavita Athanikar, Circuit Court Judge in the 18th Judicial Circuit (DuPage), Alderwoman Shweta Baid Ward of the Aurora, IL 10th ward.

Organizers of the event say they hope to continue to host the event in the years to come and build bridges to their non-Muslim neighbors.

Chicago IL: International Institute of Islamic Medicine and Science (NIIMS) takes great pleasure in announcing the opening of the “Rare Quranic collection of Antique Qurans and Quranic Manuscripts to NIIMS Museum/Library, in Rolling Meadows, Chicago IL

Some pieces are as old as 600 years! Some of them are the oldest historic Qurans in the United States. This collection includes almost a 100 Qurans and Quranic manuscripts, all written by hand and some of them on bamboo, palm trees and leather!!!

NIIMS becomes the first Library in the nation to acquire this valuable treasure.

The Quranic collection and priceless Quranic Manuscripts which are now put on display at the NIIMS Museum. We are honored to have these on display at the NIIMS Museum.

support this amazing project now by donating now!

https://www.flipcause.com/hosted_widget/hostedWidgetHome/NDM0MzU=

Devon Avenue in Chicago has long been a site for cultural exchange and South Asian diasporic community. Since those like Jagdish Khatwani opened the first South Asian business on Devon, India Sari Palace, in 1972, and the Patel Brothers opening their trademark grocery store in 1974, this region has become a home for the largest community of South Asian residents in Chicago, Illinois and the broader Midwest.

With the waves of the South Asian diaspora also came the businesses, cuisines, and arts of ancestral traditions. But, as many of us have learned, particularly with the trials of the pandemic, making space for tradition has become challenging. Mandala Arts has moved its headquarters where we believe South Asian arts are already deeply rooted; the arts need and deserve an advocate, supporter, and leader. With current and future artistic partnerships and collaborations, Mandala believes that Devon can grow and thrive.

Invited guests Alderwoman Debra Silverstein, Alderman Andre Vasquez Jr of Chicago’s 40th ward, Mr. Ranjit Singh Consul Chicago, Mandala Board President Dr. Umang Patel and Paragi Patel, Pranita Nayar an Indian classical dancer, choreographer, company director, curator and producer, officials from the West Ridge Chamber of Commerce and Rogers Park Business Alliance, and senior officers from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, and the John. D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

 Mandala will use this space, beginning June 1, for community classes, open rehearsals, and special programs. Among the first activities will be the Mandala Makers Festival, which runs June 16–26 indoors and outdoors in the Devon Avenue community

Nayar says, “Since its inception in 2014, Mandala has successfully engaged Chicagoland audiences in the rich diversity of South Asian Performing arts traditions through professional performances, artistic education, and community engagement. Still, Mandala cherished its deep connection to the community of artists, students, and audiences of Devon, where Mandala has steadily increased programming over the last several years. Having established its place as a force in the Chicago arts scene, Mandala Arts is committed to supporting and empowering the South Asian diasporic community whose traditions, identities and practices that the organization represents. Finally, with the opening of this space, Mandala is able to call Devon home, both in our hearts and in our organizational roots.”

 Prominent Physician and well known community leader Dr. Umang Patel, President of Mandala Arts  welcomed the guests and said I am delighted to be a part of the team in bringing the South Asian Cultural Hub on Devon Ave and added it will regenerate the  vibrancy of Indian culture through arts, dance and music while resurrecting the ideals of Gandhianism.

Alderwoman Debra Silverstein of the 50th ward in her address welcomed the establishment of India’s cultural center on Devon Ave and said she is honored to see the revitalization of not just the development of the ward, but revitalization of arts and culture of South Asian heritage. Alderwood Debra Silverstein said the 50th ward is home to a large population of South Asians and through the Mandala Arts center, we will be able to connect with each other in celebrating the colorful diverse cultures.

 Alderman Andre Vasquez Jr of Chicago’s 40th ward in his address said that it warms his heart to see the showcasing of India’s rich cultural heritage on Devon Ave brought by Mandala Arts and added this cultural center transcends language, it transcends culture, and it allows us to tell the beautiful stories that depict the enduring culture of South Asia. . For more information about that event, visit makersfestival.mandalaarts.org.

A group of Dublin based artists with Indian roots are making waves in the art world after setting up their own community.

The Dublin Desi Artists Collective was founded by Vidya Vivek, an artist originally from Bangalore who moved to Dublin in 2018.

The Dublin Desi Artists Collective recently organized an art and craft fair at The Park Community Centre, Dublin 24. The event called “SRJNA” exhibited the creative works by artists of the Indian diaspora residing in Ireland.

The chief guest of the event was the Indian Ambassador in Dublin, Akhilesh Mishra, who distributed prizes to the winners of the art competitions held during the event.

he now runs the collective with two fellow artists Ankita Khimesra and Malvika Sinha.

Speaking to Dublin Live, Vidya explained the inspiration behind the collective was to give Desi artists living in Ireland the opportunity to showcase their artwork.

She said: “When I started the collective in 2020 I had this idea that we have to have a platform for people from India to exhibit their work.

“I exhibited in St Stephen’s Park at the public exhibition and then I did a show in the RDS. I got into one of the Indian groups on Facebook and that I was looking to connect with similar people, creators and artists, thinking maybe we can all get together and exhibit. “The response was very good and a lot of women were interested.”

Joyful and spiritual vibes filled the atmosphere when a Kirtan reverberated through the lawns of the Red Fort during the celebration of the 400th Parv of the 9th Guru of Sikhism, Guru Tegh Bahadur on  April 21, 2022.

400 ragis performed Sabad Kirtan on this auspicious occasion. This program was organized in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in attendance, as were Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and G Kishan Reddy. Harjot Bains, Punjab’s tourism minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and Harmeet Singh Kalka, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, were also in attendance.

As per reports, the crowd swelled with excitement as Modi entered the beautifully lit and decorated ground covering his head with a saffron color cloth. Modi, who was clad in white kurta and churidar, bowed his head in front of the Guru Granth Sahib thrice and prayed before the almighty. PM Modi said, Hearty congratulations to all of you, to all the people who have faith in Guruvani all over the world, to all the countrymen on the occasion of Prakash parv.

A magnificent stage, which was made of myriad colours of flowers, including rose, marigold, tulip and others, was set up in the middle where Guru Granth Sahib was kept. Two more huge stages were set up on both sides of the Guru Granth Sahib where 400 Ragis performed Kirtan in unison with large LED screens in the background.

Modi sat on the ground and listened to the Kirtan. The crowd was getting frenzy to catch a glimpse of the prime minister and shouted “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal” slogan from the background.

Modi started and ended his speech with “Wahe Guru ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru ji ki Fateh”. As Modi came to speak on the dais, the people stood at their place and started shouting “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal”. Security personnel and volunteers deployed there had to toil hard to control the swelling crowd.

In the middle, where Guru Granth Sahib was kept, a gorgeous stage composed of various colours of flowers, including rose, marigold, tulip, and others, was built up. On both sides of the Guru Granth Sahib, two more massive stages were built up, with 400 Ragis performing Kirtan in unison in front of gigantic LED screens.

“It is a very special moment for us as we are celebrating the 400th Prakash Parv of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur at Red Fort. It is the same place from where the very order of executing our 9th Guru Sri Tegh Bahadur was issued by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. “What else can we ask for?” said Dileep Singh Sandhu, a septuagenarian who attended the event.

Modi emphasized the historical significance of the Red Fort, which he claimed has witnessed Guru Tegh Bahadur’s sacrifices. Another observer stated that it was the first time that such a large-scale gathering was staged on the Red Fort lawns to commemorate any Sikh Guru’s birth anniversary.

“Today, my excitement knows no bounds as Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur’s heroic story is being told at the very place where his execution was ordered. “It’s a proud time for me,” Ramneek Kaur, another Janakpuri visitor, said. Artefacts relating to Guru Tegh Bahadur and his life events were displayed in a museum put up on the Red Fort lawns.