Inspired by Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, life—or “Ayur”—is a gift, an intricate balance of the mind, body, and spirit with the natural world. Ayurveda is about finding what balances you, and for every person, there is something unique they can find at Life Market. Life Market captures this spirit, offering activities and experiences that help nurture this balance. Through yoga, meditation, sound healing, and wellness practices, we invite everyone to take part in a journey of self-care, connection, and renewal under the warmth of the beautiful January sky.

Support Local Vendors and Bring Life to Life Market

At Life Market, you’ll find local vendors sharing handcrafted goods, wellness products, and services. We’re still welcoming vendors whose offerings reflect our values, and with your support, we hope to make Life Market a regular celebration that unites our community.

Temple-Cooked Food: Nourishing Body and Community

Life Market is an opportunity to enjoy delicious food prepared by South Florida Hindu Temple, where each dish is crafted with care, tradition, and skill. By purchasing these wholesome meals, you’re supporting the temple and the continued success of this community-centered event.

Celebrate January’s Warmth with Wellness and Connection

Embrace South Florida’s mild January weather by immersing yourself in wellness activities outdoors. Yoga, meditation, and sound healing will be offered throughout the day, providing space to breathe, stretch, and center yourself in alignment with Ayurveda’s principles of holistic health. These practices, much like the market itself, foster an environment where we can collectively recharge and find balance.

Help Us Grow Life Market into a Regular Community Celebration

This gathering is just the beginning. Together, we can make Life Market a regular event that continues to celebrate Ayurveda, holistic wellness, and our vibrant community. Bring your friends, family, and curiosity to connect with local artisans, engage in wellness practices, and enjoy the beautiful January weather in a festive, supportive atmosphere.

Join Us in Building Community and Wellness

We look forward to seeing you at Life Market on January 11th from 10am-3pm at the South Florida Hindu Temple. Let’s celebrate Ayurveda’s timeless wisdom, enjoy the festive spirit of our community, and make Life Market a cherished monthly gathering for years to come. For more information or to become a vendor, visit www.lifemarketfl.com.

About the Author
Chahna Tailor Gupta, an Ayurvedic Practitioner and certified yoga teacher, has a background in occupational therapy and health science with a focus in public health. Chahna was yoga trained in Rishikesh, India and had ayurvedic clinicals in Kannur, Kerala. Chahna provides yoga, pranayama, meditation, 200-hr yoga teacher training, and ayurvedic health counseling services through her company Namaskar To You. Chahna is a volunteer for Ekal Vidyalaya, American Association of Ayurvedic Professionals (AAAP), and Ayurveda Association of Florida (AAF). She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Ayurvedic Medicine while continuing her self-studies in yoga.

Vivekmurtidas Swami, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha

The COVID-19 Pandemic will forever be remembered as a period of isolation, distancing, and change. Along with our longing to get back to “normal,” we hoped for peace and normalcy around the world. Unfortunately, peace continues to evade many parts of the world. Daily headlines are peppered with numerous instances of interpersonal, community-related and mass-scale violence. The missing element in these stories is always compassion. Without compassion, society devolves into a state of chaos, as evidenced through multiple genocides and atrocities throughout human history. Compassion is a necessity, not a luxury. Without it, humanity cannot survive. Yet, the virtue remains elusive. As individualism grows, so does the chase for personal success, pleasure, fame, and fortune. This personal chase often comes at the cost of selflessness and compassion.

But compassion still exists. There are lamps of hope in the overwhelming darkness. These brave individuals put aside their interests to live a life focused on improving the plight of others. Now more than ever, society needs such role models.

Natural Compassion

For some, compassion develops through time as one matures and sees a more global vision. For some, it emerges as an outcome of a painful experience. For a few, it is inherent. His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s compassion was not inspired by a life-changing or tragic incident that transformed his life. His loving and genuinely compassionate nature was innate to him. His eyes craved to see every single person happy, and his heart had space for each soul – even from childhood. His heart was the heart that loved every being. This compassion towards all was as natural to him as breathing.

In the Joy of Others… 

“In the Joy of others lies our own. In the progress of others rests our own. In the good of others abides our own.” 

These words are not merely a credo or tagline given by Pramukh Swami Maharaj; it was his lifestyle. This mantra also became the guiding principle for his followers. It was not enough to just tolerate and forgive, to merely wish well for others; rather, it was imperative to contribute to their success. This was compassion in action, not just sympathy or even empathy. Feeling for others is one thing, but acting is another. Success, happiness, and spiritual progress are only possible through sacrifice, forgiveness, and collective advancement. Individuals cannot progress without the collective progress and happiness of all members of society.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj delivered this same message at the United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit in the summer of 2000 in New York. His remarks were applauded by world leaders and religious leaders alike. When asked why this was remarkable, one spiritual leader said, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life is an extraordinary example of love and harmony. If the entire nation were to take a cue from him and live by those standards, it would solve all of our problems.” Indeed, the answer to many of the challenges we face in the world lies in cultivating compassion in our lives.

Beyond Boundaries

Pramukh Swami Maharaj dedicated his entire life to bettering the lives of every person he came across. No one was to be left behind. Not only was every member of society deserving of love, respect, and dignity, but they deserved the same level of compassion. This eye of empathy and generosity extended to those well outside of his immediate circle of followers, or community of Hindus and well-wishers. This compassion led him to organize a massive humanitarian effort after the 1979 Morbi Dam collapse in Gujarat, India.

He knew that the most gravely affected members of the community were Muslims and Dalits. He wanted to make sure that they were cared for in a way that allowed them to follow their own traditions and religious practices. He went to Morbi and walked through the mud-covered streets to distribute supplies and food grains. He instructed volunteers to construct closed tent- and tin-style bathrooms rather than their much simpler makeshift restrooms so that victims would have privacy. These facilities were to be used by all, regardless of their stature or beliefs. True compassion knows no boundaries. Here’s a video of the event – https://baps.sl/morbi

Compassion Beyond Comprehension 

Perhaps the hardest test of compassion is when you are the victim of someone’s attack. Instinct teaches us to retaliate – at least to protect ourselves. In 2002, the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar, India, fell victim to a brutal terrorist attack. Two terrorists left 33 dead and over 80 injured. No one could have even imagined such an incident taking place at such a blissful and peaceful temple of God. People in India and around the world were stunned to hear reports that innocent pilgrims and worshippers, as well as brave soldiers, were wounded or worse. In the aftermath, people throughout India were hurt and angry. Many were instinctively asking for retaliation.

However, Pramukh Swami Maharaj made a heartfelt public appeal for peace and stability that echoed around the country and the world. His call averted waves of angry mobs and prevented countless, needless more deaths.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s response has been studied as an exemplary case by several international peace-keeping missions and dubbed as “The Akshardham Response.” When he first visited the temple after the attack, he visited the sites where the shootings had occurred. He chanted in prayer for the souls of the deceased. When the prayers concluded, he asked to go to the exact location where the two terrorists had been shot. He added: “Though they attacked innocent pilgrims, we must not allow their hate to overcome our love. Take me there. I want to pray for the peace and redemption of their souls as well.”

It was not just the “Akshardham Response” that was studied and that inspired many; Pramukh Swami’s whole life has been a lesson. These lessons have inspired others to imbibe his virtues in their lives. These lessons, his spiritual belief, and practices are not informational material used for brochures and websites but a transformational manual to live by.

Compassion That Inspires 

Pramukh Swami Maharaj practiced what he preached, touching the hearts of millions and, more importantly, inspiring people even today. The depth and breadth of his selfless love and compassion have survived decades and great geographic distance, nurturing a community of believers, non-believers, and everyone in between. He has created a community of humans who live to bring joy to others. These lessons of compassion, empathy, and love translate into everyday life in schools, the workplace, and in families and homes.

He is the inspiration for young school students raising funds through various campaigns towards blood drives and other humanitarian causes. He is the inspiration for a young boy in Flushing, New York, to walk to school every day so that, from the bus fare he saves, he can buy lunch for one of his less fortunate classmates. He is the inspiration for a young college-bound student to give up his scholarship to someone who is less financially fortunate than he is. He is the inspiration for a young gynecologist in Bryan, Texas, to dedicate free office hours for uninsured expecting mothers so that they can have access to quality healthcare. He is the inspiration for a professional musician and travel agent in Chino Hills, California, to donate all the income he makes as a musician to humanitarian and spiritual causes for the past 20 years. The list of those inspired by him to think and act with compassion can go on and on.

Inspired by the teaching of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, during the COVID-19 pandemic, BAPS Charities provided over 175,000 pieces of personal protective equipment, donated over $300,000 in financial assistance, delivered over 90,000 meals, food and care packages to those battling the Coronavirus, and helped administer COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots to over 36,000 people.

Celebrate Compassion

Sarve bhavantu sukhinaha, sarve santu niraamayaa |
Sarve bhadraani pashyantu, maa kashchid-dukha-bhaag-bhavet ||

May all be happy. May all be free from illness. May all see what is auspicious. May no one suffer. 

If these Sanskrit words from the Upanishads form a prayer of compassion, then Pramukh Swami Maharaj was truly the epitome of compassion; he not only prayed but also persevered until his last breath to bring each word of that prayer to life. This year, as we celebrate his centennial year, may our celebrations of his compassion help to bring more compassion in our lives, helping us be more considerate, more kind, and more loving.

Vivek Murthy Das Swami

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha

COVID-19 Pandemic

period of isolation

multiple genocides and atrocities throughout human history

Natural Compassion

Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj

United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit

New York

spiritual leader Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Hindus and well-wishers

Morbi Dam collapse in Gujarat

Muslims and Dalits

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar

innocent pilgrims and worshippers

The Akshardham Response

BAPS Charities, Coronavirus

COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots

It was my pleasure to interview Sanjay Chandran, who is modest, soft spoken, and exceptionally talented in music as well as in his professional career.  He is among eleven young alumni who received the Penn State Alumni Association’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2006. Chandran is currently the chief executive Allianz Medical, Inc. He is also currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors at International Hindu University.

Mr. Chandran is the inventor or co-inventor of several patented technology, including patents for unique fabrication methods and designs for ultrasonic transducers used in medical imaging. Sanjay regularly conducts violin and Indian classical music classes in Boca Raton, Florida. One of his best students is his daughter Sanjana.

In 2017, he received the Award of Excellence from Desh-Videsh Media Group. Sanjay has recently established Florida Fine Arts, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, to promote fine arts such as music and dance in our community and to use fine arts as a medium to appeal to and involve the younger generation on a myriad of important issues.

Raj Shah, Managing Editor, Desh-Videsh

Please tell us about your background. 

I was born and raised in Mumbai, India. As far as academics go, I received my B.Tech degree from IIT Bombay and M.S. in Engineering from Penn State University.

Tell us more about your journey and how you came to be where you are today.

I learned Indian Classical Music (both Carnatic and Hindustani styles) on the violin for 18 years in Mumbai. From 1985 to 1995, I regularly performed in concerts all over India both as a soloist and accompanist on the violin. I came to the US in 1995 to attend Penn State University. At Penn State, I was exposed to many other music genres such as Jazz.

I particularly developed a liking for Jazz because it offered a lot of scope for creative composition and improvisation just like Indian Classical Music. I then started creating my own music compositions combining Indian Classical Music with Jazz, African, Irish, Middle Eastern and other world music genres. This gave me the opportunity to collaborate and perform with world class musicians who were very skilled in their respective genres.

We performed together for many shows in both the West and East coasts of the US, many of which raised funds for charitable causes. Jazz Yatra, held in Broward County, FL, in both 2007 and 2008 was a perfect example of such a show, and it raised funds for Sahara, a charitable organization dedicated to support women who are victims of abuse and domestic violence.

At the same time, my tryst with pure Indian classical music continued, and I performed concerts all over South Florida at venues such as The Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida, Florida Atlantic University, etc. as a soloist, accompanist as well as Jugalbandhi (duet of Hindustani and Carnatic music) artist. It is very important for me to teach, train and groom the next generation of musicians and artists. To this end, I teach violin to 15 students, both locally as well as through Skype.

It is very important that these young talents living in North America get ample opportunities to collaborate with other musicians early on and learn to harness the power of digital technologies in making, performing and promoting music to the whole world. That is the mission of Florida Fine Arts, a non-profit 501c3 organization I recently started with a group of like-minded individuals.

Who is your Guru (teacher) now and when you started?

My Gurus for Carnatic music were Smt. T.R. Balamani (Shankar Mahadevan is probably her most famous student) and Shri. K. Shivakumar. I started learning Carnatic music on the violin in 1978 at the age of 5. I learned Hindustani music from Shri T.K. Patnaik from 1991 to 1995.

How long was your training?

My formal training spanned 18 years. However, in any creative art form such as music, you learn practically every day listening to different artists and different kinds of music, performing and collaborating with other musicians etc. You also learn from your own students!

When was your first public performance? 

I began giving public performances at the age of 8, but they were short performances that lasted less than an hour. I gave my first full-fledged solo violin concert (that was almost 3 hours long) at the age of 12 for Music Triangle in Mumbai. I had both Mridangam and Ghatam accompaniments. After a somewhat nervous start, we really gelled as a group and the quality of music kept getting better as the concert progressed. Even after performing for almost 3 hours, I did not feel even an ounce of fatigue. It was such an exhilarating experience that I couldn’t wait to perform again and even today, I love performing and entertaining audiences.

How many public performances you have done so far?

I have not kept count, but I would say I have given over 500 public performances.

Who do you consider to be a mentor and why?

Many esteemed musicians and scholars have influenced my journey at different points of time, but my mother has had the most profound impact on my music. She inculcated in me the passion for music and that, to me, is the most important ingredient. Knowledge, skills, experience, all come afterward.

What advice do you have for young Indian Americans who wish to pursue a career in music or the performing arts?

I would tell every young and budding musician/artist to “make sure you are passionate about the art form you pursue and with that will come success and most importantly, satisfaction.”

Success means different things to different people?  What does it mean to you and how would you define it?

The level of satisfaction you get when you do something is my most important yardstick of success. Of course, if you are performing in front of an audience, the same applies to the audience. If they leave the venue happy and satisfied yet yearning for more, then your efforts have been successful. Sometimes after a long day at work, I pick up the violin at 10 or 11 pm at night and the music that comes out for the next hour or so cannot be described using words. That experience and satisfaction trumps any number of awards or any amount of money I can make performing concerts or for that matter any accomplishment at work. 

What do you think is the secret behind your success?

The passion that I have for everything I do.

An American colleague once asked me an interesting question: “Why are Indians in the US at the forefront of a variety of fields?”  What do you think?

I think it is the democratic values that we have grown up with. It helps us be more open minded and accepting of various ideas even when they conflict with yours.

Who has played a crucial role in influencing the events of your life?  How so?

Since birth, my parents (especially my mother) have had a major influence. My mother taught me what it is to have passion for what you do. My father taught me discipline and hard work that it takes to get somewhere. Their influence has understandably waned because we now live thousands of miles from each other. But my wife has now taken over! She has pushed me to explore different things whether it be the arts, the food I eat, the clothes I wear…..the list can go on and on! Because of that, my life experiences have become very diverse and it has helped me in myriad ways.

Favorite Quote:

“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. You cannot get anywhere without hard work.” This quote is repeated to the point that it has become a cliché. Yet there is nothing closer to the truth than this quote.

Favorite Book:

This is your brain on music: the science of a human obsession, by Daniel J. Levitin. This book is the ultimate union of art and science.

Favorite Indian Movie:

Bajirao Mastani – I could watch this movie a thousand times just for the music.

Favorite Non-Indian Movie:  

Top Gun – love the electrifying aerial scenes of action.

most famous

Raj Shah, Managing Editor, Desh-Videsh

medical imaging

Bajirao Mastani

Hindustani music

Shiva Vishnu Temple

K. Shivakumar

democratic values

satisfaction trumps

own music compositions

Their influence

classical music classes

Penn State Alumni Association

entertaining audiences

very diverse

American colleague

public performances

Florida Fine Arts

Alumni Achievement Award

Genius

IIT Bombay

important issues

hard work

Florida Atlantic University

classical music

young alumni

 somewhat nervous

Go Mobile Health

Favorite Indian Movie

Indian Classical Music

many shows

Indian Movie

solo violin concert

Skype

Americans

US

Florida

Mr. Chandran

Daniel J. Levitin

minded individuals

other world music genres

Award

other musicians

perfect example

creative art form

respective genres

next generation

Gurus

Success

Sanjana

ample opportunities

different points

art form

interesting question

most important

charitable causes

M.S.

Ghatam accompaniments

myriad ways

most profound

long day

other music genres

Sahara, East coasts

human obsession

India

Hindustani styles

percent perspiration

Sanjay

Jazz

North America

ultimate union

very important

percent inspiration

major influence

Engineering

Carnatic

Music Triangle

executive officer

Indians, short performances

digital technologies

formal training

fine arts

Mridangam

Excellence

exceptionally talented

Chandran

Eastern

Broward County

different people

Boca Raton

life experiences

Favorite Non

Raj Shah

crucial role

What advice

very skilled

Editor

charitable organization

various ideas

younger generation

domestic violence

different kinds, Directors

Favorite Book

Videsh Media Group

world class, whole world

Sanjay Chandran

Board, Favorite Quote

more open

own students

public performance

Mumbai, Hindustani

T.R. Balamani

Top Gun

Penn State University

Penn State

professional career

unique fabrication methods

aerial scenes

different things

different artists

best students

same time

next hour

B.Tech degree

International Hindu University

South Florida

young talents

Shri T.K. Patnaik

Shri

Shankar Mahadevan

How many

ultrasonic transducers

Jugalbandhi

Carnatic music

exhilarating experience

creative composition

Florida Atlantic University® /FAU Peace, Justice and Human Rights Initiative & International Hindu University Present

INTERDISCIPLINARY and INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE on the 150 year celebration of the birth of Mohandas K. “Mahatma” Gandhi

150 Years of Gandhi: Impacts and Appraisals

October 18, 2019 – October 27, 2019
www.gandhi150celebrations.org

Keynote Speaker
Mrs. Ela Gandhi GrandDaughter of Gandhi ji
The granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi is a peace activist and was a Member of Parliament in South Africa from 1994 to 2004.

Time and Date:
Monday, October 21, 2019 at 4 pm

Venue: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Auditorium FAU Boca Raton

All tickets include free admission to the cultural program.
General Admission Tickets: $35
VIP Tickets: $100, includes seating in front & reception, plus admission to the Gandhi at 150 Symposium
FAU Student, Staff, Faculty, Alumni: $10

Lecture: Leadership of Mahatma Gandhi
Presented by Dr. Doug McGetchin

Mahatma Gandhi pioneered powerful techniques of nonviolent resistance that have inspired Dr. King and others to make significant social and democratic advances around the world. This lecture provides a brief overview of the leadership traits this complex and fascinating world leader exhibited as well as a role-playing example of how nonviolence works from an actual example from the life of Gandhi. By attending you will gain insight into Gandhi’s nonviolent methods to provide for a better future.

Dr. Doug McGetchin is Interim Director of the FAU Peace, Justice, and Human Rights (PJHR) Initiative and Associate Professor of History, teaching World, German, and South Asian history. He had a Nehru-Fulbright senior research grant in Calcutta, India, 2013-14.

Movie:Gandhi Man of God
By Eknath Easwaran

Date/Time: October 26, 2019, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Venue: North Regional/Broward College Library
Located at Broward College – North Campus
1100 Coconut Creek Blvd, Coconut Creek, FL 33066

Admission: Free, but seats are limited so registration is requested.

Cultural program: Vocal & instrumental performance on the Sitar and Tabla of songs such as “Vaishnav JanaTo” and “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram.”
Musical play depicting episodes from Gandhi’s life. Directed by Sanjay Chandran.

Date/Time: October 26, 2019, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Venue: FAU Davie Campus, 3200 College Ave, Davie, FL 33314

Ticket: Free for those purchasing tickets to Ela Gandhi’s keynote address
General Admission: $15 VIP: $25

Exhibition: Gandhi’s Life in Pictures: includes a collection of approximately 25 posters (24 x 36)
Display and distribution of books & literature by Gandhi and about Gandhi.

The Conference:Mohandas K. “Mahatma” Gandhi (1869-1948) is an international figure best known for leading resistance to the British Empire in India, achieving the independence of India through his method of Satyagraha, or nonviolent resistance. Born in Gujarat in western India and educated in law in London.

This conference will analyze various aspects of Gandhi in this year of the 150th anniversary of his birth:

● Gandhi’s religious views and their interaction with communalism (the mixing of religion and politics)

● Gandhi’s legacy in South Asia and abroad
● Gandhi’s idea of democracy and Nationalism
● Analysis of Gandhi’s skill of writing using simple language
● Gandhi as a Lawyer and reflection on his South African Experiences

Topics include, but are not limited to:
● Gandhi’s role in the application of Satyagraha and techniques of nonviolent resistance in South Asia, South Africa, and elsewhere
● Gandhi’s leadership in the environment, sustainability, and economic and social justice
● Gandhi’s interests and transformations throughout his life
● Gandhi’s interaction with Dalits and views of caste
● Gandhi’s views and actions on family, women, gender, and sexuality
● Critiques of Gandhi and his interactions with independence fighters advocating violence

Time: October 18 and October 19 2019
Venue: FAU Davie Campus, 3200 College Ave, Davie, FL 33314

Florida Atlantic University

International Hindu University

150 year celebration the Mahatma

Gandhi 150 Years of Gandhi

Mrs. Ela Gandhi

South Africa

Leadership of Mahatma Gandhi By Dr. Doug McGetchin

Mahatma Gandhi

Peace, Justice, and Human Rights

South Asian

Gandhi Man of God

Eknath Easwaran

North Regional/Broward College Library

Vaishnav JanaTo

Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram

Sanjay Chandran

FAU Davie Campus

Satyagraha

British Empire

Gujarat in western India

democracy and Nationalism

South African Experiences

Venkat Ranjan of San Ramon, California, a 13-year-old 8th-grader at Windemere Ranch Middle School, took top honors at the 30th annual National Geographic Bee held on May 23 at National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C. In addition to earning the title of National Geographic Bee champion, Ranjan received a $50,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. He will also travel (along with one parent or guardian), all expenses paid, on a Lindblad expedition to the Galápagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour ll. Travel is provided by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic. Second- and third-place finishers will receive $25,000 and $10,000 college scholarships, respectively.

The second-place winner and recipient of a $25,000 college scholarship was 13-year-old Anoushka Buddhikot of Bridgewater, New Jersey, an 8th-grader at Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School. Third place and a $10,000 college scholarship went to Vishal Sareddy of Suwanee, Georgia, a 14-year-old 8th-grader at Riverwatch Middle School.

In the final round of the single elimination competition, the winning question was “Lebanon has a population most similar to which South American country?” Ranjan’s winning answer: “Paraguay.”

Photo by Mark Thiessen/National Geographic
The top three finalists of the 2018 National Geographic Bee together on stage after the competition. (Left to right) Third-place finisher Vishal Sareddy of Georgia, second-place finisher Anoushka Buddhikot of New Jersey, and 2018 National Geographic Bee Champion Venkat Ranjan of California.

Venkat Ranjan

Windemere Ranch Middle School

National Geographic Bee

Galápagos Islands

Anoushka Buddhikot of Bridgewater

Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School

Vishal Sareddy of Suwanee

Riverwatch Middle School

Mark Thiessen

National Geographic

Mo Rocca

Gayatri Kaimal of Tucson

Atreya Mallanna of Lexington

Sean Cheng of Stratham

Jonathan Song of Apex

Saket Pochiraju of Lewis Center

Ashwin Sivakumar of Portland

Nihar Janga of Austin

Photo by Mark Thiessen/National Geographic

Summer is approaching and schools and colleges are finishing up spring semester in preparation. It’s also the time of year for various competitions such as the National Geographic Bee to the Scripps National Spelling Bee and the Intel Science competition. And once again, it’s a proud moment for Indians living worldwide! If the past is any proof, Indian American students will continue to dominate most of these competitions.

The preliminary round of the 30th annual National Geographic Bee was held on May 21, 2018, and the top 10 finishers – from a field of 54 state-level champions were announced. The Desh-Videsh team is proud to announce that eight out of the ten finalists are Indian American students:

Saket Pochiraju, Ohio; Nihar Janga, Texas; Ashwin Sivakumar, Oregon; Vishal Sareddy, Georgia; Gayatri Kaimal, Arizona; Anoushka Buddhikot, New Jersey; Atreya Mallanna, Massachusetts; and Venkat Ranjan of California.

The final round will be held at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, May 23 2018. The first prize is a $50,000 college scholarship, lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society, including a subscription to National Geographic magazine, and an all-expenses-paid Lindblad expedition to the Galápagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour ll. Travel is provided by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic. The final of competition can be viewed starting on May 24 at NatGeoBee.org or on the National Geographic Education YouTube channel.

Sindhi Association Diwali Bash 2017

India Festival Tampa 2017.

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Brahmrishi Shri Guruvanandji’s (Guruji) spiritual journey began in his infancy under miraculous circumstances. Yogiraj Devraha Baba, one of the most esteemed saints of recent times, brought Guruji to his ashram to save his life from a terminal illness. Early on, Devraha Baba predicted that the young child would achieve the pinnacle of spirituality and use the divine energy to selflessly serve humanity.

Devraha Baba’s predictions have come true; after spending over 45 years in rigorous spiritual discipline (Sadhana), Guruji has invoked all seven Chakras (spiritual power centers) of his Kundalini (primal energy), uprooting his consciousness into Shiva Loka, Vishnu Loka, and Brahma Loka. The result is unfathomable; Guruji has acquired all eight Siddhis and nine niddhis (17,638 sub-siddhis), and the supremacy of mantra and tantric knowledge (gyan). He is a living embodiment of perfected spiritual strength comparable to ancient Vedic Sages.

Notwithstanding, Guruji accomplishments prior to his Sadhana is equally remarkable: earning degrees from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, with degrees in B. Tech in Electrical Engineering, B.Sc. in Physics, and further Masters and PhD degrees in Sanskrit, Hindi, Vedas, and Literature. His accolades in several international conferences and religious forums including the “All Religion World conferences” has earned him the “Best Personality” gold medal seven times.

Over the past decade, Guruji has used his enormous divine energy to help those in distress and to uplift the lives of hundreds of thousands of people situated in more than 172 countries. His message is grounded in teaching the practical art of living a balanced, moral, and spiritual life against the conflicting odds driven by modern day turbulence and worldly duties. Rather than miserably give up everything to attain unrealized liberation, Guruji’s mission is to guide us to happily embrace the practical challenges of life and optimistically become spiritual giants ourselves.

Do not miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a true yogi, a true Guru, and a living embodiment of what perfected spiritual strength looks like. For more information on Guruji, please visit GurujiUSAvisit.com to read a complete biography, his message, videos, and more. We look forward to serving you on June 17, 2017 at the South Florida Hindu Temple. The post Journey of a Sathguru first appeared on Desh-Videsh Media reaches 1.5 Millions+ Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshi, and Indo-Caribbeans..]]> https://www.deshvidesh.com/community-spotlight/ Tue, 05 Jul 2016 11:09:27 +0000 http://www.deshvidesh.com/?p=12605 Tampa Resident Earns 63rd Indian National Film Award Long time Tampa resident, Dr. A.K.Pillai, won the prestigious 63rd Indian National Film Award in the category “Environment Conservation/ Preservation” for the movie Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds with Large Wings). He received this honor from the Honorable Indian President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at a star-studded function in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on ...

Tampa Resident Earns 63rd Indian National Film Award Long time Tampa resident, Dr. A.K.Pillai, won the prestigious 63^rd Indian National Film Award in the category “Environment Conservation/ Preservation” for the movie Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (Birds with Large Wings). He received this honor from the Honorable Indian President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at a star-studded function in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on May 3, 2016.

This is one among the list of honors received by Dr A.K. Pillai (Producer) and Mrs. Padma Pillai (Co-Producer). Their film won the World Humanitarian Award at the World Humanitarian Event, Jakarta, Indonesia, in September 2015. The film was also screened  at the United Nations Environment Programme in  Geneva, Switzerland, in November 2015, among many other International Film Festivals around the world. This film has become a talking point through the numerous awards earned as well as due to the themes discussed. Dr. AK.Pillai’s passion for making realistic and meaningful movies led to joining forces with internationally renowned contemporary artistic filmmaker, Dr. Biju, to create this movie. The film portrays the struggles of villagers in Kasargod, Kerala, as they face many health issues due to misuse of endosulfan pesticide in cashew plantations. This affected the people as well as the environment continually for two and a half decades.

This brave venture to bring attention to a social issue has won the heart of those impacted families. We are proud to have a role model in the community and a mentor for local movie lovers.

About the Movie Valiya Chirakula Pakshikal (Birds with Large Wings) is a 2015 Malayalam/English/French partly fictionalized presentation of the great tragedy that occurred in Kasaragod District of Kerala in India, where endosulfan, a highly toxic pesticide was aerially sprayed on cashew plantations owned by the Plantation Corporation or Kerala government. The spraying affected the people as well as the environment continually for two and a half decades. This produced disastrous health effects especially among children, who were born with birth defects. The land, water, flora and fauna became toxic and continues to impact human health even today, despite the discontinued use of the spray for the past two decades. The film depicts the aftereffects of the pesticide spraying through the eyes of a photographer. Endosulfan induced misery gained worldwide attention through this exposure. In 2011, the Stockholm Summit of UN on Persistent Organic Pollutants recommended a total ban on endosulfan.

 

The post Community Spotlight first appeared on Desh-Videsh Media reaches 1.5 Millions+ Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshi, and Indo-Caribbeans..]]>