SIGNIFICANT DATES
APRIL 8: RAMANAVAMI
APRIL 13: MAHAVIR JAYANTI
APRIL 14: BAISAKHI
APRIL 15: HANUMAN JAYANTI
EVENTS
TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER
APRIL 5: PUNJABI MELA; presented by the Punjabi Association; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; featured entertainer is bhangra singer Jassi Sidhu; tickets available online at www.punjabiassociationoftampa.com; for details, e-mail [email protected]
APRIL 6: “WIFE BAHU CUTE HOI, JYA SUDHI MUTE HOI”; Gujarati comedy play; presented by Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; 6 p.m.; free for GSTB members; $10 for non-members; GSTB President Jyoti Gandhi at (727) 534-3767.
APRIL 6: 2nd Annual Walk For Mental Health Awareness; organized by PEHCHAAN (Providing Educational, Humanistic & Cultural Hope for the south Asian American Network); Lake Park, 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Lutz; 8:15 a.m.; registration is $5 per person; children 12 years of age and younger are free; for information, visit www.pehchaantampabay.org or call Vandan Kamath at (813) 417-3248 or Manjusha Naik at (813) 842-8563.
APRIL 16: ICC SENIORS GET-TO-GATHER; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; free seminar, lunch and entertainment; no minimum age requirement; for information or ride, call John Adhia at (813) 784-1132 or Ram Jakhotia at (813) 962-4172.
APRIL 19: GUDIPADWA CELEBRATION; organized by Maayboli Melawa Tampa Bay (MMTB); for details, e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.mmtbusa.org/
APRIL 21-23: “LOVE AND LET LOVE;” spiritual discourses by Swami Ishwarananda; presented by Chinmaya Mission Tampa; free in English and open to everyone; Carrollwood Country Club, The Clubhouse, 13903 Clubhouse Drive, Tampa; 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; for information, call (813) 949-3091, email [email protected] or visit www.chinmayamission.org/tampa
APRIL 23-26: International Indian Film Academy Weekend & Awards; numerous activities related to IIFA taking place; for timings, venues and other details, visit www.iifa.com (also check out our IIFA special section)
APRIL 26: MONTHLY SATSANG; based on the inspiration of Swami Mukundanandji; 2 to 4 p.m.; 380 Newbury Place N., St. Petersburg; for information, call (727) 490-2298 or visit www.jkyog.org
APRIL 27: 9th TAMPA BAY CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL; Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa; parade and concert 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; $20 admission; children 5 to 12 years of age are $5; for information, call (813) 325-5584, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.tampabaycaribbeancarnival.com
APRIL 30: “SANNIDHI” (SACRED SPACE); Aparna Ramaswamy to perform Bharat Natyam dance; Ferguson Hall at Straz Center, 1010 N Macinnes Place, Tampa; 8 p.m.; tickets range from $35-$45; for information, call (813) 229-7827 or visit www.strazcenter.org
MAY 10: “THE INNER DIMENSION OF YOGA;” workshop by Yogi Amrit Desai; presented by the Hindu Temple of Florida; 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; temple, 5509 Lynn Road, Tampa; donation $50 for temple devotees; for information, call (813) 962-6890, email [email protected] or visit www.amrityoga.org
OCALA/BELLEVIEW
APRIL 13: SATSANG; Pushtidham (Haveli of Florida), 14080 S.W. 20th Ave. Road, Ocala; 3:30 p.m.; for information, call Bharat at (973) 460-5936, Raj Kamdar at (352) 568-5729 or visit www.pushtidhamocala.org
ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY
APRIL 5: ANUP JALOTA CONCERT; 6 p.m.; Olympia High School, 4301 S Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando; presented by Maa Durga Sri Sai Baba Temple; $20 donation; for information, call (407) 437-6709 or e-mail [email protected]
APRIL 5: TIBETAN BUDDHIST MEDITATION; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Hindu University of America campus, 113 S. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando; workshop will be led by Mark Winwood, founder and resident teacher of the Chenrezig Project, a Tibetan Buddhist study and practice group; for information, call (407) 275-0013 or e-mail [email protected] or visit www.hua.edu
APRIL 6: HSCF NEW AGE GROUP GATHERING; organized by Hindu Society of Central Florida (HSCF) New Age Group; HSCF community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; 1:30 p.m.; information on filing taxes; also, group discussions plus jokes, snacks, tea/coffee; RSVP [email protected]
APRIL 8: SHRI RAM NAVMI; aarti, Ramayan Purnahuti and bhajans; Shri Shiv Dham Hindu Temple and Yogashram, 460 O’Berry Hoover Road, Orlando; for information, call (407) 380-2661, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.shivtemple.net
APRIL 12: GUDI PADWA; organized by Orlando Marathi Mandal; Hindu Society of Central Florida, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; 3:30 p.m.; for information, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.orlandomarathi.com/
APRIL 14: HANUMAN JAYANTI; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Shree Hanuman Mandir, 3119 Lauressa Lane, Orlando; puja services by Pandits Sureshdath Sharma and Eshwar Persaud; for information, call Hari P. Singh at (407) 679-2226, Sandra Persaud at (407) 351-2666 or e-mail [email protected]
APRIL 18-20: THREE-SESSION RAMAYAN YAJNA; discourse by Pandit Chunelall Narine; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday; Shree Hanuman Mandir, 3119 Lauressa Lane, Orlando; for information, call Hari P. Singh at (407) 679-2226, Sandra Persaud at (407) 351-2666 or e-mail [email protected]
APRIL 13: 3RD ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT; MetroWest Golf Club, 2100 S. Hiawassee Road, Orlando; organized by the Indian American Chamber of Commerce (IACC); 7:30 a.m.; register at www.iaccorlando.com/events; for details, call Jay Shah at (407) 999-0366 or email [email protected]
APRIL 20: MUSICAL CONCERT; singer Jonita Gandhi (of “Chennai Express” and “Highway” fame) with musical band from Canada; Olympia High School, 4301 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando; 5 to 6 p.m. dinner followed by program; presented by Gujarati Society of Central Florida; for tickets and information, call Kamlesh Shah at (321) 689-6368 or Pallavi Patel at (407) 306-0906.
APRIL 25: AN EVENING OF INDIAN MUSIC; featuring Kala Ramnath on violin and Abhijit Banerjee on tabla; 7:30 p.m.; Hindu Society of Central Florida Auditorium, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; presented by Asian Cultural Association; for information, call ACA at (407) 333-3667 or visit www.aca-florida.org
APRIL 27: HSCF NEW AGE GROUP-SOUTH GATHERING; to be held quarterly; first time for seniors living in south; Maa Durga - Sri Sai Baba Temple, 11414 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando; 1:30 p.m.; workshop regarding health and investments; snacks, tea/coffee; RSVP [email protected]
MAY 22: “FUNNY BUSINESS;” comedian Anish Shah; presented by Indian American Chamber of Commerce; 6 p.m.; Renaissance Orlando Airport Hotel, 5445 Forbes Place, Orlando; $10 for IACC members, member guest is $25 and non-members are $50; banquet dinner and complimentary self-parking; for information, visit www.iaccorlando.com
MAY 23-25: JETUSA (JEEYAR EDUCATOINAL TRUST) FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION; Hilton Orlando Resort, 6001 Destination Parkway, Orlando; to register and for more details, visit www.jetconvention.org
JUNE 6: “KLOSE TO MY SOUL;” Sonu Nigam in concert; presented by Krish Patel and Satya Shaw; 7:30 p.m.; Orange County Convention Center, Linda Chaplin Theater, 9800 International Drive, Orlando; tickets start at $49; special combo IIFA Awards plus Sonu Nigam concert ticket for $250; purchase tickets at www.bollywoodeventsfl.com; for information, call (407) 454-3334 or (813) 842-0345.
INVERNESS
APRIL 18-20: INAUGURATION OF HANUMAN TEMPLE; Panchamukhi Hanuman Prathisthapana Dwrakamai, Sri Sai Dhyana Mandira and Dhuni, Shaswata Agni; Shirdi Sai Florida Center, 4707 S Pleasant Grove Road, Inverness; to review the three-day detailed program and register for Sevas, visit www.shirdiusa.com or call (352) 860-2181.
FORT MYERS
APRIL 12: 28th ANNUAL INDIA FEST 2014; organized by the India Association of Fort Myers; JetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway S. Drive, Fort Myers; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; for information, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.iafortmyers.org
MELBOURNE (SPACE COAST/MERRITT ISLAND)
MAY 11: MOTHER’S DAY PICNIC; organized by Indian Association of the Space Coast; Kiwanis Park, 951 Kiwanis Island Park Road, Merritt Island; 2 to 6 p.m.; for information, call (321) 302-1870, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.iascbrevard.com
JACKSONVILLE
APRIL 5: HOLI; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Hindu Society of North East Florida temple grounds, 4968 Greenland Road, Jacksonville; for information, visit www.hsnef.org
SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI/FORT LAUDERDALE/CORAL SPRINGS)
APRIL 13: RAMA NAVAMI/HANUMAN JAYANTI CELEBRATIONS; during Chinmaya Mission Miami Bal Vihar assembly; for details, visit www.cmmiami.org
APRIL 24-30: DISCOURSES/WORKSHOPS BY SWAMI ISHWARANANDA; presented by Chinmaya Mission Miami; for venue information, visit www.cmmiami.org
APRIL 26: SPIRITUAL SOUND OF VIOLIN CONCERT; featuring Kala Ramnath on the violin and Abhijit Banerjee on the tabla; presented by the Association of Performing Arts of India (APAI) in South Florida; 6 p.m.; ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; tickets are $20 general admission or $30 VIP; students get $10 off with current ID; for information, call APAI at (954) 885-1466, email [email protected] or visit www.apaiart.com
MAY 17: VAISAKHI 2014; presented by Greater Punjab Cultural Society; 7 p.m.; Coral Springs High School, 7201 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs; bhangra competition, teens gidha, Bollywood dance and fancy dress show; tickets start at $20; for information, call Baljeet Mann at (954) 856-3421, Asha Gupta at (954) 234-5674 or email [email protected]
Event submissions are free of charge. E-mail [email protected]
Disclaimer: Event details are subject to change. Please check with local organizers.