Content
Editorial
Events/Classes
News
Contact Us
Faith
Health
Bollywood
Mental Health
Immigration
Financial advice
Youth Matters
Seniors
Techno Corner
Arts
Astrology
Books
Cuisine
Home
Archives
Classifieds
 


The 2006 India Fest in Gainesville.
MELBOURNE, GAINESVILLE TO HOLD INDIA FESTIVALS
By NITISH S. RELE - editor@khaasbaat.com

Who says the festival season is over? In fact, it’s just beginning, at least in Melbourne and Gainesville, the two cities holding India Festivals in February and March respectively.

MELBOURNE: More than 8,000 people are expected to drop in Feb. 17-18 (also President’s Day weekend) at the Wickham Park Pavilion in Melbourne to celebrate the 11th Indiafest, presented by Manav Mandir and supported by the Indian Association of the Space Coast, according to organizer Yasmin Majeed. “This year, we are focusing on ‘The Women of India’ such as Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa, the late astronaut Kalpana Chawla, as well as Hollywood actors like Aishwarya Rai,” she said. “Some of the famous Indian women will be depicted, their unparalleled influences, what they stood for, and how their involvement and contribution changes Indian society.”

Majeed recalled that when the festival was first held over 10 years ago, just 2,500 people attended. “Now, we have about 50 booths offering food, clothing, arts and crafts, henna, jewelry,” she said.

Also, a portion of the proceeds raised at the festival are donated to charities. Last year, a Mercedes-Benz was raffled for the benefit of the Miami Bridge Youth Home with toward hurricane repairs. This year, a 2007 Jaguar X-Type will be raffled to help the local Crosswinds Youth Center build a Learning and Assessment Center. Tickets for the raffle are $100 each and can be obtained by calling (321) 724-0101.

Indiafest 2007 will be held 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 17 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 18. Tickets for the two-day event are $5 for adults and $2 for children 12 years and under. Ages 5 and under are free.

For more information, call Majeed at (321) 720-8590 or click on www.indiafestbrevard.org

GAINESVILLE: The India Fest in Gainesville will be held Saturday, March 3, at Santa Fe Community College, Gymnasium V, 3000 N.W. 83rd St. About 5,000 people are expected to attend the daylong festivities, which also will include a Health Fair from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., said organizer Shaheda Qaiyumi. The Health Fair will offer free screenings for Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, asthma, blood pressure, body fat measurement, etc. A blood test and cholesterol screening and other tests (prostate and thyroid) will be offered for a low fee.

This year’s theme will be Travel Through India to experience one of the world’s richest and colorful cultures.

The event is presented by the Indian Cultural & Education Center and Duval Motorcars Mercedes-Benz of Gainesville. Tickets are $2 and kids under 2 years of age are free.

For information, call Shaheda Qaiyumi at (352) 378-7112 or Ganga Srinivas at (352) 331-9951 or click on www.icec-florida.org





NC Karunya of “Indian Idol 2” fame.
KARUNYA TO PERFORM AT TAMPA HINDU TEMPLE FUNDRAISER FEB. 24
By NITISH S. RELE - editor@khaasbaat.com

You saw him endless times on Sony TV’s “Indian Idol 2.” Now, you can see the runner-up of the popular reality show in person on Feb. 24 in Tampa.

NC Karunya will perform on that day at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, for a fundraiser to benefit the Hindu Temple of Florida.

Since his “Indian Idol” days, Karunya has sung for the hit “Lage Raho Munnabhai,” two songs for the Hindi film “Jai Santoshi Maa,” as well as for several Telugu films.

“The Hindu temple is on the verge of completion of its Indianization project,” said temple President G.M. Ramappa. “The wide and sweeping staircase rising to meet the terraced floor of the temple, the grandiose Dwajasthamba or flag staff, the Garuda which is the vehicle of the presiding deity, and the Dwarabalakas or temple door guardians are stipulated architectural elements of a Dravidian-style temple.

“The completion of these temple components will set the Hindu Temple of Florida in a class of its own, both in beauty of execution and strict adherence to the temple building manuals.”

The Karunya concert is one of the fundraiser that Ramappa hopes will help fund some of the temple’s remaining projects.

The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres, with the program from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30, followed by dinner thereafter. Tickets are $50 per person, $100 for couple, $150 for three and $250 VIP for four people.

For information, call Ramappa at (727) 846-9607, Manjul Derasari at (813) 977-6695 or click on www.hindutempleofflorida.org



HIT THE SOUTH BEACH BHANGRA FLOOR MARCH 3


Story provided by Phulorida Bhangra

After the overwhelming success of the last three years, Phulorida Bhangra Inc. will present South Beach Bhangra 2007, Miami’s international bhangra competition to celebrate the high-energy style of dance of Northern India.

On March 3, 12 dance teams from all over North America – including Cornell Mundey, Doaba Arts Club, Duniya All Stars, Gator Bhangra, Mera Punjab, MSU Bhangra, RU Bhangra, Sher Foundation, Surrey India Arts Club, UBC Girlz Bhangra Team, Hurricane Bhangra and Panther Bhangra – will take the stage at the Jackie Gleason Theater for the Performing Arts in Miami Beach. They will be competing for more than $10,000 in cash and prizes.

The event includes special Guest performances by bhangra singing sensation Amarjit Sandhu and JoSH.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will kick off at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $40 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or at the Jackie Gleason Theatre Box Office.

Details regarding events and team information have been posted at www.southbeachbhangra.com.

For more information, email tarun@southbeachbhangra.com or call (786) 553-0739.


KITE FLYING FESTIVAL CELEBRATED IN ORLANDO, TAMPA
By NITISH S. RELE - editor@khaasbaat.com



About 1,200 people from Orlando, Plant City, Kissimmee, Ocala and Jacksonville took part in the Uttarayan (kite flying festival) held Jan. 14 by the Gujarati Society of Central Florida at Chisholm Park in St. Cloud.
More than 1,500 people attended Uttarayan (kite flying festival) on January 14 at Lake Park in Lutz, Florida. Organized by the Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay, the event was record breaking in number of attendees this year, according to new incoming Samaj President Dinesh Gandhi. The association provided kites and thread, as well as food catered by the local Swaminarayan Mandir. Also, adults and the young alike played cricket and volleyball under the sunny skies of Florida.

The next Samaj festival will be Holi at Lake Park on March 3.

Also celebrating Uttarayan on the same day, January 14, was the Gujarati Society of Central Florida at Chisholm Park in St. Cloud. About 1,200 people from Orlando, Plant City, Kissimmee, Ocala and Jacksonville took part in the festivities, according to organizer Tino Patel. During the daylong event, which began at 11 a.m., the Gujarati Society served bhajias, ghantiya, jalebi, pizza, khidi vegetable and masala chhas.

The next Gujarati Society event will be on March 4 at Turkey Lake Park in Orlando.


DRS. KIRAN AND PALLAVI PATEL RECEIVE GLOBAL HUMANITARIANISM HONOR AT KENSINGTON PALACE


Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel receive the Humanitarian Rose Award from the People’s Princess Foundation from Maureen Roresh Dunkel, founder of the People’s Princess Charitable Foundation, as Sean Ferrer, son of Audrey Hepburn, left, and Crown Prince Ermius Haile Selasie of Ethiopia, right, look on.
Story provided by Patel Foundation for Global Understanding

Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel received the Humanitarian Rose Award recently at Kensington Palace for their work in India, Zambia, Tanzania and their hometown of Tampa. The prestigious award was presented by the People’s Princess Charitable Foundation Inc. (PPCF) within the State Apartments at Kensington Palace in London.

The award was named after the late Diana, Princess of Wales, known posthumously as “England’s Rose,” and it is presented annually to individuals from around the globe who effectively use their celebrity, royalty, financial or talent platforms to assist the less fortunate.

Tampa entrepreneurs Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel were among the select group of honorees from Kenya, Ecuador, Turkey and the United Kingdom presented with awards at the black tie event. The Patels were honored in the Global Humanitarianism category, which is the highest honor given.

“The charitable deeds of the Patels literally touch millions on three continents” said Maureen Roresh Dunkel, PPCF founder. “As founders of the Patel Foundation for Global Understanding they have demonstrated their commitment by being actively involved in the creation and participation of the empowerment solutions they fund.”

To learn more about the Drs. Patel and the Patel Foundation for Global Understanding, visit www. Global-Understanding.org


SERVING THE POOR IN GUJARAT


By NITISH S. RELE - editor@khaasbaat.com

Tampa Bay’s Mukund and Hina Bhalani, along with daughters Rina and Meera, as well as 22 medical students and five physicians, spent a December week in India.



Their aim was to serve – free of charge – poor patients in Anand, and surrounding villages of Gujarat. Co-sponsoring the visit was the Doctors Goodwill Foundation in the U.S. and Vrajbhoomi International School in India.



AACC TO HOLD 3RD BUSINESS FORUM MARCH 17 IN TAMPA
Story provided by AAKASH M. PATEL

The Asian American Chambers of Commerce (AACC) of Tampa Bay will host its third annual Business Forum on Saturday, March 17. The AACC is comprised of Tampa’s Indo-US Chamber of Commerce, Philippine American Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay and other business professionals. This year’s forum is titled “How to do Business in India and in China.” Just as in previous years, the forum will feature an entrepreneurial success panel. Speakers will include Holland and Knight Partner Jeffrey L Rubinger, former Dayhoff President Uday Lele, Reliance Consulting Managing Partner Amol Nirgudkar, CPA, and Bona Financial Group CEO Rafael Bona. The forum will feature several prominent speakers who have successful businesses in India and in China, but residents of Tampa Bay.

"This year we decided to choose topics that would attract the broader Tampa Bay business community,” said Indo-US Chairman and AACC President Santosh Govindaraju. “All businesses, small or large, need to have a vision and strategy that incorporates India and China. Those who don’t will lose the competitive advantage. The global marketplace impacts us all, and this year’s program will allow the Tampa Bay business community to broaden their horizons and hopefully allow them to increase their bottom line.”

The AACC Business Forum, which is open to the public, will take place at the Philippine Bayanihan Arts & Events Center at 14301 Nine Eagles Drive, Tampa, FL 33626. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the activities end at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 if purchased before Feb. 27 and $10 anytime after that date. They include breakfast, lunch, networking and participation in all discussion panels. Sponsorship opportunities at various levels are still available. For information, visit www.aacctampabay.org or call Santosh Govindaraju at (813) 230-7794.


ORLANDO TEMPLE CELEBRATES BEGINNING OF NEW YEAR
Story provided by HSCF

On Jan. 1, hundreds of devotees gathered to pray at the Hindu Society of Central Florida (HSCF) temple in Casselberry/Orlando. By noon, aarti began more than a 1,000 people crowded in the intricately carved main hall. Jaya Swami of Oviedo brings her whole family as “this is an auspicious way to begin the New Year … praying and paying respect to God,” she said.

Many Hindus, as is the custom, begin everything new and noteworthy with pujas and aartis. This is continued in the United States, especially on a public holiday. “It is wonderful to see so many people at the temple,” said Swami. “We all live so far from our home (India) and the temple is the place to unite and feel like a family.” Her two sons agreed that they do feel like Hindus and appreciate the Indian culture during a visit to the temple.

Maha Shivratri will be celebrated at the HSCF temple on Friday, Feb 16. For information, call the temple office at (407) 699-5277 or visit www.hindutempleorlando.org.




Abhiruchi
MARATHI MAGAZINE IN TAMPA BAY
Story provided by Avinash Borikar of Clearwater

“Abhiruchi,” a group of Maharashtrian enthusiasts who had been meeting over the last couple of years – reading Marathi literature, dramas and appreciating the work of famous authors and poets – decided to publish a magazine in November 2006. The very idea behind this venture was to stimulate fellow Maharashtrians in the Tampa Bay and surrounding areas to write articles, stories and poetry and any other contributions.

Although about 18 such Marathi magazines are published in the United States, Abhiruchi is first in the Tampa Bay area. Publishers express their heartfelt thanks to all participants, sponsors and well-wishers, and hope to receive support in future. At present, the idea is to put out the magazine on an annual basis.

Marathi readers of Khaas Baat are welcome to contact Abhiruchi by calling Manjusha Naik at (813) 741-2788 or e-mail manjushsaotr@yahoo.com.




COLUMN: TAX TIME


Amol Nirgudkar
KIDDIE TAX RULES CAN GET TRICKY
By AMOL NIRGUDKAR, CPA

For many years, we advised clients to gift securities and other income earning instruments to their teenagers, so that the income generated by the teens would be taxed at the children’s lower tax rate. As long as the kids were 14 or above, the investment income earned from the parents’ gift was taxed at rates as low as 15 percent. In May 2006, Congress changed the law to significantly expand the reach of the Kiddie Tax. The change will make the Kiddie Tax apply to children who have not attained the age of 18 before the close of the tax year, effective with the 2006 tax year. The tax impact of this change could be significant to children who were privileged to receive significant gifts of securities from their parents.

Despite the law change, the small exemption from Kiddie Tax continues to apply. For 2006, the first $850 of an under age 18 child’s earned income is tax-free, and the next $850 is taxed at the child’s marginal rate (generally 10 percent). But, unearned income exceeding $1,700 is taxed at the parents’ highest income tax rate, as long as the child has not reached age 18 by the end of the year.

It is important to note that the Kiddie Tax only applies to unearned income (passive income like interest, dividends, rents, capital gains). It does not apply to wages or other income earned by the child. Therefore, if you are a small business owner and decide to employ your 15-year-old to help with some filing, that income is not subject to the Kiddie Tax.

How much does it cost me?

The tax cost of this law change can be significant depending on how much investments your children have. For example, if your 16-year-old child makes $10,000 in interest income in 2006, under the old rules his tax liability would be $1,000. Under the new rules, the child would end up owing over $3,200 in tax.

For dividends and long-term capital gains, the tax penalty is much less severe. Typically, the child is taxed at a 5 percent rate on dividends and capital gains, whereas the parents are taxed at 15 percent. Thus, the additional penalty from the Kiddie Tax is only 10 percent.

Investment Strategies

In some cases, the implications of the Kiddie Tax could be significant enough to cause a realignment of the under-age-18 child’s investments. Rather than incur the parents’ high tax rate on investment earnings, it may make sense to shift the child’s investments to growth equities that pay little or no dividends. These include tax-exempt municipal bonds or tax-sheltered savings vehicles such as IRAs and qualified tuition/Section 529 plans.

Tax Preparation Complexity

The most confusing aspect of this Kiddie Tax law change is its implementation (i.e. the added tax return preparation hassle). If a child under age 18 has over $1,700 of investment income, that child’s tax return needs to be carefully coordinated with the parents’ return. In some cases, you can report the child’s investment income on the parent’s tax return. In many cases, a complicated schedule must be added to the child’s return that integrates both the parents’ and child’s income to arrive at the proper Kiddie Tax. This means that the child’s return can no longer be done separately and filed early.

If you are preparing your teenager’s tax return, it will be important to determine if the Kiddie Tax may apply. If the child’s return is prepared without considering the new law change, it can get considerably expensive and time consuming to correct the situation. As you get ready to file your 2006 tax returns, consult your tax adviser if there is any doubt as to whether the Kiddie Tax applies to you and your family.


CEREMONIES CONDUCTED FOR NEW JACKSONVILLE TEMPLE DEITIES
Story provided by KRISH SEETHARAMAN

All the idols for the new Hindu Society of North East Florida (HSNEF) temple building in Jacksonville arrived on Jan. 19. Since the new temple site on Greenland Road is not open yet, the idols were received in the current temple building. Dedicated volunteers helped to unload the deities on Jan. 19 and 20 from the shipped container.

Then on Jan. 21, the Jalaadhivasam and Dhaanyaadivasam ceremony was conducted. Jalaadhivasam and Dhaanyaadivasam (dwelling in the water & grain) are the first and foremost rituals in the process of consecrating an idol. During this ritual, the idols are kept in the water tank for 48 days. The Jalaadhivasam was initiated for Lord Venkateshwara and Lord Shiva (Lingam), both of whom will have regular Abhisheka done. Dhaanyaadhivasam was initiated for other deities – Ram Parivar, Radha/Krishna, Lakshmi/Narayana and Durga Devi. More than 250 devotees participated in the ceremony and poured water on Lord Shiva and Venkateshwara and Rice on other deities, amid the chanting of Rudram/Suktam by volunteers and bhajans by Bala Vidya Mandir children.

Prana Prathista ceremony is planned from March 21-25 at the new temple building. Several thousands devotees are expected to attend the Prana Prathista ceremony. For more event information and sponsorship details, call the temple at 904-269-1155 or visit http://www.jaxhindutemple.org


COLUMN: OUT & ABOUT IN FLORIDA


OUT & ABOUT IN FLORIDA
By NITISH S. RELE - editor@khaasbaat.com

Opening a new store or restaurant? Expanding or relocating? Has your business won an award or a mention in your local newspaper? We want to hear from you to meet the rising needs of businesses and our readers. Call Nitish S. Rele at (813) 758-1786 or e-mail us at editor@khaasbaat.com

LAZIZ IN CLEARWATER DOES IT AGAIN! Though we haven’t paid a visit to Laziz yet, we have written about the Clearwater restaurant in the past. And here we go again, this time because Laziz is the only Indian restaurant mentioned by TBT (St. Petersburg Times’ free newspaper) in its 100 best restaurants around the Tampa Bay area.

In the Jan. 12 TBT issue, food critic Chris Sherman wrote, “Indian dining has a new home in Pinellas, sleek in décor and vigorously authentic in spice. Laziz boasts a full breadbasket of naan poori and paratha, tandoori dishes and a garden full of vegetarian entrees.”

Laziz is at 2475 N. McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. For more information, call (727) 797-7541 or click on www.lazizonline.com

ORLANDO SENTINEL REVIEWS GATEWAY TO INDIA

Like Laziz, we wrote about Gateway to India just a few months back. Apparently, the Longwood/Orlando eatery is quite popular with not just regular customers but also newspapers, notably the daily Orlando Sentinel.

“Gateway’s menu features specialties of Northern India but has dishes from throughout the country,” wrote restaurant critic Scott Joseph. “One of my favorites was the lamb Hyderabadi ($14.95), a buttery-brown curry flavored with ginger and garlic … For appetizers, the assorted platter ($7.95) had wonderful vegetable samosas, deep-fried patties filled with chunks of potatoes and green peas; vegetable pakora, onions, potatoes and cauliflower dipped in batter and deep-fried; and batata vada, deep-fried potato balls … I can’t attest to the ultimate authenticity of Gateway to India – it is in Longwood, after all. But for the duration of a meal there, the staff will endeavor to transport you with an exotic atmosphere and wonderfully prepared foods.”

The restaurant at 790 E. State Road 434 also does takeout, banquet and catering and serves wine, champagne and domestic and imported beer.

For more information, call Gateway to India at (407) 339-9996 or check out www.the-gateway.com




“THE INDIAN AMERICAN” MAGAZINE

By NITISH S. RELE - editor@khaasbaat.com

Last year, we had written about a new bimonthly national magazine “The Indian American” from New York started by Dr. Akshay Desai, a good friend of Khaas Baat. The CEO and president of Universal Health Care in St. Petersburg was kind enough to send us the January-February 2007 issue of his magazine, which appears to be picking up momentum with a readership base of 40,000. The magazine seeks to inform, analyze and entertain people of South Asian origin in the U.S.

The cover story of the fifth issue of “The Indian American” is about desis in the New York Police Department. In-depth profiles of TV news anchor Sukanya Krishnan and Western classical music artist Monica Yunus (daughter of Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus) make for interesting reading. There also are stories on “What Indian Men want from the other sex,” “Novel Indians” and an “American Confession on Bollywood.”

Annual subscription to “The Indian American” is $12. To subscribe, click on www.theindianamerican.com


Mental Health Column

It is time for the Tampa Bay community to have a forum where voices can be expressed, respected and heard. This column will provide just such a corner. In time, I hope there will be enough interest generated when you, the reader, will begin to request certain topics of discussion.
Read Story

Send your questions and concerns


FINANCE SECTION
Finance | Financial advice | Immigration | Special Needs | Accounting | Business | Labor Law | Asset Protection

Read Story


RECIPES
Check out the new recipes submitted by Khaasbaat readers from all over Tampa Bay. Also read features on new food businesses and books. Read Story

Children's Health
As the colder fall and winter months approach, the whole array of colds and allergies come into practice as a pediatrician. In this article, I would like to share some valuable information with most of the parents who have to deal with these common childhood illnesses.
Read Story


Contact Information
The Editor: editor@khaasbaat.com
Advertising: advertising@khaasbaat.com
Webmaster: webmaster@khaasbaat.com
Send mail to webmaster@khaasbaat.com with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2004 Khaas Baat.

Anything that appears in Khaas Baat cannot be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Khaas Baat contributors are their own and do not reflect the publisher's opinion.

Khaas Baat reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Khaas Baat is not responsible for errors in advertising or for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. Khaas Baat is published by Khaas Baat Communications.