TO SEE THE AUGUST ISSUE IN ITS ENTIRETY, CLICK BELOW:
FLORIDA COMMUNITIES CELEBRATING THE FESTIVE OCCASION INCLUDE
By NITISH S. RELE
TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER
After a two-year pandemic driven gap, FIA of Tampa Bay will celebrate India Independence Day ("Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav") in-person from 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14, at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa. This year, FIA’s youth leaders will plan and execute the event. Overseeing the festivities are FIA President Jigisha M. Desai and Event Chair Himatlal Parekh. See ad on page XX for detailed information about the daylong activities.
SOUTH FLORIDA (FORT LAUDERDALE, WEST PALM BEACH)
The Association of Indians in America (AIA) South Florida chapter will hold India Independence Day celebrations from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 S.W. Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Admission is free. On the agenda is cultural entertainment of music and dance, Indian food and fashion. For details, email aia.sflorida@gmail.com
Palm Beach India Association will hold an India Independence Day show on Saturday, Aug. 13. The time, venue and other details were not available at press time. For information, email events@gopbia.org or www.gopbia.org
ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY/ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
Hindu Society of Central Florida and New Age Group will celebrate India’s Independence Day in advance on Sunday, Aug. 7, from noon to 1:30 to 5 p.m. in the community hall at 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry. Admission is free with RSVP for paid 2022 members. Highlights include a talk by members on importance of Independence, games such as carrom, chess, cards; tea/coffee party with snacks. To RSVP, email hscfnewagegroup@gmail.com
Central Florida Indian Cultural Association will celebrate Independence Day from 2 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, at Cranes Roost Park, Altamonte Springs. Programs include a parade, cultural dance and kids fancy dress. Entry is free. For information, call Prashant Saoji at (321) 460-0800.
JACKSONVILLE
The Indian Cultural Society of Jacksonville will celebrate India’s Independence Day from 3 p.m. onward on Saturday, Aug. 27, at Bolles Middle School, 2264 Bartram Road. Activities include cultural performances, dance, skits and group singing, flag hoisting, cultural showcase highlighting Indian states, and dinner. The dinner is free for ICS members and $10 for non-members. For details and to RSVP, email independenceday@jaxics.org or visit www.jaxics.org
BARTOW/PLANT CITY/LAKELAND
The Bhartiya Samaj of Central Florida will celebrate Independence Day with a competition for kids from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, at Mary Holland Park, 2015 Shumate Drive, Bartow. For tickets and more information, call Vinoo Patel at (863) 293-0942 or visit www.bscfl.com
GAINESVILLE
India Cultural and Education Center (ICEC) Youth Group will celebrate India's Independence Day. However, at press time, the time, date and venue had yet to be determined. Visit www.icec-florida.org for any updates.
MELBOURNE/COCOA (SPACE COAST)
India Association of the Space Coast will hold India Day on Aug. 20 from 4 p.m. onward at Melbourne Stadium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd., with a parade, entertainment and dinner. For information, email iascbrevard@gmail.com or visit https://myiasc.com/
TALLAHASSEE
India Association of Tallahassee (IATLH) will hold its annual Utsav/India Day this year. But at press time, time, date and venue were not available. For updates, visit www.iatlh.org
KHAAS BAAT COMPLETES 18 YEARS
WE URGE READERS TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
By NITISH S. RELE & SHEPHALI J. RELE
As Khaas Baat celebrates its 18-year anniversary this month, we thank our dedicated volunteer columnists for their valuable contributions, our savvy advertisers and well-wishers.
As we mentioned in the July issue, more than a third of newspapers in the United States have shut down in the last 15 years. Paper shortages and supply issues have hit community newspapers such as Khaas Baat the hardest but, despite all odds, we have continued to print on a monthly basis since the inaugural issue in August 2004. Things have been worse because of the pandemic, rising inflation and high gasoline prices. Once again, we urge everyone to support in our efforts.
If you pick up a copy from the grocery store/restaurant, consider subscribing for home delivery. And to business owners, we request you to promote your new endeavors to the community through our newspaper.
As activities are under way, we request community leaders and organizers to email event details to editor@khaasbaat.com by the 20th of the month for the following month’s issue. Feel strongly about an issue? Send us a letter to the editor. We always welcome your story ideas and suggestions on how we can best serve our community.
Khaas Baat is proud to be the ONE AND ONLY Sunshine State publication to offer comprehensive coverage of news and happenings in your Florida Indian community. Do follow us on twitter @khaasbaat and join us on Facebook.
HINDU TEMPLE OF TALLAHASSEE TO HOLD OPENING CELEBRATIONS AUG. 11-14
Story provided by HTT
The Indian community of Tallahassee and its adjacent counties has grown rapidly over the last 10 years. Within this community, followers of Hinduism have always felt the need to have their own place of worship to practice their rich and diverse religious traditions.
Religious ceremonies and festivals have been held at Leon County community centers and school auditoriums. However, the community longed for its own permanent temple that would host numerous deities as well as a priest who would perform daily rituals and major Hindu festivals.
Thanks to the diligent and consistent efforts of many individuals and families involved in making this vision a reality, the Hindu Temple of Tallahassee (HTT) is slated for grand opening celebrations Aug.11-14. A series of worship and prayer sessions along with cultural programs is planned. In addition, there will be a 'Prana Prathista' (ceremony by which a deity is consecrated in a Hindu temple) of all Utsav murtis (deities) along with food offerings.
For details, visit https://sites.google.com/hindutempleoftallahassee.org/htttempleopening2022/home
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