TO SEE THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE IN ITS ENTIRETY, CLICK BELOW:
3rd ANNUAL MULTINATIONAL EVENT, HINDU MATRIMONIAL USA, SET SEPT. 24-25 IN TAMPA
Prospective brides and grooms, forget those online matrimonial sites full of promises and fake fronts. Instead, here’s your opportunity to find the perfect person, face-to-face! Hindu Matrimonial USA (HMUSA) for Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs will be held Sept. 24-25 in Tampa.
The event was conceived by Devyani and Nainan Desai and Malti Pandya. Through support of over 30 volunteers, the group has brought the concept to fruition. The event is now backed by Mt. Kailash Foundation, a charitable 501c3 organization. “In previous events, participants came from Canada, U.K. and 30 states of the United States. The right life partner may not be in the neighborhood!” said Nainan Desai. “After successful previous events, singles called to conduct the event again this year in spite of the pandemic threat, as they could not put life on hold forever. Accordingly, we decided to do the event this year, and are taking precautions described on our website.”
“The goal is to make finding a life partner more personal than the current online or app-based forums which are repetitive, distant, and often behind a computer screen” says organizer Malti Pandya. “Unlike similar events that have come before it, Hindu Matrimonial is open to all Hindus, Jains and Sikhs regardless of caste, language or regional background.” Single men and women are encouraged to register to meet each other and "swipe right in person.”
This year, the event has two age groups, 25 to 39 years, and 40 and above, while allowing mixing of these groups for those who wish. The benefits that come from an event like this are endless but mainly, participants can meet several in-person and get a better understanding of their personality, says Pandya. “This allows for a better first impression and true connections. Having been to similar events, I can honestly say that I am more excited for HMUSA because the format is different, rather than the same old speed-dating. The organizing team has added a lot of unique and fun ideas, with a more modern mindset, and a proprietary app for the participants,” says Pooja, a past event participant.
The two-day program starts Friday evening, Sept. 24, at the Comfort Suites Tampa Airport North, and all-day Saturday, Sept 25, at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road. The program will consist of a variety of segments for attendees to connect with one another. Registration is open, visit www.HinduMatrimonial.org For more information, call (769) 241-0675.
TAMPA’S Hindu Family Support Services serves domestic ABUSE victims
Hindu Family Support Services (HFSS) is a Tampa based non-profit organization helping domestic abuse survivors since 2017. Started by a dedicated group of volunteers who saw a need in the South Asian community, HFSS provides free and confidential service to these victims.
A staggering 1 in 4 women (and 1 in 9 men) are victims of domestic abuse (according to National Coalition against Domestic Violence) and that number is unfortunately even higher in the South Asian community. That means you yourself, or someone you know, is dealing with some type of physical, emotional, or financial abuse. In the South Asian community, there are additional barriers, including the stigma associated with divorce or personal pressures to save the marriage for the children due to lack of social or extended family support. To add to the complexity of these situations, many victims feel that they have no outlet or resource to get the help they need – especially with language barriers, varying education levels of the victims, financial instability and oftentimes there is also fear of deportation or having to return to India.
HFSS has become a trusted organization for these victims. The multifaceted group has helped over 100 South Asian victims in the Tampa Bay area. It is led by volunteers who provide much needed emotional support as well as day-to -ay help (child care and transportation options) and longer term needs, including financial assistance and legal aid. With this combination of compassion and understanding as well as expert resources, many victims have been able to break through their darkest periods to find their independence, achieve happiness and hope for their future.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, reach out to HFSS for help: Email: help@hfssusa.org, phone number (813) 591-0250, website www.hfssusa.org
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