About 350 people are expected to take part in a 108 Kundi Gayatri Maha Yagna Dec. 6 at the Shri Shiv Dham Temple in Orlando. Organizing the event under the auspices of Shantikunj, Haridwar, is the All World Gayatri Pariwar of Central Florida and the Shiv Mandir at 460 O'Berry Hoover Road.

The event is held to commemorate Gayatri Pariwar founder Shriram Sharma Acharya. Gurudev, as he was affectionately called, was a great devotee of Goddess Gayatri and had attained the supreme knowledge of the philosophy and science of the Gayatri Mantra and yoga.

Admission to the Maha Yagna, which will begin at 10 a.m., is free but donations are welcome.

For more information, call Dipali Bhatt at (407) 967-5163 or email [email protected], Abhinav Dwivedi at (407) 275-0013 or e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ymcco.com or www.awgp.org The Shiv Dham Hindu Temple can be reached at (407) 380-2661.

	Sheela Ranganathan

This year of the year, most sixth-graders are gearing up for Christmas holidays. But not Sheela Ranganathan of Liberty Middle School in Tampa. Come Dec. 6-7, the 11-year-old will be traveling to Tokyo to take part in an international student conference to discuss education.

Kumon, an after-school math and reading program, is celebrating its 50th anniversary during which 15,000 students, instructors and staff from 45 countries will attend.

Sheela began Kumon at 5 years of age and completed the entire math and reading programs before turning 11. She is the first student in North America to achieve the feat before entering middle school.

Included in Sheela's final level of study for the math program were the topics of differential calculus, indefinite/definite integrals and differential equations and interpretation/critique of literature for reading.

Sheela's father, Ranga Ranganathan, is a University of South Florida distinguished professor of computer science. Her mother, Radhika, is a Wesley Chapel pediatrician.

Sheela's hobbies include playing the piano, tennis and Indian vocals and dance. She looks to become a surgeon.

Forty-eight cricket clubs from the United States, India, Pakistan, Australia, West Indies, etc. will compete in the US T20 Cricket Tournament '09 April 5-12 in South Florida. The winner of the tourney, which will see 1,000 cricketers on hand, will receive $100,000 from the Cricket Council USA. Also, thousands of cricket fans will flock to watch the matches.

Miramar Regional Park, Brian Piccolo Park, Lauderhill Sports Park, CCUSA's Cricket Field and the Cricket Stadium at Central Broward Regional Park are the venues for the tourney.

Headquartered in Delray Beach, Cricket Council USA is a professional sports and entertainment management organization that seeks to promote 20/20 cricket in the U.S.

For more information, call (561) 361-1700 or visit www.cricketcouncilusa.com

More than 10,000 people from Florida, neighboring states and places as far as New York and Boston attended the 21st annual Nov. 8 India Festival, which was organized by the Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay.

Forty two teams from the southeast United States participated in competitions for Indian folk dances, Bhangra, Garba, Raas and classical dances. Almost all universities in the Sunshine State were represented, some with many items.

"The Voice of Florida" singing competition conducted with support of the Pandit Jasraj School of Music provided an added touch to the entertainment extravaganza. First-prize winner was Karisha Shah and second-prize winner was Aamir Ismail.

Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Florida was the chief guest. Chairman Dr. Nandkishor Shah thanked the Congressman for his continuous support for India and especially for him being a strong proponent of India's bid for a permanent United Nations Security Council seat. Bilirakis spoke about the importance of closer Indo-U.S. ties.

About 15 restaurants catered a variety of delicious dishes to thousands. Exotic juices and Ice creams were an additional treat.

A new feature this year was the "Community Health Education Initiative." People received health screening and education in a designated area of the USF SunDome.

Lonely Planet's (www.lonelyplanet.com) Bluelist is back. But it's now called Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009 ($22.99, paperback) and takes a look at 850 of the world's hottest trends, destinations, journeys and experiences.

In a special feature on Water, the 242-pager mentions India's Chadar Ice Trek as being the only way to reach Zanskar, an isolated inhabited valley in Ladakh's Himalayas. "This is a serious five- to eight-day expedition, but the rewards are caves, monasteries and towering mountain viewpoints where everyone else isn't," according to the authors. Of course, the Kumbh Mela, where 70 million pilgrims converge, is among the Planet's best soaking celebrations. The next Kumbh Mela will be in March-April 2010.

What are among the most spine-tingling commutes? Rickshaw in Old Delhi. "The traffic creates a chorus all of its own: hooting horns and ringing bells is important, not only to warn other road users, but for the sheer joy of being noisy," the staff notes.

The Taj Mahal in Agra naturally counts among the best places of rest. Mahatma Gandhi's salt satyagraha for independence is considered among the great turning points in history.

Mumbai as the capital of India? Why not, ask the authors? "If population size, cultural importance and financial clout were gauges to judge what makes a capital city, then Mumbai would be up there with the best of them."

Leave your two-man tent and paraffin store at home, says Lonely Planet, if you want to have some "cool" fun. As at Camel Camp. "There are also 50 mobile tents that can be taken on camel safari into the dunes of the Thar Desert."

For deep thinking, the authors pick Delhi's "profoundly rich culture." And if you are feeling blue, head off to Jodhpur to visit the Mehrangarh Fort.

And finally, Delhi again makes the list, this time as a weird, wacky or simply wonderful "Eccentri-City." The authors note, "It's a peculiar balance of past and present - and since Delhi doesn't stop for anyone, who knows what will change next."

Bon voyage.

	Dev Patel and Anil Kapoor star in "Slumdog Millionaire."

This is no ordinary film. Trust us on this one.

A winner of the 2008 Toronto Film Festival People's Choice Award, "Slumdog Millionaire" is the story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), an 18- year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering Rs. 20 million on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?"

But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika (Freido Pinto), the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions.

Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show?

The 120-minute film is directed by Danny Boyle ("Trainspotting," "Shallow Grave," "Millions") and produced by Christian Colson. Based on the novel "Q&A" by Vikas Swarup, it is co-directed (India) by Loveleen Tandan with screenplay by Simon Beaufoy.

It stars Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor and Irrfan Khan.

For more information, visit www.foxsearchlight.com/slumdogmillionaire

The Hindu Society of North East Florida in Jacksonville celebrated Children's Day in November. Every year, the temple organizes fun activities for the children to participate and enjoy. This year, a Car Wash was arranged.

More than 25 children with the help of some parents helped in washing about 15 cars and vans, collecting nearly $150, which was donated to the temple. All the participating children received a certificate from the Hindu Society.

The new Carrollwood Cultural Center in Tampa provided a brilliantly lit backdrop for the occasion that was quickly filled to capacity. The welcome address laid emphasis on Pehchaan as a psychosocial organization (and not a women's organization) that wishes to cater to the entire community. Its broad vision was spelled out as achievable smaller goals. A brief history along with the challenges faced thus far was outlined.

The first half of the program offered mesmerizing dances. 'Triveni Sangam' (the confluence of the three rivers) brought together three classical dance forms of India: Bharatnatyam from Tamil Nadu, Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh and Odissi from Orissa. The solo artists performed in sequence and then emerged together in a stunning yet graceful rendition of unification. 'Sadhanipa,' a fusion dance choreographed to Ravi Shankar's music, set the stage ablaze.

Later, a brief keyboard recital was followed by an English play "Shades of Love." It was a contemporary drama written to raise awareness of social behaviors that are prevalent among the South Asian American community. It served to highlight the sensitive issues of racism, sexism and social politeness that mask insincere and unauthentic attitudes.

The fundraiser was a success on a couple of fronts. Pehchaan did reach its financial goal. But more importantly, gained visibility in the community. Hopefully, this will harvest a greater response to its business activities such as the psycho-educational workshops it offers quarterly. It also will serve as an impetus to launch new initiatives that are already in the plans.

We want to establish a referral service, start a crisis hotline with proper training for the volunteers, begin a domestic violence prevention program, hold film and book discussions, and begin support groups for various classifications of people. None of this would have been possible without the staunch support of the donors, both private individuals and community services, as well as the patrons who attended the event.

DIWALI CELEBRATED WITH FUN AND FESTIVITY AT TAMPA BAPS SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR
Story provided by BAPS

"Diwali is my favorite festival because of the excitement that fills the air when the festival nears. But having recently migrated to U.S., I did not know what to expect." said Raju Patel. "But after coming to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Tampa, I felt the same excitement, fun and festivity I used to experience in India."

"Diwali is that time of the year when family, friends and relatives get together and strengthen their bonds through various festivities. Being away from India should not cause a lapse in our traditions," said Chirag Patel. "Preparations for the festivities begin months in advance.

Devotees, young and old, sacrifice their time to help in creating decorations, food preparation, children's Diwali celebration arrangements, as well as decorating for the most significant ritual of Diwali, the Annakut," concluded Amitbhai Patel.

Both for children and adults, fireworks during Diwali remain the main attraction. The celebration climaxed with a 30-minute fireworks show. Also attending the celebrations was Dr. Kiran C. Patel. Wishing everyone a happy new year, he commented on the dedication behind BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.

This year, His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj celebrated Diwali and Annakut in Gondal, Gujarat. He blessed the devotees on the New Year day. In his blessings, he said, "Everyone's devotion could be seen today. If we develop Dharma and Bhakti in our hearts, then God becomes pleased and thus He graces us with His blessings."

For more details, visit www.baps.org

	Amol Nirgudkar

Americans today are experiencing the worst economic crisis of our generation. Our financial markets are suffering historic losses, banks are going under, the real estate market is crumbling, the unemployment rate is climbing, and almost $1 trillion of our taxpayer dollars have been allocated to bailout Wall Street. The word "crisis" has literally become the new "mantra" of news reporting. Turn on any news channel, and at the top of each hour, there is breaking news of yet another economic debacle.

The crisis on "Wall Street" has ended up affecting all of us on "Main Street" even though most of us had nothing to do with the greed and irresponsibility that created this problem in the first place.

Seventy-eight percent of Americans disapprove of the job that Congress is doing, and only 17 percent of Americans believe that our country is headed in the right direction. It comes as no surprise that the recent election results have given a clear mandate for "change" and the new president certainly has his work cut out for him.

In facing uncertain financial times, it is more important than ever to protect the assets you have already worked so hard to accumulate. Your home, savings, children's education fund and future earnings could be at jeopardy unless affirmative steps are taken to safeguard them from creditors' claims. Fortunately, there is much that can be done to build a fortress around your valuables; however, the key is to get your plan in place before financial problems arise.

Once your business fails, you lose your job, or your investment property is foreclosed on, your asset protection options shrink considerably. Like life insurance, you need to have a sound asset protection plan in place before you have a disaster staring you in the face.

So, what is asset protection planning? In short, asset protection planning is a process of using legal methods to organize your assets, affairs and business structures to shield your assets from potential creditors and reduce the likelihood of being the target of a lawsuit.

While we cannot provide exact details on how to protect your assets in this short forum, and given that every situation is different, protection techniques generally fall into three categories: (i) state and federal exemption laws, (ii) domestic entities such as trusts and limited liability companies, and (iii) offshore planning. With respect to the first category, we Floridians have numerous laws that we can use to protect our homes, retirement accounts and even our wages.

It is important, however, to understand not only the rule, but also the exceptions to these rules. For example, if your primary residence is located within city limits, it is not fully protected under Florida's Constitution unless it is one-half acre or less. Additionally, trusts, which come in numerous types, do not automatically guarantee protection to the beneficiaries. Likewise, limited liability companies that are not properly structured may do little or nothing to shield your assets.

As previously mentioned, there is no "one size fits all" solution to protecting your assets. That is the reason it is important to engage a competent attorney who specializes in this area and who can explain both the positives and negatives of any technique they recommend. We recommend that you sit down with your CPA, make a comprehensive list of your assets, and jointly meet with an expert attorney to put things in place.

The time to act is NOW!

Amol Nirgudkar, CPA, is the managing partner of Reliance Consulting LLC. Adam O. Kirwan, J.D., LL.M. is the founder of the Kirwan Law Firm and the author of the book, "The Florida Asset Protection Guide." Both and have worked together in helping their clients with asset protection. Nirgudkar can be reached at [email protected] and Kirwan at [email protected]

Here are a few of the new/redesigned rides for 2009. Happy and safe motoring.

	Acura TL

ACURA TL

The fourth-generation midsize luxury sedan has been totally redesigned.

This translates into a 6-inch increase in length, 1.8-inch overall width, 0.5-inch overall height, 1.4-inch longer wheelbase, 1.1- and 1.8-inch wider track in front and rear, respectively.

Power trains are a 3.5-liter V-6 cylinder (280 horsepower) and a 3.7-liter V-6 cylinder (305 hp) engine. The car gets its first-ever SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel drive) system. A 5-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the robust steering wheel is standard.

We can bet the all-new TL will give the competition a run for the money. Base price: $34,955. Web site: www.acura.com

	Honda Pilot

HONDA PILOT

Like the TL, which is owned by the luxury division of Honda, the Japanese carmaker also has redesigned its second-generation Pilot.

Its wheelbase has been boosted by 2.9 inches, horsepower by 6, torque by 13, total interior volume by 4.1 cubic feet, overall length by 2.9 inches, and width and height by 1 inch each.

Available as an all-wheel-drive or front-wheel-drive system, the midsize SUV offers a carlike ride, which is quieter than its predecessor.

The 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine packs 250 horsepower at 5700 rpm. The eight-passenger ride is equipped with a Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system, which operates in three or four cylinder modes to save fuel.

A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard. Base price: $27,595. Web site: www.honda.com

	Nissan GTR

NISSAN GTR

Motor Trend and Automobile magazines have picked this all-new ride as their Car of the year. Sold in Japan as the Skyline GT-R, this fifth generation of the legendary N supercar is equipped with a 3.8-liter V-6 twin-turbo engine (480 horsepower).

A 6-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive and 20-inch wheels are standard. The beast accomplishes 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.5 seconds.

Automobile magazine editor-in-chief Jean Jennings sums it up beautifully: "What we love about the GT-R is that it refuses to compromise. It is not comfortable. It is not trying to make friends and it is not trying to influence people. It exists for one reason only 'to go fast' and it does."

Base price: $76,840. Web site: www.nissanusa.com

	Ford Flex

FORD FLEX

Sometimes, it pays to be daring. Like the midsize SUV from Ford. Call it boxy, sure, but the ride has certain flair to it.

Available as a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the all-new Flex is one of the most passenger-friendly SUVs on the market. A sole 3.5-liter engine cranks out 262 horsepower at 6250 rpm. A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard.

The two-tone exterior tone is an eye-catcher. Ford has the right SUV to try to bring a turnaround in its sales figures. Now, if only the struggling carmaker had a few more vehicles like the Ford in its stable.

Base price: $28,295. Web site: www.ford.com

	Lincoln MKS

LINCOLN MKS

The all-new MKS is the new flagship for Lincoln. And rightly so. Available as a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the full-size luxury sedan is equipped with a sole 3.7-liter V-6 engine. The responsive power train develops 275 horsepower at 6250 rpm.

Standard is a 6-speed automatic transmission. Apart from the captivating double-wing grille with a centered Lincoln star on the exterior are numerous comfort and high-end tech features packed into the well-appointed cabin.

Base price: $37,665. Web site: www.lincoln.com
Motoring Tampa Bay Web Site

Have you opened a new store or restaurant in the last six months? Expanding or relocating? Has your business won an award or a mention in your local newspaper? We want to hear from you. Call Nitish S. Rele at (813) 758-1786 or e-mail us at [email protected]

SPICE OF INDIA IN HOLIDAY CELEBRATES 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Spice of India in Holiday recently completed its one-year anniversary. In fact, it's been open for 15 months. The 3,000-square-foot grocery store touts, "quality, service, a vast selection of Indian beers and fish." Fresh vegetables arrive every Friday.

The store is at 3315 U.S. 19 in Holiday. It is open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (727) 815-0831 or visit www.spiceofindiaholiday.com

TABLA BAR & GRILL RECEIVES RAVE REVIEWS

The relatively new Tabla Bar & Grill in Orlando has received rave reviews from the media. Scott Joseph, who reviewed restaurants in Central Florida for Orlando Sentinel, lavishes praise on Tabla & Grill on his web site: http://scottjosephorlando.com/

"The food and the service are first-rate," he writes. "The cuisine is authentic and the staff is welcoming and friendly and they go out of their way to do a little extra." Joseph forewarns that lack of a sign outside the eatery hinting it's an Indian restaurant shouldn't sway anyone. "Tabla is a good Indian restaurant �," he says.

Tabla Bar & Grill is at 5827 Caravan Court in Orlando. For information, call (407) 248-9400 or visit www.tablabar.com

TANDOOR OPENS IN LEESBURG

Another restaurant catching everyone's attention is Tandoor inside Lake Square Mall in Leesburg. Rosalind Jennings recently wrote about the eatery's soft opening in The Orlando Sentinel.

It offers "a variety of vegetable specialty dishes, chicken, lamb, seafood, appetizers and Indian breads," she writes.

The restaurant will feature a full bar and menu, furniture imported from India and other d�cor, she notes, when it has its grand opening this month.

For details, call (352) 323-0078.

BENGAL CUISINE OPENS IN MIAMI

Bengal Modern Indian Cuisine in Miami is now open. It offers a contemporary Indian menu with a few Bengali touches, writes Linda Bladholm in The Miami Herald. "Meats, all halal, include lamb chops, goat curry and yogurt-marinated, grilled steak." Bladholm found home-style cooking she was craving for in the vegetable options such as the veg thali, mattar paneer, shobji, aloo gobi and spiced mashed eggplant.

Bengal Modern Indian Cuisine is at 2010 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. It is open daily for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for dinner from 5 to 10:30 p.m. For information, call (305) 403-1976.

	SRI NITHYA MEDHANANDA SWAMI

MEDITATION � PART IV

By SRI NITHYA MEDHANANDA SWAMI

Q: As I am meditating, I am feeling as if I am getting detached from my family. Please help me.

A. Please understand that with meditation you experience unconditional love with which you not only love your own family but also everyone else. Until then, your love is not true love. You love only those people that you like. If there is any difference of opinion with the other person your love toward that person also disappears. Once you start meditating, unconditional love starts flowering in you. With this, you start loving everyone truly. This unconditional love has no barriers. If you see the life of enlightened Masters, they love everyone equally. That is the consciousness of God. That is why all enlightened Masters are called God.

Meditation or spirituality never makes anyone detached either from the family or the world. We should not blame spirituality for some other reasons.

Q: What makes one spiritual? Why only some people are able to understand spirituality and not others?

A: The reason why people are not able to experience enlightenment is that ego is standing between us and the ultimate experience of enlightenment. Ego means that 'I am in control of everything.' When people think that they are able to control everything, they will never be convinced by spirituality. This is exactly what ego means. Ego makes one separate from the existence. As long as one is stuck with ego, one cannot appreciate spirituality.

Spirituality means having a deep understanding that there is a super consciousness or cosmic energy, which is omnipresent. This cosmic energy is the supreme consciousness that creates, sustains and rejuvenates. This very understanding makes one to surrender. That is why if you see in our life, we think about God only when we are in trouble. When people face some misfortune in life, that time they turn spiritual. That is the time they realize that things are not in their control.

In Mahabaratha, Kunthi asks Lord Krishna to give them more difficulties so that they can be close to God. This is exactly what Jesus means when he says, "Blessed are the people those who suffer."

Q: Is meditation easy or difficult to practice?

A: Meditation is neither easy nor difficult. Being in a meditative state is our true nature. Not being in the meditative state is difficult, which causes disease and eventually leads to disease. Asking this question is like asking 'is it easy or difficult for a fish to swim?'

Q: Why it is difficult to experience Ananda, our true nature?

A: If you observe carefully, our life has become goal oriented and society respects only if you are an achiever. One will be looked down if one is not an achiever. People use the same approach to experience Ananda too.

Q: When I go to a temple or a meditation program, my mind relaxes but when I come back to my regular life I am back to normal. Do I need to leave my job to do meditation?

A: No, you do not need to leave your job or family to meditate. One should live in the society and practice meditation. One needs to have best of the outer and the inner world too. You should not relinquish one for the other.

Sri Nithya Medhananda Swami is a direct disciple of Paramahamsa Nithyananda. Medhananda conducts meditation programs all over the world and currently he is the vice-president of International Vedic Hindu University at Orlando. He can be reached at [email protected]
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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.
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FINANCE SECTION
Finance | Financial advice | Immigration | Special Needs | Accounting | Business | Labor Law | Asset Protection

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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

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