FEBRUARY 2013
Khaas Baat : A Publication for Indian Americans in Florida

SIGNIFICANT DATES

FEB. 15: VASANT PANCHAMI

Events

TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER

FEB. 13-17: RAMAYANA-SHIVA-DURGA YAGNA; bhajans, Vedic chants and spiritual discourses by Pandit Anand Sukul of New York; Shree Ram Mandir, 7411 E. Comanche Ave., Tampa; 6 to 9:30 p.m. from Wednesday through Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday; for information, call Nick at (813) 334-0443 or Angela at (813) 265-3268.

FEB. 15-17: FOURTH ANNUAL INDIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (IIFF) OF TAMPA BAY; Centro Ybor, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa; for details, call Francis Vayalumkal at (813) 308-9797, e-mail francis@iifftampa.com or visit www.iifftampa.com

FEB. 17: “Ek Buja Nadta Rahiye;” Gujarati play; 6 p.m.; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; organized by Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay; free to Samaj members; non-members pay $10; for information, call Bhogilal Patel at (813) 784-6653, Sudhir Shah at (727) 686-7424 or visit www.gujaratisamaj.org

FEB. 20: 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.

FEB. 20-22: “GUIDANCE TO GRACE;” spiritual discourses by Swami Ishwarananda in English; free; 7:30 to 9 p.m.; Emerald Greens Golf Resort & Country Club clubhouse, Salon 1, 13903 Clubhouse Drive, Tampa; for information, call (813) 708-2999, e-mail hariom@chinmayaprasad.org or visit www.chinmayaprasad.org

FEB. 20: INDO-US CHAMBER’S MONTHLY BUSINESS & NETWORKING EVENT; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Homeowners Choice Insurance ballroom, 5300 W. Cypress St., Tampa; free; no RSVP required; for information, visit www.indo-us.org

MARCH 1: “HIDING DIVYA;” film screening and discussion followed by Q&A with writer- director Rehana Mirza; presented by Pehchaan in collaboration with Center for India Studies, USF; 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (92-minute film will start at 6 p.m.); USF College of Public Health Auditorium, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa; free admission; open to ages 16 and older; RSVP to pehchaantampabay@yahoo.com or debolina@mail.usf or
Manjusha Naik at (813) 842-8563 or Sapna Dembla at (813) 265-3225; for more information, visit: www.pehchaantampabay.org

MARCH 2: MUSICAL CONCERT; Ekal Vidyalaya fundraiser; singer Sanjeevani to be accompanied by singer Chirag, flute player Mohit Shastry, tabla player Amit Mehta and percussionist Rupesh; 5:30 p.m.; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road; tickets are $25 and include dinner/parking; free for FAPI and ICC members; for information, call Jawahar Taunk at (727) 480-3829 or e-mail jtaunk@tampabay.rr.com, or call Dr. Umesh Choudhry at (727) 507-0584.

MARCH 23: HOLI; organized by the Rajasthani group; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; for information, call Rashmi Jakhotia at (813) 962-4172.

MARCH 24: HOLI – FESTIVAL OF COLORS; presented by Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa; free entry and parking for Samaj members; water colors available for purchase; for information, call Bhogilal Patel at (813) 784-6653, Sudhir Shah at (727) 686-7424 or visit www.gujaratisamaj.org

APRIL 20: INTERNATIONAL CURRY FESTIVAL; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; more than $10,000 cash prizes to be awarded; $5 entry fee; a day before, on April 19, a VIP event will be held at same venue; VIP event tickets are $150 per person and $250 for two; for more information, call Sadhana Ramcharran at (727) 798-4258, Rashmi Jakhotia at (813) 962-4172 or visit www.tbicf.com

JUNE 11-15: DISCOURSE ON THE BHAGWAT GITA BY PANDIT RAJIN BALGOBIND; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; bhajans from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., followed by discourse, then mahaprasad at 9; third annual community event has been arranged by several Tampa Bay organizations; for more information, call (727) 460-2460 or (727) 798-4258.

LAKELAND

MARCH 3: MUSICAL CONCERT; Ekal Vidyalaya fundraiser; singer Sanjeevani to be accompanied by singer Chirag, flute player Mohit Shastry, tabla player Amit Mehta and percussionist Rupesh; 5:30 p.m.; Shree Swaminarayan Temple, 2793 New Tampa Highway; for details, call Nilesh K. Patel at (863) 853-9315 or (863) 688-3117.

ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY/APOPKA

FEB. 2: KEERTHANA (MUSICAL GALA NIGHT); presented by the Hindu Society of Central Florida (HSCF) in its community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; $20 per family; Indian American Youth Orchestra will perform; proceeds benefit HSCF; for information, call Guru Prasad at (321) 277-3724, Ganesh Ramachandran at (407) 970-5253, or e-mail keethanaband@gmail.com

FEB. 3: HSCF NEW AGE GROUP; Valentine’s Day party; 1:30 p.m.; Hindu Society of Central Florida community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; several games to be played; for information, contact Madan Arora at (407) 971-9259, Dev Sharma at (407) 862-9920 or email hscfnewagegroup@yahoo.com

FEB. 9: Thyagaraja Aaradhana music festival; Hindu Society of Central Florida, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; for more information, call Dr. Vasundhar Iyengar at (407) 876-7686, Girija Sundaram at (407) 977-7942 or HSCF office at (407) 699-5277.

FEB. 27: SPEAKER EVENT; presented by Indian American Chamber of Commerce; 6 to 8:30 p.m.; panel discussion on Affordable Health Care Act; for information, call Tino Patel at (407) 579-5050 or visit www.iaccorlando.com

FEB. 24: COMMUNITY YAGYA; 11 a.m.; Shri Shiv Dham Hindu Temple and Yogashram, 460 O’Berry Hoover Road, Orlando; for information, call (407) 380-2661, e-mail ymcco@yahoo.com or visit www.shivtemple.net 

SanjeevaniMARCH 1: MUSICAL CONCERT; Ekal Vidyalaya fundraiser; singer Sanjeevani to be accompanied by singer Chirag, flute player Mohit Shastry, tabla player Amit Mehta and percussionist Rupesh; 7 p.m.; Lyman High School, 865 S. Ronald Reagan Blvd., Longwood; free admission; for information, call Suresh Gupta at (407) 352-2889 or e-mail suresh@parksquarehomes.com

MARCH 9-10: MAHASHIVRATRI CELEBRATION; Hindu Society of Central Florida, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; all day and night pujas open to all; for more information, call (407) 699-5277 or visit www.hindutempleorlando.org

MARCH 8-10: MAHA SHIV RATRI PROGRAMS; Shri Shiv Dham Hindu Temple and Yogashram, 460 O’Berry Hoover Road, Orlando; for information, call (407) 380-2661, e-mail ymcco@yahoo.com or visit www.shivtemple.net 

MARCH 31: HOLI 2013; presented by Indian Horizon of Central Florida; Citrus Bowl, 1610 Church St., Orlando; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; parade begins at 11 at Sri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir; free; for information, call Hari Singh at (321) 662-1887 or Gopaul at (407) 520-7394.

OCALA/BELLEVIEW

FEB. 3: SATSANG; Pushtidham (Haveli of Florida), 14080 S.W. 20th Ave. Road, Ocala; 3 to 6 p.m.; for information, call Bharat at (973) 460-5936 or Raj Kamdar at (352) 568-5729.

FEB. 17: SATSANG; Pushtidham (Haveli of Florida), 14080 S.W. 20th Ave. Road, Ocala; 3 to 6 p.m.; for information, call Bharat at (973) 460-5936 or Raj Kamdar at (352) 568-5729.

FEB. 22: MUSICAL CONCERT; Ekal Vidyalaya fundraiser; singer Sanjeevani to be accompanied by singer Chirag, flute player Mohit Shastry, tabla player Amit Mehta and percussionist Rupesh; 8 p.m.; India Association Cultural & Educational Center, 2030 N.E. 36th Ave.; For details, call Dr. Nand Kishore Karve at (352) 237-3084 or e-mail karven@hotmail.com, or Dr. Anju Vasudevan at (352) 239-2532.

SPACE COAST (TITUSVILLE)

MARCH 24: HOLI; organized by the India Association of the Space Coast (IASC); Fox Lake Park, 4400 Fox Lake Road, Titusville; 2 to 6 p.m.; for information, e-mail patidar7@hotmail.com or visit www.iascbrevard.com

GAINESVILLE

MARCH 16: INDIA FEST & HEALTH FAIR 2013; presented by the India Cultural & Education Center; health fair will be 9 a.m. to noon and the festival will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Santa Fe Community College, Gymnasium (Building V), 3000 N.W. 83rd St., Gainesville; $5 admission, kids younger than 5 years of age are free; Indian food, dance, art, music, jewelry, clothing, henna; for information, call (352) 378-7112, e-mail indiafestgainesville@gmail.com or visit www.icec-florida.org

PUNTA GORDA

FEB. 24: SHOWCASE INDIA; organized by the Indian American Cultural Center; Charlotte Harbor Event Center (Hibsicus Hall), 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $10 per person plus $2 fee; $5 for children ages 5-12; for information, call (941) 286-8539 or e-mail iacci@yahoo.com or visit www.indian-american-cultural-center.org

MELBOURNE

INDIAFEST 2013MARCH 9-10: INDIAFEST 2013; presented by Manav Mandir; Wickham Pavilion, 3845 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; this year’s theme is “Celebrating 100 Years of Bollywood;” cultural shows, fashion shows, music, henna, arts and crafts, yoga demonstration, live Indian cooking demo; $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 12 and under and kids younger than 5 years of age are free; for more information, call Nina Gadodia at (321) 779-0110, Yasmin Majeed at (321) 720-8590, e-mail info@indiafestbrevard.org or visit www.indiafestbrevard.org

JACKSONVILLE

FEB. 24: MUSICAL CONCERT; Ekal Vidyalaya fundraiser; singer Sanjeevani to be accompanied by singer Chirag, flute player Mohit Shastry, tabla player Amit Mehta and percussionist Rupesh; Morocco Shrine Auditorium, 3800 St. Johns Bluff Road, Jacksonville; for information, call Sarath Kuravi at (904) 287-8334 or e-mail kuravis@gmail.com

TALLAHASSEE

FEB. 23: MUSICAL CONCERT; Ekal Vidyalaya fundraiser; singer Sanjeevani to be accompanied by singer Chirag, flute player Mohit Shastry, tabla player Amit Mehta and percussionist Rupesh; 6 to 10 p.m.; FSU Moore Auditorium; for information, call Srini Kishore at (850) 321-4705.

SOUTH FLORIDA (WEST PALM BEACH/SUNRISE/PEMBROKE PINES)

FEB. 16: 10th ANNUAL INDIAFEST; organized by Palm Beach India Association; free; starts at 11 a.m.; musical, dance and cultural performances; food, clothing, and craft vendors; and art exhibits; Meyer Amphitheater, 105 Evernia St., West Palm Beach; for details, visit www.sfindiafest.com or e-mail info@sfindiafest.com

FEB. 16-19: SPIRITUAL DISCOURSES AND WORKSHOPS BY SWAMI ISHWARANANDA; free, in English and open to the public; numerous locations in South Florida area; registration required; visit http://www.cmmiami.org/

FEB. 16: SARASWATI PUJO; organized by the Bengali Association of South Florida; Westpine Middle School, 9393 N.W. 50th St., Sunrise; daylong program starts at 12:30 p.m.; suggested donation of $20 for students; $30 for one person and $60 for family; for more information, call (954) 864-9388, e-mail sf.bengali@gmail.com or visit www.basfl.org

MARCH 2: MIAMI MAYHEM; intercollegiate garba/raas competition; hosted by University of Miami Indian Students Association; to benefit Sunil’s Home Charity; Julius Littman Performing Arts Theater, 17011 N.E. 19th Ave., North Miami Beach; 6 p.m. onward; tickets are $15 to $25 and can be purchased at www.miami-mayhem.com starting in mid-February; for information, call (630) 453-9383 or e-mail miami.mayhem@gmail.com

MARCH 2: TRIBUTE CONCERT TO PANDIT RAVI SHANKAR; presented by the Association of Performing Arts of India; featuring sitarist Kartik Seshadri and sarod player Alam Khan; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Amaturo Theater, 201 S.W. Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale; for tickets, which are $25-$45 for the concert and $30 for dinner after the performance, call (954) 462-0222; for more information, visit http://goo.gl/HHZJ2

MARCH 31: HOLI CELEBRATION PICNIC; organized by Indian Religious and Cultural Center (IRCC); C.B. Smith Park-Shelter No. 6, 900 N. Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; snacks, lunch and pizza to be served along with colors, games, music and dance and prizes; hot tea and ganthias for early birds; $7 for members and $15 for non-members; for information, call (954) 394-5661, e-mail board@irccflorida.com or visit www.irccflorida.com

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