Long Island's cultural festival

The India Association of Long Island (IALI) hosted its "IndiaFest2009" celebration Aug. 2 at the Hungtington Hilton in Melville, Suffolk County.

"About 8,000 to 9,000 people attended the celebrations in spite of the rains," Dr. Anila Midha, IALI president, told Desi Talk. "The response was fantastic; the people just were pouring in."

This was the second consecutive year the organization held the event, described at the "largest showcase of Indian culture on Long Island" in an indoor venue.

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Guru Poornima is celebrated at ashram in New Jersey

The Shri Yoga Vedanta Ashram in Matawan, N.J., hosted a 108 Kund Maha Yagya as part of its annual Guru Poornima celebrations July 12.

The full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad is observed as Guru Poornima. The day is dedicated to the great sage Ved Vyasa and celebrates the sacred bond between the guru and the disciple.

More than a 1,000 people attended the celebrations, a press release said.

During the yagya, offerings of ghee and other holy ingredients were made to the fire while mantras were chanted.

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‘Mahatma Gandhi's legacy is vital in today's world'

The legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, whose non-violent struggle led to an independent India and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom around the globe, is vital in today's world where the rights of too many people are still violated, top United Nations officials said on October 2, the Mahatma's birthday.

Marking the second annual International Day of Non-violence UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that this year's celebration falls during the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Among those present was India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

There is a profound philosophical connection between the fundamental principles of human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration and those practiced by Mahatma Gandhi," Ban told a ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York.

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‘The Dragon's Gift' at Rubin Museum of Art: a glimpse of reclusive Bhutan

In its regulated lifting of the veil that has draped the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan from the world's view so far, one major step is 'The Dragon's Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan' which is coming to the Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) in New York from September 19, 2008 - January 5, 2009, after its historic opening at the Honolulu Academy of Art early this year.

Organized by the Honolulu Academy of Arts and the Department of Culture, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs of the Royal Government of Bhutan, 'The Dragon's Gift' is a history making exhibition of rare religious Buddhist art with a special focus on ancient ritual Buddhist dances that have been preserved intact in Bhutan.

The exhibition will have its only east coast showing at RMA. Apart from its museum showings -- early this year in Honolulu, in New York, and in San Francisco in early 2009 -- there was a public celebration by the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall in Washington DC in the summer, over the June 29 and July 4 weekends.

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FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS - Global Diwali Celebrations

Diwali celebrations at the Flushing Library on Nov. 5 were organized with The Hindu Temple Society of North America. The festivities included community leaders lighting the traditional lamp and traditional dance performances. PHOTO LEFT, from left, NY State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Council Member John C. Liu; Dr. Uma Mysorekar, President, Hindu Temple Society of North America; Assemblymember Ellen Young and Uma Sengupta, Democratic District Leader of the 25th NY Assembly District.
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