Vaikunda Ekadasi and Goda Kalyanam Celebration at Sri Meenakshi Temple
PEARLAND: On a warm and beautiful wintery morning more than 500 devotees gathered and eagerly weaved their way in a winding queue to enter through a special door for the darshan of Lord Narayana, resplendent on the Garuda Vahana (mythical bird that is the mount of the Lord) with Sridevi (Mahalakshmi) and Bhoodevi (Mother Earth). […]
New Year Celebrations 2014 at Sri Meenakshi Temple

By Chandana Golla and Akilan Gopal PEARLAND: Sri Meenakshi Temple Society (MTS) started off this New Year with a day of celebration and prayer, bringing in almost 7000 devotees. Starting as early as midnight, devotees arrived to perform special Archanas and receive blessings from gods for the New Year. The morning started with Ganesha Homam […]
India House : Dream to Reality

By Dr. Virendra Mathur HOUSTON: India House was a dream of the first few Indian American immigrants to Houston which started taking shape in June 2000, when a 10 acre land was purchased by India Culture Center in Southwest Houston. After a few challenges, it became obvious that a separate entity will have to take […]
Sri Govindaji Gaudiya Matha A New Year Celebration in a New Temple

HOUSTON: Sri Govindaji Gaudiya Matha welcomed the New Year with a beautiful ‘Bhajan Sandhya’ (devotional singing), aarati and a sumptuous prasadam feast. Over several hundred attended in the newly constructed 15,000 square foot temple. There was much to be grateful for and much to celebrate. Last year was wonderful and the coming year promises to […]
“Thee” – Terrific Tamil Music Video Released by an all Houston Team Led by Mahalakshmi Krishnan

By Nalini Sadagopan HOUSTON: Setting fire to the music scene in Houston is the new music video “Thee” – which translates to “Fire” – released by the popular play back singer Mahalakshmi and her team. Mahalakshmi – who has made Houston her recent home since 2010 – is a musical breeze that has swept town […]
New Indian Customs Forms for All Passengers in 2014

HOUSTON: According to press reports, with the new year, new rules are in store for travelers to India. All passengers will have to fill in a new customs form on their arrival but returning Indians will no longer have to fill out immigration forms. Indians will only have to fill in the immigration form when […]
Japa Retreat 2013 at Hare Krishna Dham by ISKCON Houston

By Swathi Murali HOUSTON: The holiday season is filled with many happy occasions where people gather together to celebrate love, life and happiness. For devotees of Hare Krishna Dham Houston, this holiday season was made even more special due to the Japa retreat conducted by His Holiness Romapada Swami. Chanting the names of God is […]
IMAGH Organizes Seniors Picnic

HOUSTON: Club 65 members, an umbrella organization of Indian Muslims of Greater Houston, got together at Discovery Green, to bid adieu to 2013, and have some fun and build camaraderie. Discovery Green is a twelve acre park and activity center in the heart of downtown Houston. Its oak trees are more than 100 years old […]
The New OFBJP President Unveils Plans for – “Mission 2014 – BJP 272 Plus”

TAMPA, FL: Chandrakant Patel, a well-known Indian American community activist from Tampa, Florida, took over the responsibility as the President of Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) in USA from January 01, 2014. OFBJP is the biggest chapter of the Bharatiya Janata Party outside of India. Chandrakant Patel has been leading several ethnic Indian organizations, temple […]
Bharathiar and Avvaiyar Visit BKM Houston’s General Body Meeting with a Message

HOUSTON: Bharathi Kalai Manram, Houston’s own Tamil organization, celebrated the completion of the current year with the General Body Meeting at Sri Meenakshi Temple on Sunday December 15. During the meeting, Partha Krishnaswamy was officially confirmed as President. Partha thanked the outgoing board (led by Raja Amrithalingam). The meeting was followed with a talent show […]
Sweet Srimad Bhagavatam Showers Drench Listeners from Houston and Around USA

MANVEL: The daily evening shower of nectar in the Pearland area was the highlight of the 7-day Srimad Bhagavata Saptaha Mahotsava organized by Global Organization for Divinity (G.O.D.) from Dec 21-27. The nectar was the heavenly Bhagavatam and Krishna katha showered on all the fortunate listeners by Sri Ramanujam ji, disciple of His Holiness Maharanyam […]
UH Chancellor Renu Khator Named Deputy Chair of Dallas Fed Board

WASHINGTON, DC: Dr. Renu Khator, chancellor of the University of Houston System and president of the University of Houston, has been named deputy chair of the Dallas Federal Reserve branch for 2014. She has served on the Dallas Fed’s board since 2011. The Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13 made the appointments […]
Airport Design Expert and Civil Engineer Adil Godiwalla, 72, Passes Away
By Amy Godiwalla KLEIN, TX: Adil Godiwalla, whose name was synonymous with the Houston Airport system for many years and whose smiling countenance endeared him to many in the engineering and construction profession in the Bayou City passed away on Monday, December 16, 2013 in his home in Klein, a far northern suburb of Houston, […]
YLDP Holds Valuable Session with Judge Sandill
By Suvi Jain HOUSTON: On Saturday, December 21, the students of YLDP had the incredible opportunity to attend a session held by Judge Ravi K. Sandill at Houston’s Court House. For the past 5 years, Sandill has been a judge at the 127th District Court. He has the distinction of being the first South Asian […]
Shunya Announces its Twelfth Season

HOUSTON: Shunya Theatre, Houston’s own South Asian theatre troupe, closed 2013 by announcing its twelfth season. The 2014 season features three plays to activate the neurons, tug the heart strings, and tickle the funny bones of artists and audience members of all shapes and sizes. In April 2014 Shunya will present Shane Sakhrani’s “A Widow […]
Be Careful of OCI Card Requirements at Airports for India Travel
By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: Many passengers are getting a rude shock when they try to board on their flights to India this holiday season, according to local travel agent Homi Davier of Xpert Tours. They are being denied boarding onto their flights due to an overlooked formality relating to the OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) […]
JVB Preksha Center Presents Raja Harishchandra
HOUSTON: JVB Preksha Meditation Center is preparing to present – Raja Harishchandra – A play in Hindi – An epic tale of The Power of Truth. The upcoming play is the 5th in the series of previously appreciated performances. It is scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 11 at 5:00 PM at Cullen Performance […]
Kite Festival and Walk for Unity on Jan. 12
HOUSTON: Hindus from the greater Houston area will gather at the George Bush Park (16756 Westheimer Parkway off Westheimer) in Houston on Sunday, January 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to celebrate the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti in Hindu calendar. As a part of the tradition observed in India on this day, a […]
Sikh Activist Ends Hunger Strike for Release of Detainees
Compiled from news sources MOHALI, INDIA: A Haryana based Sikh farmer Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, who had been on hunger strike for 45 days, demanding the release of six fellow Sikhs who have been jailed since the 1990s during the period of the deadly Sikh separatist movement, has been hospitalized in Shahbad Markanda Hospital for severe […]
With Projects All Across Texas, Shah Smith Builds an Impeccable Reputation

By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: When Ajay Shah and Jerry Smith left their steady jobs at a well-regarded consulting firm twenty years ago it was a with more than a little trepidation. “I had been with them for 18 years and Jerry about 10”, Shah said as he recalled those days of 12 and 14 hour […]