Vibha Holi 2019 Blends Culture, Color & Cause at India House Grounds
HOUSTON: Holi – the Indian Festival of colors signifies the advent of spring, the victory of good over evil, the joy of friendship, and equality for all. On Saturday, March 16th, on the grounds of India House, we saw a perfect blend of it all at Vibha Holi 2019. Despite the weather, the grounds were […]
Biggest Color Fest in USA! Masala Radio’s Houston Holi 2019
SUGAR LAND: In ancient hindu texts, the celebration of Holi came when the evil goddess Holika and her demon brother King Hiranyakashyap were defeated by the king’s good young son, Pralhad and his faith in Lord Vishnu. The all-women Masala Radio management team of Houston Holi 2019 kept the same faith, despite all challenges. Masala […]
‘Hotel Mumbai’ Re-creates Terrorist Attack with Echoes of Today
The most chilling thing about the events depicted in “Hotel Mumbai” is not that they actually happened, not even that they could happen again, but that they are happening even as we speak. A somber, unsettling drama about the 2008 attack on India’s largest city by jihadi terrorists from Pakistan cuts so close to the […]
Geetanjali Radio Hosts Its Annual Fundraising Gala
BY DR. SARITA MEHTA HOUSTON: Shoba Joshi and her son Hiren Joshi’s Geetanjali Radio show hosted its Annual Appreciation & Fundraising Gala on March 15 at India House. The was attended by like-minded guests, music lovers and supporters gathered to enjoy the fun-filled musical evening. The evening was filled with melodious live singing anchored by […]
One Sarita Speaks of Hindi Poetry to the Gujarati Sahitya Sarita
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA SUGAR LAND: The Gujarati Sahitya Sarita held its regular monthly meeting this past Sunday afternoon, March 17 at the Sugar Land Community Center and had a confluence of thoughts and ideas with those of its chief guest, the noted Hindi poetess and writer, Dr. Sarita Mehta. The GSS is an institution of […]
Theatrical Company MIST Lives Up to Expectations Again with “Ron”
BY SANCHALI BASU HOUSTON: The theatrical company MIST (Masks, Issues, & Stages Traversed) came through again with their much awaited latest production “Ron,” at the Matchbox in Midtown during March 2 and 3. The word ‘Ron’ means war in Bengali, which is the theme of the entire play which revolves around the conflict and emotions […]
Houston Maharashtra Mandal’s “Janata Raja” Enactment on Chhatrapati Shivaji Draws Rave Reviews
BY VARSHA HALABE HOUSTON: “Janata Raja”, the brain child of Shiv Shaheer Babasaheb Purandare, was presented in all its glory in Houston, as a fund raiser for Houston Maharashtra Mandal’s Vastu Project at the Stafford Center on March 9, 2019. This is a play depicting the life of Chhatrapati Shivajiraje Bhosale who established the Maratha […]
Tiger Ball 2019: Celebrates Asia Society Houston’s 40th Anniversary
HOUSTON: This year, the Asia Society’s fabulously decorated Tiger Ball was held in memory of Founding Member Barbara Bush. The event also recognized honorees Phoebe and Bobby Tudor and was co-chaired by Michelle and Hector Herrera and Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron, as well as honorary chairs Hushang and Shahla Ansary, Maria and Neil […]
Tamil Nadu Foundation Celebrates an Enchanting Valentine’s Day
HOUSTON: Tamil Nadu Foundation’s Houston Chapter celebrated Valentine’s Day during an afternoon of camaraderie among friends, highlighted by an artistic extravaganza of dances, interludes of music by Sargam Melodies, fashion show of hidden talents by local artists, and gestures of appreciation to service and seniority, over delicious treats of coffee, tea and snacks. The event […]
Houston Maharashtra Mandal to Present Historical Play on Shivaji
HOUSTON: The Houston Maharashtra Mandal (HMM) will present on stage an epic play titled Janata Raja (The Wise King) on Saturday, March 9 at Stafford Centre on Cash Road. The play is a dramatic presentation of the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji, a warrior-king (1627-1680 AD), who founded the Maratha kingdom in the western region of […]
King of Drama Captivates the Hearts of Mehfil with Local Talent
BY DR. SARITA MEHTA STAFFORD: The much awaited variety show, Dilwalon ki Mehfil (A Gathering of Heartful Souls) produced by the well-known local icon Indervadan Trivedi, better known affectionately as ‘Masterji’, was presented on Saturday, January 12 to an adoring audience at the Old Stafford Community Center on Constitution Avenue. Masterji, who is also the […]
War and Peace: A workshop by Bangladeshi artists
By Pallavi Chattopadhyay A large tent made entirely of newspapers welcomes visitors at Akar Prakar gallery with colourful drawings of picturesque landscapes. There are calm rivers, boats quietly floating on their surface, and the brimming sun smiling from far behind. Bringing in a dose of childhood nostalgia, its interiors are full of showpieces and wall hangings […]
Reading the Fine Print
The Museum of Peace, which is located within the Sarhad restaurant complex, less than two kms from the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar, is arguably India’s first open-air, walk-through, storytelling museum, with no entry fee. It has 48 large panels mounted on high pedestals that depict pre-Partition Punjab in three sections, beginning with the rule of […]
‘Women’s Collective needs to go beyond holding a placard’
By Alaka Sahani Last year, Sanal Sasidharan was in the news for his fight against the removal of his movie S Durga from the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa. This year, the Kerala-based director is back at Film Bazaar with his latest feature film, Shadow of Water (Chola), which has […]
Talking Heads
By Vandana Kalra When Adwaita Gadanayak took over as the Director General of the National Gallery of Modern Art in 2016, he was introduced to its vast collection. In the coming months, he realised that it included several works that have rarely been exhibited. “The huge collection is meant to be shared with the public,” says […]
On the road less travelled
By Vandana Kalra A four-hour road journey from Itanagar leads you to the Ziro valley, which is home to the Apa Tani tribe. They claim common ancestry with Abo Tani, who, they say, was the first human being on earth. It is with them that filmmaker and photographer Anu Malhotra began her quest to document tribal […]
A Theatre That Never Goes Dark
By Alaka Sahani On November 5, 1978, Prithvi Theatre Workshop opened its doors to the audience for the first time with the theatre group Majma staging the play Udhwast Dharmshala, featuring Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah. “I don’t have memories of the performance but I do remember that for the first time we had a jam-packed house […]
‘An artist is always questioning his choices’
Engaging with the works of Marcel Odenbach demands attention and complete immersion. The 65-year-old’s oeuvre — considered pioneering in German video art — explores the difficult themes of migration, social repression of minorities and creation of conventional gender roles, while also reflecting on the nature of the medium itself. The exhibition ‘Stille Bewegungen/Tranquil Motions’, which […]
World Showcase
While Ambiente 2019, world’s definitive trade fair for dining, gifting and living to be held in Frankfurt, will have India as Partner Country for the first time in its 70-year history, designers Ayush Kasliwal and Sandeep Sangaru are revving up their creative motors to plan the designer arena and cafe, respectively. Last week, India’s Ministry […]
Chalchitra & Patachitra – the fading art forms which form the backdrop of Durga Puja
By Shreya Das KOLKATA: When one thinks about Durga Puja, more than the celebrations and festivities, it’s the plethora of art and talent that is the soul of the biggest festival of Bengalis. At the heart of the festival is the relentless efforts of thousands of artists working day and night to bring together this festival. One […]
