The United States is experiencing the best of cultural assimilation, with American city mayors lighting ceremonial lamps in recognition of Diwali and Indian immigrant families shopping for Halloween décor items as well as costumes. The spirit of inclusivity is running high this festive season in New York and New Jersey, with Halloween being only 10 days away from Diwali (20 October). Just like “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, New York and New Jersey Indians are looking to soak in the thrills and scares of Halloween celebrations 2025 in America.

Best Halloween Events in New York & New Jersey: A Spooktacular Guide for 2025

Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, New York

The Greenwich Village Halloween Parade is the world’s largest Halloween parade, standing as a testament to New York City’s vibrant artistic spirit. Started in 1974, it now attracts over 80,000 costumed participants and more than 2 million spectators. This vibrant procession features giant puppets, marching bands, dancers, and a myriad of creative costumes. The theme for the 2025 Village Halloween parade in NY is “GLADIATOR II,” paying homage to the legacy of ancient Rome.

• Date: Friday, October 31, 2025
• Location: 6th Avenue from Canal Street to 15th Street, New York, NY
• Contact: info@halloween-nyc.com

Bronx’s Nightmare Before Christmas Halloween Festival

Step into a world of lights and fantasy at the Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail in the Bronx, one of the best Halloween events 2025 in New York for Tim Burton’s classic Disney movie lovers. Hosted at the New York Botanical Garden, this ticketed Halloween festival transforms the gardens into a glowing wonderland filled with animated pumpkins, spooky trees, and life-sized characters from the classic Tim Burton movie. Visitors walk through a one-mile trail dotted with dazzling lights, music, and interactive scenes that blend the spookiness of Halloween with the magic of Christmas, making it a must-visit Halloween attraction in New York.

• Dates: September 25 – November 30, 2025
• Place: New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY
• Contact: thenightmarebeforechristmaslighttrail.com

Halloween Harvest Festival 2025, Queens

The Halloween Harvest Festival at Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens is an annual family-friendly Hallowing celebration in New York. Visitors can enjoy pumpkin decorating, craft workshops, live music, and food vendors, all set against the park’s unique outdoor sculptures. One of the highlights is NYC’s second-largest dog costume contest, where creative and adorable pets strut their Halloween outfits. With free admission and a welcoming atmosphere, this is one of the best Halloween celebrations in New York even for Indian families.

• Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 (Rain date: October 26)
• Place: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, NY 11106
• Contact: 718-956-1819

Headless Horseman Haunted Halloween, Ulster Park, NY

The Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted Houses in Ulster Park, NY, is one of America’s most exciting Halloween destinations, running since 1992. Set on a historic 65-acre property in the Catskills, it features thrilling hayrides, six haunted houses, a corn maze, and spooky walking trails. Each year brings new themes and scares, and for 2025, visitors can expect expanded attractions and enhanced interactive experiences.

• Dates: September 20 – November 1, 2025
• Place: 778 Broadway (Route 9W), Ulster Park, NY 12487
• Contact: info@headlesshorseman.com

Pure Terror Halloween Scream Park, Monroe

Located just 40 miles from NYC, Pure Terror Scream Park in Monroe, is one of the most famous Halloween destinations in USA. Certified by Guinness World Records as the longest and scariest haunted house, and named USA TODAY’s Best Haunted Attraction in NY, this legendary Halloween destination features 10 massive haunted houses in one location. Visitors experience immersive Halloween thrills with cinematic sets, professional scare actors, and cutting-edge special effects.

• Dates: September 19 – November 2, 2025
• Place: 1010 NY-17M, Monroe, NY 10950
• Contact: (845) 300-4448

Great Jack O’Lantern Halloween Blaze, Croton-on-Hudson

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, is one of the most magical Halloween events in New York. Since 2005, this family-friendly Halloween festival has amazed visitors with over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins arranged in themed displays, including the Pumpkin Planetarium, Pumpkin Zee Bridge, and a pumpkin carousel. Drawing more than 170,000 attendees each year, it is a top Hudson Valley Halloween attraction for families and Halloween enthusiasts alike. This is a ticketed event and advance purchase is recommended.

• Dates: September 12 – November 16, 2025
• Location: Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
• Contact: (914) 631-8200

New Jersey’s Haunted Wild West City Halloween, Stanhope

Experience a spine-chilling adventure at Haunted Wild West Halloween in Stanhope, where the Old West meets Halloween thrills in New Jersey. This immersive event features a haunted train ride and a spooky walking trail, each brought to life with live actors and eerie storytelling. Open Friday and Saturday nights in October, the park transforms into a ghost town with Halloween decorations, tarot readings, and live music. Perfect for teens and adults, it is one of the most popular Halloween events in New Jersey for thrill-seekers.

• Dates: Fridays and Saturdays in October 2025
• Location: 50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope, NJ 07874
• Tickets: $25 online; $30 offline
• Contact: (973) 347-8900

Brookdale Halloween Celebration 2025, Lincroft, NJ

The best Halloween places to visit in New Jersey is Brookdale Haunted Theater at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. is a must-visit Halloween attraction in New Jersey. Celebrating its 22nd year in 2025, this ticketed award–winning indoor Halloween haunted house is designed, built, and operated by over 100 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. Themed mazes, pitch-black zones, and special effects create an immersive experience that has earned it the title – Best Overall Halloween Attraction in NJ – for seven consecutive years.

• Dates: October 10–12, 17–19, 24–26, 30, November 1–2, 2025
• Time: 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Location: 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ 07738
• Contact: (732) 224-2411

13th Hour Haunted House Halloween Celebration, Wharton, NJ

The 13th Hour Haunted House in Wharton, is among top Halloween attractions in New Jersey, offering an immersive experience with three haunted houses: House of Nightmares, The Attic, and The Darkside. Celebrating its 10th season in 2025, this paid indoor haunt event features movie-quality sets, special effects, and live actors. In addition to the haunted houses, visitors can enjoy nine themed escape rooms and the Haunted Hatchets attraction.

• Dates: Fridays and Saturdays in October 2025
• Location: 105 W Dewey Ave, Suite 5, Wharton, NJ 07885
• Contact: (862) 244-4454
• Website: 13thhour.com

Six Flags Great Adventure Halloween 2025, Jackson, NJ

Experience thrills at Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest 2025, running select nights from September 12 to November 2. This top Halloween event in New Jersey features haunted mazes inspired by The Conjuring, Saw, and Trick ‘r Treat, plus scare zones with ghost pirates and demonic clowns. Visitors can enjoy rides, including the new The Flash: Vertical Velocity coaster, while exploring spooky attractions for an unforgettable Halloween adventure.

• Dates: Select nights, September 12 – November 2, 2025
• Location: Jackson, NJ
• Contact: (732) 928-2000

The post Where to Celebrate Halloween in New York and New Jersey: List of Best Halloween Events in East Coast USA first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post Where to Celebrate Halloween in New York and New Jersey: List of Best Halloween Events in East Coast USA appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

With Diwali having entered the New York school holiday calendar, the Festival of Lights is now a public school holiday in both New York and New Jersey. Indian families are gearing up to celebrate the festival of lights at a number of Diwali 2025 events in New York and New Jersey, from Times Square to Garden City, from Ganesh Temple to BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, and from Bhakti Center to Brooklyn Children Museum. Diwali is one of the few Indian festivals, which is celebrated with great pomp and loads of enthusiasm from America to Australia.     

Like previous years, Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indians in the US, has compiled the best Diwali 2025 events in the East Coast US for you. If you have not planned your travel on last minute flights to India yet, you can celebrate Diwali with fellow Indians at any of the places listed below. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of IndianEagle.com, the most trusted air-ticketing partner of Indians in America.    

Times Square Diwali 2025, NYC

Times Square Diwali in New York is not just another event; it is the largest Diwali celebration in North America as described by the US media. Every year, this iconic festival lights up Manhattan with Bollywood glamour, dance, music, and fireworks. Over the years, the stage has welcomed celebrities like Shankar Mahadevan, Sukhbir, Jay Sean, and Mika Singh, who made the crowds dance to their beats.

Times Square will celebrate Diwali 2025 on 12 October. The list of celebrities and concerts has officially not been announced yet. But 2025 is the 10th anniversary of Diwali at Times Square, it is almost certain that some of the biggest names from Bollywood and beyond will join the celebration. Indians from the east coast US are looking forward to a day of dazzling performances, delicious food, and the unmatched vibe of Times Square glowing in Diwali lights.

• Date: October 12, 2025
• Venue: Times Square, New York City
• Contact: info@diwalitimesquare.com
• Website: diwalitimessquare.com/

Diwali Celebration at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple Long Island

Hindu temples in New York are among the best places for NYC Diwali events 2025. BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Long Island will celebrate Diwali and Chopda Puja on 20 October. Diwali is a most traditional celebration here, while Chopda Puja is an age-old cultural ceremony wherein Gujarati and Marwari business people close their old account books and open new ones in paper or electric form, and seek blessings of Goddess Lakshmi for a new year as per the Hindu Calendar.

NYC’s BAPS Swaminarayan Temple at Long Island does also organize children’s Diwali celebration every year to make kids understand the significance of the festival and walk them through traditional rituals. Children learn the art of making diyas and rangolis. This is scheduled from 11 am to 6 pm on October 12 this year.   

Diwali at NY Ganesh Temple, Flushing

Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam is one of the best places for traditional Diwali celebrations in New York City. Home to the first temple canteen in America, the Ganapati Devasthanam organizes Maha Lakshmi Puja through the observance of rituals such as abhishekam, homam, japam, and deepam pooja. To be held from October 18 to 20, Diwali will be followed by the Govardhan Annakut Festival on October 21 and 22 at the Flushing Ganesh Temple in New York.

Date: Diwali – October 18-20 | Govardhan Annakut – October 21-22 

Flushing Townhall Diwali 2025 in Queens

Of all Diwali 2025 events in New York, Flushing Townhall’s 11th annual Diwali festival is out and out a cultural celebration. This year, the highlight is live performances by sitar maestro Pt. Kinnar Seen ji, tabla exponent Dr. Naren Budhkar, and Kathak dancer Abha B. Roy, the Director of Srijan Dance Company. Together, they will bring the richness of Indian classical music and dance to the stage.

Learning the art of Indian cooking, among various joyous activities, from Chef Nupur Arora, the founder of Queens Curry Kitchen, is another attraction of Flushing Townhall Diwali, Queens. Block printing with Dr. Alka Mukerji, rangoli making with Dr. Anju G. Modak, henna art, and Hindi calligraphy are the other workshops that you can choose to take part in. It is one of the few ticketed Diwali events in the Big Apple; hence, advance booking is recommended.

• Date: October 18 | Time: 12 noon – 4 pm
• Venue: Flushing Town Hall Theater
• Website: www.flushingtownhall.org/event-detail.php

New York Asia Society Diwali 2025

Asia Society’s Diwali celebration in New York doubles up as a family day full of fun, joy and entertainment. Asia Society’s auditorium will throb with dance dramas, storytelling, and musical performances. Among the major programs, families can enjoy interactive segments introducing Indian traditions along with a special meet-and-greet session with Lord Ganesh. The Visitor Center will host a live rangoli workshop by artist Anushya Mamtora.

New York Asia Society’s Diwali event is a great opportunity for Indian children to get introduced to the art of rangoli, Hindi calligraphy, and other crafts. A live cooking experience and henna design sessions are also among the attractions. The eighth floor of the venue will continue to host cultural workshops and lively dance activities. The event is being organized in collaboration with the Culture Tree that promotes South Asian culture on the east coast.

• Date: October 18 | Time: 1 pm – 4 pm
• Venue: 725 Park Avenue, NY 10021
• Website: Asiasociety.org/new-york/events/diwali-lights-asia-society-2025

Saraswati Cultural Association Diwali in New Jersey

Diwali celebration by Saraswati Cultural Association of New Jersey is one of the free outdoor events for Indians in October. Founded in the late 1980s as a community-driven non-profit organization, Saraswati Cultural Association hosts Diwali and other festivals to promote Indian culture and heritage, other than raising funds for charities. You can make the most of this event by grooving to live music, enjoying Dandiya and Bhangra performances, taking part in cultural programs, relishing Indian food, and shopping for Indian items. Interestingly, entry to the event venue is free for all.

• Date: October 4
• Time: 12PM – 6PM
• Venue: Exchange Place Centre, Between Hudson St & Greene St Jersey City, NJ
• Contact: 551-358-9407

Diwali Motorcade in Queens

South Richmond Hill’s Diwali Motorcade has become a much-loved tradition, especially among the Indo-Caribbean community in Queens. The neighborhood lights up with decorated vehicles, bhajans, tassa drums, and dance troupes marching down Liberty Avenue. It’s a vibrant display of unity, faith, and joy that makes Diwali unforgettable in New York’s Little Guyana.

• Date: October 18, 2025
• Venue: Little Guyana (TBA)
• Contact: info@diwalimotorcade.com
• Website: https://diwalimotorcade.com/

Diwali Festival at Marine Park, Brooklyn

Marine Park’s Carmine Carro Community Center will host a serene yet festive evening of Diwali. The program includes a traditional talk on the festival’s significance by Pandit Ravi Doobay and a Bharatanatyam dance performance by Sloka Iyengar. It’s a beautiful way for families to experience both devotion and art in one setting.

• Date: October 18, 2025 | Time: 4 pm – 5 pm
• Venue: Carmine Carro Community Center, Marine Park, 3000 Fillmore Ave, Brooklyn, NY
• Contact: 8607123393 | reachus@marineparkalliance.org
• Website: Nygovparks.org

Shri Ramamayi Deepotsav 2025 in Somerset, NJ

This fall, SohAnika Arts presents Shri Ramamayi Deepotsav among the much-anticipated New Jersey Diwali events 2025. Shri Ramamayi Deepotsav is a grand full-length Ramayan stage musical that blends drama, classical & fusion dance, and live music, all in the spirit of Diwali’s light-over-darkness theme. The production brings together artists from the tri-state area and the Midwest, offering families a chance to deeply experience Indian myth, culture, and devotion through performance art.

• Date: October 17, 2025
• Venue: Ananda Mandir, Tagore Hall, 269 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset, NJ
• Contact: (732) 873-9794

Diwali Fest NJ 2025 in Maplewood

Maplewood Memorial Park turns into a lively cultural fair every Diwali. From Bollywood dances to live music, children’s art activities to authentic Indian food, this free event offers a slice of India in New Jersey. Out of Diwali celebrations in New Jersey, Diwali Fest in Maplewood is unmissable for families looking for a festive yet affordable celebration. 

• Date: October 25, 2025 | Time: 2 pm – 6 pm
• Venue: Maplewood Memorial Park, Maplewood, NJ
• Contact: www.diwalifestnj@somaccw.org

New York Brahma Kumaris Diwali 2025 

The Brahma Kumaris, a global spiritual organization headquartered in India, is inviting New Yorkers to their Diwali event on October 16, at their Manhattan Meditation Center. One of the free Diwali events in New York City, this year’s celebration, “Interactive Lecture Series: Re-igniting the Light Within,” is that of the human soul’s journey from darkness to light. The event will be held both online and offline and is showcased through live storytelling, live music, meditation, and inspiring reflections that intensify one’s longing for spiritual awakening in the solitude of heavenly peace and divine bliss.

• Date: October 16 | Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
• Venue: 306, 5th Avenue, NY 10001
• Website: https://manhattanmeditationcenter.org

The post East Coast USA Diwali Events 2025: Where to Celebrate Ghar Wali Diwali in New York and New Jersey first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post East Coast USA Diwali Events 2025: Where to Celebrate Ghar Wali Diwali in New York and New Jersey appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Durga Puja is one of the grandest and most-awaited Indian festivals. It is a most spectacular celebration in the Indian state of Bengal. However, the festival is celebrated with equal enthusiasm wherever Bengalis are in the world. About two dozen of Durga Puja events in New Jersey and New York transform the northeast cost into a mini Bengal with cultural exuberance this time of the year. Bengali associations across New York and New Jersey started preparations months ago, so the festivity does not fall short of joy and happiness in their adopted home. They can live away from home, but can’t survive without the blessings of Maa Durga, the bliss of bhoger kichudi, the beats of dhak, and the ecstasy of dunuchi naach.

Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, recommends some of the best places for Durga puja 2025 in New York and New Jersey.  “Elo re Dugga elo re…” 

Times Square Durga Puja, New York

After the historic debut of Durga Puja celebration at Times Square in 2024, the divine celebration is back this year. Usually, Times Square is a popular venue for Diwali, Yoga, and Indian Independence Day celebrations. Unlike other Durga puja events in USA, the 2-day Times Square Durga Puja is a free event for all, regardless of their nationality and religion. It is being organized by Bengali Club of USA .

• Date: October 1 and 2
• Contact: contact@timessquaredurgapuja.org, +1315-586-3372

Sanskriti Durga Puja 2025: Buffalo, New York

Sanskriti, a Bengali cultural association in Buffalo, is one of the best and oldest Durga Puja celebrations in New York. Founded in 1974-75, the Sanskriti Durga Puja is a cultural platform for the present generation of Bengali Diaspora in the northeast US to have a tryst with their heritage, literature, and traditions thousands of miles away from India. Sanskriti also celebrates other festivals with equal enthusiasm. They also organize Kojagori Lokkhi puja at the same venue.

Sanskriti will organize a Bijoya Dinner on the last day of the puja. On October 4, the Sanskriti Buffalo Durga Puja committee will host a Bijoya sommelani and a live performance by Sa Re Ga Ma Pa fame Sneha Bhattacharya at Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center, Williamsville, Renaissance Drive. Earlier, their event was graced by such renowned performing artists as Purna Das Boul and Bhupen Hazarika.

• Dates: September 26, 27, 28
• Venue: Hindu Cultural Society, Big Temple Auditorium, 1595 N French Road, Getzville, NY 14068
• Contact: president@buffalosanskriti.org, +1 623-499-2329
• Website: Buffalosanskriti.org

New York Kali Mandir Durga Puja, Baldwin

New York Kali Mandir located close to JFK International Airport is the destination if you wish to celebrate Durga Puja in the most traditional manner. Inspired by the Dakshineswar Kali Temple of Kolkata, NYKM is home to Goddess Kali worshiped by Bengalis and other Indian communities. Founded in 2005, the temple doubles up as a community organization and helps preserve the age-old Bengali cultural traditions in New Yok Metropolitan Area. The temple has a well-stocked library for all age groups. Those interested in volunteering can serve the temple this Durga Puja.    

• Dates: September 27 to 30
• Venue: 614 Seaman Ave, Baldwin, NY, 11510
• Contact: nykmdevotee@gmail.com, +1 516-771-5254
• Website: Nykalimandir.org

Also read: Sanyal Brothers Offer Best Kolkata Street Food with Chai in New York

Durga Puja at Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center of New York

Durga Puja at the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center of New York for the followers of the Ramakrishna order is among the best Durga puja celebrations in the Greater New York Area. Founded in 1933, the center organizes the puja to worship the Divine Mother and seek Her blessings for humankind. The chanting of sacred hymns and the singing of devotional songs in chorus are the mainstay of their celebration without pomp and in strict adherence to the principles laid out by Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Missions worldwide.     

• Dates: To be announced
• Venue: 17 E 94th St, New York, NY 10128
• Contact: (212) 534-9445
• E-mail:  rvcenternewyork@gmail.com
• Website: Ramakrishna.org

East Coast Cultural Association Durga Puja, NY

The East Coast Cultural Association, one of the youngest communities in New York, has planned a spectacular Durga puja celebration this year to mark its third anniversary. Founded in 2022, the non-profit Bong organization strives to create the ambience of parar pujo in Kolkata through a grand display of traditional Bengali culture, ranging from mouthwatering dishes to live music programs, at their puja venue. The schedule of ECCA Durga Puja 2025 includes three musical evenings by Sneha Bhattacharya on SEP 26, Madhubanti Bagchi on SEP 27, and Albert Kabo Lepcha on SEP 28.

• Dates: September 26, 27, 28
• Venue: Gujarati Samaj Hall, 17315 Horace Harding Expy, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365
• Contact: eastcoastcultural@gmail.com
• Website: Eccany.com

Utsov Durga Puja 2025 in New Jersey

Utsov Inc. is known for one of the biggest Durga Puja events in New Jersey. Their celebration, both traditional and contemporary, has a number of ‘wow’ factors – delectable Bengali food, Sindoor Khela, Dhunuchi dance, cultural programs, and art competition for kids. East Brunswick near Edison is the location of their puja venue that will turn into a Disneyland of festivities and revelry for two days as Utsov Inc. has invited the powerhouse voice of Bengal, Rupankar Bagchi, and the sensational Indian singing duo, Nandy Sisters (Ankita and Antara).

Legendary Lakkhichhara and Raju Das Baul – who are the titans of Bengali rock – will churn out popular Baul music and take the exuberance of NJ Utsov Durga Puja celebration to the fever pitch on OCT 5. Prior registration is compulsory to enter the venue and attend the live events.

• Dates: October 4 and 5
• Contact: 201 787 6861 or 516 519 1434, utsov@utsov.org
• Venue: Jo Ann Magistro Performing Arts Center, 200 Rues Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 
• Website: Utsov.org

Also read: Indian Food is a Pure Bliss at This Temple Kitchen in New York

Garden State Puja Committee’s 44th Durga Puja in New Jersey

One of the oldest and biggest Durga Puja events in New Jersey is organized by the Bengalis of Garden State Puja Committee, Jersey City. GSPC Durga Utsov 2025 will celebrate its 44th anniversary over foot-tapping numbers of the most popular bands, Euphoria on 4 OCT and Fossils on 5 OCT. Bongobhoj – a traditional Bengali food fare – is the mainstay of their celebration.

The pandal modelled on thakur dalan, a distinct feature of mansions dating back to the feudal era of Bengal, has already been shipped from Kolkata to New Jersey. This is the biggest attraction of GSPC Durga Puja in Jersey City.

• Dates: October 3 to 5
• Venue: William L. Dickinson High School, 2 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
• Contact: +1 201-993-4577 | info@gardenstatepuja.org
• Website: gspcnj.com

New Jersey Kallol Durga Puja 2025  

Among the Durga Puja celebrations in New Jersey, Kallol Durga Puja hits the headlines every year. Of the oldest Bengali organizations in the northeast coast, Kallol will transform Somerset into a mini City of Joy with cultural and musical extravaganza for 4 days, SEP 25 to 28.

Raj Burman will make the audience groove to his hit numbers on September 25, while Silajit Majumder will set the stage on fire with his soulful songs on September 26. Anirban & Band Hooliganism will take over the stage on September 27 and their foot-tapping performance will make the evening unforgettable. Kallol New Jersey Durga Puja in 2025 will be a rollercoaster ride of fun and joy over music by Sambuddha Chatterjee and Amit Kumar on September 28.

• Dates: September 25 to 28
• Venue: Ukranian Cultural Center, 135 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, New Jersey 08873
• Contact: 732.290.5218
• Website: Kallol.com

Also read: Why Bengal worships living goddesses during Durga puja

Agrani Durga Puja, Plainfield NJ

Agrani Durga Puja in Plainfield near Edison is one of the 10 best Indian events in New Jersey in October 2025. Like WomenNow TV’s Durga Puja in California, the women members of Agrani NJ organize the puja, from fabulous feasting to cultural extravaganza. Equally popular with the Bong and non-Bengalis in Central New Jersey, Agrani Durga Puja promises to be an exhilarating experience for music connoisseurs. Antara Mitra, a renowned Bollywood playback singer, will set the stage on fire on October 4. 

• Dates: October 4 and 5
• Venue: 730 Central St Plainfield, NJ 07062 United States
• Contact: Info@agranicnj.org

Alor Benu Durga Puja in Edison, NJ 

The ‘Ekchala’ style Durga idol is the main attraction of this humble celebration by a few Bengali families in Edison, NJ. This is more a gharoa (homely) puja than a community puja. The festive evenings from September 26-28 will see various cultural indulgences by the organizers and their families. The puja schedule is chock-a-block with traditional rituals from pushpanjali to the Goddess in the morning to dhunuchi naach in the evening to a family dinner at night.

• Dates: September 26, 27 and 28
• Venue: 2 Farmhaven Avenue, Edison, NJ 08820
• Contact: aamantran@aalorbenu.net, (908) 294-1954

New Jersey Ananda Mandir Durga Puja 2025

Durga Puja at Ananda Mandir in New Jersey is a most traditional one. Hundreds of New Jersey Indians throng the shrine to immerse themselves in festive revelries for five days. New Jersey Ananda Mandir is one of the few Hindu temples in USA that follows the Bengali calendar precisely for celebrating Durga Puja and other festivals. The temple that also doubles up as an Indian cultural center was commissioned in 1995 and completed in 2003. You may need to pre-register online. On successful registration, you would receive a confirmation email, which you can show to the volunteers at the temple complex.

• Dates: September 27 to October 2
• Venue: 269 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873-5212
• Contact: (732) 873-9821 or info@anandamandir.org
• Website: Anandamandir.org

Garden State Cultural Association: Plainfield, NJ

Among the best places for Durga Puja 2025 in New Jersey, Garden State Cultural Association (GSCA) is gearing up for their 34th year of the celebration. GSCA, a nonprofit Indian American organization of Bengalis in Plainfield, leaves no stone unturned to make Durga Puja a grand get-together of not only Bengalis but also other Indian communities over delicious food, shopping, and cultural entertainment. The interesting lineup of events include talent shows and drawing competitions.

Registration is compulsory to attend the celebration, especially cultural programs. You can register on their website given below. Popular Indian singers Jayati Chakraborty, Avishek Sinha, and Shreyasi Bhattacharjee are among the eminent guests this year.  

• Dates: October 4 and 5
• Venue: Melvin H. Kreps Middle School, 5 Kent Lane East Windsor, NJ-08520
• Contact: (908) 367-3322 or contact@gsca.us
• Website: web.gsca.us

Also Read: Payal Saha’s Kati Roll from Kolkata Rocks in New York

Bengali Cultural Society Durga Puja: South Jersey

In New Jersey, Bengali Cultural Society’s Durga Puja celebration is a lot more than food, fun and frolic. Rather, it mirrors the rich cultural heritage of Bengal on the American soil. Founded in 1978, Bengali Cultural Society is not just one of the oldest Bengali diaspora associations but a philanthropic organization too. They publish their own magazine Sanskriti every year and run a Bengali language school for their young ones and those interested in learning the language. Each day of the puja will culminate in an authentic Bengali community dinner.

You can check out their extensive menu for festive bhuribhoj on their Facebook page. Grammy Award winner Mahalaxmi Iyer, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa winner Sourav Das, Bengali folk singer Poushali Banerjee, and music composer and singer Ranajoy Bhattacharjee are among the special guests for this year’s Durga Puja event at BCSSJ.

• Dates: October 3, 4, 5
• Venue: Indian Cultural Center, 820 NJ-73, Marlton, NJ 08053
• Contact: info@bcssj.org
• Website: Bcssj.org

New Jersey Bharat Sevashram Sangha Durga Puja

The New Jersey chapter of Bharat Sevashram Sangha celebrates Durga Puja to worship the Supreme Power of the universe. The chanting of slokas and hymns reverberates in the air of the ashram temple on the five days of Durga Puja. Devotees can soak in numinous vibes that the ambience is rife with this time of the year. Bharat Sevashram Sangha is one of the few places where all the rituals of Durga Puja are strictly followed in compliance with the scriptures. Devotees are requested to pre-register for the puja.

• Dates: September 20 and 21; September 28 to October 2
• Location: 3490 Route-27 Kendral Park, New Jersey 08824
• Contact: 732 422 8880/ 347 735 2984 | devotees@sevashramsangha.org
• Website: sevashramsangha.org

Trinayani Durga Puja in Plainsboro, New Jersey

A non-profit organization established in 2022 with the aim to promote India’s rich art and culture, Trinayani is eyeing a theme-based Durga Puja celebration in a grander fashion this year. In its inaugural year (2022), Trinayani was the first and only one to have worshipped the protima (idol) made by Prabasi Bengalis among the community members. The Bong being great foodies complement their festivities with sumptuous food.

The musical acts to be performed by Rathijeet and Anweshaa, on October 4 and 5 respectively, will make you not only groove to live music but also feel nostalgic. You may contact Trinayani for registrations.

• Dates: October 4 and 5
• Venue:5 Adams Ct Plainsboro NJ 08536
• Contact: contact@trinayaninj.org  
• Website: www.trinayaninj.org

PBA Agomoni and Durga Puja 2025

Princeton Bengali Association in New Jersey will invoke Maa Durga on Mahalaya (September 21) through their ‘Agomoni’ program and celebrate Durga Puja on October 20 in West Windsor. Dhunuchi naach, Sindoor khela and other traditional rituals are the hallmarks of their humble celebration. Rishi Panda, a popular YouTuber and singer, has been invited for a musical evening at PBA Durga Puja in New Jersey. The event is free for kids (5 years and below).

• Date: September 21
• Venue: Dutch Neck Elementary School, 392 Village Rd E, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550, USA
• Contact: pbanj.org

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The post These Durga Puja Events in New York and New Jersey Turn East Coast into a Mini Bengal This Time of Year first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

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Indian staples like idli, dosa, samosa and chaat have already won over the hearts and palates of Americans as evident from Chai Paani in North Carolina, which was named the States’ most outstanding restaurant in 2022. The new ambassador of Indian street food to have journeyed from the bustling markets of Delhi to America’s busiest thoroughfares is Momos with desi flavors that have enthralled the tastebuds, both American and Indian, equally.

Catering platefuls of momos, dim sums, and dumplings is Fomo Momo Food Truck, a ‘passion’ project by two Indian tech professionals living their American Dream thousands of miles away from home. Driven by nostalgia and longing for authentic Indian momos, Ankita Nagpal and Impreet Sodhi teamed up to enrich the cosmopolitan food scene of northeast USA with Indianized versions of Tibetan dumplings. Their food truck stands out amidst the brick-and-mortar retail stores for its vibrant pink flamboyance in Central Avenue – one of the bustling shopping districts in Jersey City, NJ.

Unlike Shama Joshi who gave up her Microsoft career to become a food entrepreneur in Seattle, the owners of Fomo Momo Food Truck did not make any such sacrifice yet. They juggle both their full-time jobs and the evening food truck with equal dedication and attention to details. After wrapping up their everyday office work, Ankita Nagpal and Impreet Sodhi get into their ‘chef’ avatars swiftly for a beeline of buzzing foodies waiting to grab bites of ‘FOMO’ momos. As they engage with customers and take their feedback personally, they often lose track of the hours until it’s time to call it a day.

Fomo Momo Food Truck in Jersey City has a well-curated menu for ethnically diverse palates, ranging from spice-loving Indians to spice-sensitive Americans. It features a variety of flavors in steamed and fried versions for veg and non-veg lovers. Ankita and Impreet attribute the success of their joint venture to the versatility and adaptability of Indian street food. Bites of chicken Manchurian momos won’t let you crave chili chicken. Their Schezwan momos fulfil your longing for flavorful Mumbai bhel or jhalmuri of Kolkata. Tandoori momos, among their bestsellers, make a perfect alternative to tandoori chicken.

You name a flavor, they have it. Be it buttery makhani, Afghani, or smoky tandoori momos, they serve it with rich sauces. The familiar sense of contentment they see on the faces of their Indian customers evokes memories of their own younger selves devouring Indian momos in the streets of Delhi.

It was what Ankita and Impreet dearly missed, after moving to the US. It was what unsettled them though they were happily settled in their pursuit of American Dream, until their paths crossed at a social gathering. Their husbands are college friends. They forged a bond over their mutual love and longing for authentic Indian food (especially momos), which strengthened from friendship to business partnership. They hatched a plan to hit the streets of New Jersey and New York with a food truck at their first meeting itself.

From the very beginning, their shared vision was clear – to recreate Delhi’s vibrant street food scene in the heart of New Jersey. For Ankita Nagpal and Impreet Sodhi, Fomo Momo Food Truck is not just an entrepreneurial venture but also a means to nurture their umbilical cord with their roots and celebrate their home country’s culinary diversity. Evidently, it was not a piece of cake. Full-time IT jobs and everyday family duties did not subdue their appetite, passion, and commitment. They started experimentation using various spices and herbs to create the right balance of flavors and sought feedback from friends.

Once the recipes were honed to perfection, they put in marketing efforts, such as distributing complimentary samples from door to door, creating educative content on the subtle difference between momos and dim sums, and inviting prospective customers to take part in various activities, and engaging them with the titbits of India’s street food culture. In 2021, they started with an Indian street food stall at Smorgasburg Food Festival in NJ. Foodies from different communities started taking a fancy to their fusion momos with flavorful fillings.

The overwhelming response there encouraged them to make it to Smorgasburg Food Festival in New York, where their momos and dim sums found the same outpouring of love. Thus, what started as a food stall became a thriving business venture on bigger wheels. The transition was the hardest, yet the most rewarding journey for the techie duo. Though located in Central Avenue, Fomo Momo Food Truck with a live kitchen, travels to hotspots across New Jersey and New York. You may spot them also at Smorgasburg World Trade Centre, a popular outdoor food market in the Big Apple.

The techies – Ankita Nagpal and Impreet Sodhi – are good at branding too. They coined the name ‘Fomo Momo’ drawing upon the fear of missing out on succulent, delectable momos with fusion flavors. The mascot of their business is a modern Indian woman exuding a cool demeanor in a traditional attire and raising her left eyebrow to invite you for an unforgettable indulgence. The food truck with a vibrant pink look is easily identifiable at popular hotspots teeming with the locals.

This exclusive story is part of the series, Indian Life in America, by Indian Eagle, a most trusted travel-booking partner of Indian Diaspora in the USA. Subscribe to Travel Beats, a thriving community portal by Indian Eagle, for overseas Indian community stories, US-India travel news, visa and immigration updates.

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An Indian immigrant family is the talk of social media for its super fan moment with none other than Amitabh Bachchan in the US. Though admired by millions of fans at home and abroad, the ‘Sholay’ actor received the most offbeat tribute from the Sheth family in New Jersey. Gopi Sheth and his wife Rinku Sheth took the internet aback by unveiling a life-size statue of Senior Bachchan at their new residence in Edison, NJ.

The statue of Amitabh Bachchan in New Jersey is modelled on the ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ host played by the 80-year-old actor. Enclosed in a glass box, the statue is sitting on a chair and wearing an Indian ethnic outfit in black. Indian American Gopi Sheth organized an inauguration ceremony in August, and it was attended by more than 600 people from the local Indian community. The grey-bearded statue gives the impression from a distance that Big B himself is sitting there.

The Bachchan statue at the Sheth residence in Edison was sculpted in Rajasthan. Gopi Sheth, an Internet security engineer by profession, spent a whopping US$ 75,000 on the statue and its shipping from India. Self-confessed fans of the legendary actor, Gopi and his wife said that the Shehenshah of Bollywood is nothing less than a god to them.

“We grew up watching his movies in India. Though a behemoth of Indian Cinema, he is very down-to-earth unlike other stars. He is not just a versatile actor but also a great philanthropist. He takes care of people around him. Everything about him; his on-screen charisma, his real-life personality, his baritone, the way he communicates…is worth admiring. Amit ji who has inspired many people like me to make it big in life deserves to be immortalized. I could not think of other tributes than dedicating a statue to him,” said Gopi Sheth who migrated to the US from Gujarat in 1990.

However, there is a mixed response to the Indian American family’s tribute to Amitabh Bachchan. Some netizens have gone gaga over the statue and lauded it as a new attraction to behold in New Jersey; whereas others have criticized the Sheth family for misspending $75,000 on a statue and opined that the money could have supported humanitarian purposes like education of poor children. Some others are louder in calling it a mere display of opulence and saying that placing the statue outside the house is an act of disrespect to the actor. Many Indian expats from Atlanta, Charlotte, Detroit, Boston, and even from San Francisco as well as Seattle took to Twitter to defend Gopi Sheth against the criticism.

“I am not surprised at this. Kolkata has a temple dedicated to Amitabh Bachchan – which is more offbeat than the Sheth family’s tribute to their god-like actor. Visitors are treated as devotees and greeted with ‘Jai Amitabh Bachchan’ at the temple where Big B is the presiding deity. Located in South Kolkata, the Amitabh Bachchan Temple displays hundreds of his pictures from his filmography and performs daily rituals to worship his idol placed on an altar. Sanjay Patodiya, the the temple owner, does social work in the name of his favorite actor,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats.

Travel Beats is an overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, a leading travel-booking partner of Indians in North America. Indian Eagle not only gets you discounted flight tickets to India, but also latest immigration, visa, air travel, and Indian Diaspora news through its free newsletter.

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Hundreds of thousands of Indian immigrants’ spiritual heritage and deep-rooted divine faith have finally taken shape as America’s largest Hindu temple, BAPS Akshardham Mandir in New Jersey. After 12 long years of intensive construction in five phases, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple of Robbinsville NJ will be ceremonially inaugurated on October 8 under the auspices of Mahant Swami Maharaj and in the presence of prominent Indian American community leaders. However, the temple will welcome visitors from October 18, the fourth day of Navaratri 2023.

Sprawling across over 180 acres in Robbinsville, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir is said to be next to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat Temple Complex in size and area. It may continue to be the world’s second largest temple until the Mayapur Temple of Vedic Planetarium is inaugurated in 2024. Incepted in 2010 under the supervision of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the New Jersey Indian temple, though incomplete then, opened its door to devotees first in 2014.

The making of BAPS Swaminarayan Temple Robbinsville was a marathon spanning 12 years and involving nearly 13,000 volunteers from across the USA. The monumental construction thousands of miles away from India was a multifaced process that ran from Europe to India to the US. Made of chiseled Italian marbles sourced from different parts of Europe and hand-carved in Rajasthan, the temple is bigger and higher than the Akshardham Mandir in New Delhi.

One of the interesting facts about the world’s largest Akshardham Temple in New Jersey is that as many as 2000 craftsmen in Rajasthan hand-carved the marble stones from Europe into beautiful pieces of art with chisels and hammers; the pieces were assembled twice. The marble pieces were assembled in India first to check if they would fit accurately and then, they were subsequently numbered. They were finally organized and assembled in the US, according to their numbers.

Undeniably, it was quite challenging to transport the two million cubic feet of marble stones 21,500 miles from Europe to India and then to America.

Needless to say, the temple is an aesthetically wonderful edifice both outside and inside in its complete form. It is encased with a colossal mandap for external protection. The 135-ft wide mandap with delicate engravings on the pillars stands 55 feet tall. The main gate of the mandap, called Mayur Dwar, is a major attraction of the temple. Robbinsville Swaminarayan Temple’s Mayur Dwar is meticulously adorned with 236 sculptures, including peacocks, elephants, monks and devotees carved out of marble.

“The sculptural beauty of the Mayur Dwar will leave you in awe of the artisans who achieved this rare feat in the 21^st century. It captures the cultural zeitgeist of the pre-Sultanate era when the Dravidian temple architecture known for intricate designs and intensive wall carvings had flourished,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats, a one-stop community portals for Indians in America.

The mandap comprises a grand prayer hall which is spacious enough to accommodate more than 1000 people at a time. Among the breathtaking features of New Jersey’s BAPS Akshardham Mandir are two heavily ornate domes, unique to India’s traditional stone architecture, which are designed to last a thousand years. There are one main shrine, 12 sub-shrines, 9 shikhars, and 9 pyramidal shikhars in the temple complex.

Every bit of the United Sates’ largest BAPS Swaminarayan Temple design is eloquent enough to tell a story. A whopping 10,000 sculptures and figurines of India’s age-old musical instruments, classical dance forms, and epic characters on pillars, panels, walls and ceilings depict stories of ancient Bharat and the Hindu scriptures. The prayer halls are dotted with life-size idols of saints and sages among India’s spiritual leaders.

An interface between the architectural styles of north and south Indian temples, the Akshardham Mandir of Robbinsville NJ houses a world-class research institute. Inaugurated in June 2022, the institute is “the first such center of learning and research of Indian languages and Hindu scriptures in the Swaminarayan tradition in the United States”, with the goal of promoting the highest level of academic excellence in all disciplines of study. The other facilities available within the temple complex include a rest house, a food court, and a visitors’ center housing exhibits related to Indian culture as well as history.

Like many ancient temples across India, the Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir has Brahma Kund (a sacred stepwell) at its Robbinsville site in the northeast US. Interestingly, the water of the kund has been collected from more than 300 natural sources of water from around the world, including the holy rivers of India and the water bodies in 50 US states.

A one hour drive from Newark, this largest Hindu temple in the US would not have become a reality without the craftsmen and 13000 volunteers of all ages, who generously spent 5 million man hours on making such a complex, colossal masterpiece. Indians from New Jersey and other states came forward to devote their time in all possible ways, including preparing food for the artisans, cleaning up the construction site, etc. Evidently, the temple is an emblem of oneness and harmony among them. On completion of the construction, the total cost of Robbinsville BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, New Jersey may have gone up to more than $150 million.

This article is a part of the series – Hidden Gems of America – by Indian Eagle, a most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians in the USA. Travel Beats, a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, is a one-stop portal for stories of Indian immigrants, US-India travel news, and US visa & immigration updates.

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Two Indian-origin minors in the United States are among the “brightest students in the world”, according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY). 7-year-old Veehaan Mane from New Jersey and 8-year-old Advay Misra from New York are the newcomers in the elite club of Indian-origin prodigious children. They belong to the same ethnic tribe that has given America 3M Young Scientist Challenge winners and National Spelling Bee champions in the past few years.

Veehaan and Advay made it among the 1400 brightest students in the world for their extraordinary performance in SAT, ACT, and similar other academic assessment tests that the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth conducted from July 2019 until June 2020. The annual talent search program saw the participation of more than 15,000 students from across the US and 70 other countries. Both the Indian prodigies have been selected for the Grand Honor 2020 Award, a most prestigious award for students with ‘outstanding academic potential’.

New Jersey-based Veehaan Mane, an elementary school student from South Brunswick, relishes Indian food to his heart’s content. Paneer Butter Masala is one of his favorites. A 3^rd grader at Brunswick Acres Elementary School, Veehaan is among the very few students who ranked in the 99 percentile. Apart from being good at studying analogies, he sings and plays the piano with equal enthusiasm.

“Since kindergarten, he has been good with puzzles. He enjoys solving questions and taking up challenges. Participating in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth’s annual talent search program was the next milestone for him,” said Veehaan’s father, Pankaj. “With schools having gone online because of the pandemic, Veehaan found it difficult to focus on studies for a while,” he added.

Among the world’s brightest students, Advay Misra from New York gives credit to his mother for his academic excellence. Reading is his favorite activity and python programming is his favorite pastime. He enjoys learning from Khan Academy videos on mathematics – which helped him a lot to prepare for CTY’s grade-based testing programs. He studies at PS 59 Beekman Hill International Elementary School. Advay, Veehaan and other Grand Honor awardees are now eligible for CTY’s summer programs which will help them interact with other avid learners and star performers from around the globe.

The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, a most renowned name in the field of education, identifies the most promising students and provides a genuine index to their academic potential. The alumni of this renowned organization in the field of education include Rhodes Scholars, MacArthur Fellows, and the founders of Facebook and Google. The origin of the Center for Talented Youth dates back to the late 70s when a seventh grader from Baltimore had finished all mathematical lessons one could have at school by the time he was 13. It prompted a professor of psychology from Johns Hopkins to design unique grade-based academic assessment programs for meritorious kids.

This story is part of Travel Beats’ continued effort to promote achievements of young Indians in the US. Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indians in America, is a subsidiary of the most trusted travel-booking portal, IndianEagle.com. Sign up to our newsletter for the latest US visa, immigration and community news, and first-hand US to India travel updates.

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No other Indian food has as many stories to tell as biryani does. Rosogolla surfaces to public notice once in a while due to the age-old contention over its origin between two neighboring states: Bengal and Odisha, while biryani is the only food to enjoy pan-India attention throughout the year. The stories of biryani are as varied as the taste and flavor of the dish across the country. If lots of conversation or discussion happens over tea in India, many incidents occur over biryani. Biryani is not just a delightful treat but a bribe, bait and gift. It puts smiles on withered cheeks, brings a ray of hope amidst adverse circumstances, pushes campaigns forward, stimulates arguments and unites people.

Travel Beats, a community portal for Indian Diaspora by IndianEagle.com, curated the most interesting biryani stories from across India and abroad to make you understand the unbeatable power and popularity of biryani.

Biryani was a Silver Lining amidst Dark Clouds during Chennai Floods     

Biryani is no compromise under any circumstance! It was evident from the disappointment of some people for being served sambar rice not biryani during the Chennai floods 2015. When a group of volunteers reached out with packets of sambar rice and other relief materials to the people stuck amidst flood waters, braving the pouring rain and shoulder-leveled standing water, they met with disappointment for not serving biryani. Paradise Biryani, a most popular Hyderabadi biryani brand, sent the dish for them.

Actor’s Love for Biryani Inspired the Name of a Tamil Film    

One of the interesting biryani stories is sourced from the Tamil film industry. Among Tamil film stars, Ajith is so fond of biryani that he loves cooking it for everyone on the shooting spot. He has cooked biryani for the filming crew multiple times. It bears out to not only his penchant for biryani but his simplicity and down to earth nature. Moved by Ajith’s unfathomable love for biryani, director Venkat Prabhu named his black comedy film ‘Biriyani” in 2013. Biriyani is a thriller which was filmed in Chennai and Hyderabad.

Cockroach Biryani Led to a Munna Bhai Style Campaign in Kashmir

The story of ‘cockroach biryani’ in Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, is among the most interesting Biryani stories in India. When a local dentist and his friends found cockroaches in the biryani served to them at a multi-cuisine restaurant at Hazratbal, one of the outlets owned by Hat Trick fast food manufacturer in Kashmir, they forced their way into the kitchen and found it unhygienic to their surprise. When the ‘cockroach biryani’ story went viral on social media, a group of young foodies launched a ‘Munna Bhai style’ campaign and sent 1000 ‘get well soon’ letters to the restaurant owner. The campaign caught attention of the Food Safety Department and led to sealing of the cockroach restaurant.

Homemade Biryani Forced Dhoni to Vacate Grand Kakatiya in Hyderabad  

One of the Hyderabadi biryani stories is related to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was captain of the Indian Cricket team in 2014. He along with his team vacated the 5 star Hotel Grand Kakatiya where 180 rooms were booked for the team and BCCI officials, and moved to Taj Krishna due to a fiasco over homemade Hyderabadi biryani. One of Dhoni’s teammates brought homemade biryani for the entire team, which Hotel Kakatiya refused to allow within the premises. Hyderabadi biryani is something exclusive to die for!

Biryani Entertains Participants in National Shooting Championships   

The 59^th National Shooting Championship held in Delhi in 2015 is a memorable event for mouthwatering biryani served to the participants. The shooters from all over India were served delicious biryani at a nominal cost. Nawabuddin is the man who cooked and served the dish to them. Popularly known as Nawab Bhai, he has been cooking biryani for all shooting competitions in Delhi for past 6 years. He himself is a shooter and has participated in twenty national shooting championships. Eminent shooters are fans of Nawab Bhai’s biryani.

Biryani Failed to Make Rajnikanth’s Kochadaiiyaan a Success

Do you know that biryani was used as a bait to make superstar Rajnikanth’s Kochadaiiyaan a success in 2013 in Bangalore? When the fans of Rajnikanth felt that the film was going to be a box office disaster, they organized a rally in Bangalore to promote the film and promised the locals free biryani for watching the film. However, biryani could not save Kochadaiiyaan from being a failure.

Biryani Got People Together for a Communal Work in Kerala    

One of the latest biryani stories is how biryani is used to motivate people for a communal work. Recently, IAS officer Prashant Nair promised platefuls of Malabar biryani to a group of people for cleaning of a 14-acre lake in Kozhikode, Kerala. Removing water hyacinth from the lake was a herculean task, but his promise of biryani made it a success.

Biryani Saved a Bride from Marrying a Wrong Groom      

Anything can happen over biryani in India. Marriages can be fixed or broken over biryani. In 2014 in Karnataka, a bride called off the wedding over the ruckus created by the groom party over the taste of biryani. Even the bride’s family sent 30kg of biryani to the groom’s house but it came back as the groom’s family was fond of mutton biryani.

Biryani Energized Political Workers during Elections in Hyderabad  

Some of the stories of biryani in India are politically interesting. You might wonder what biryani has to do with politics in India. During the parliamentarian elections in 2014, Hyderabad witnessed a boom in sales of biryani. Demand for chicken and mutton biryani was tremendously high across Hyderabad during the electoral period in 2014.

Biryani Brought Good Luck to DMK Party in Chennai in 2009

Biryani not only keeps political workers on the go during elections but also plays an active role in success of electoral campaigns. Chennai witnessed the power of biryani in 2009 when the DMK party won elections in Tamil Nadu. The winning party distributed biryani packets to voters during the campaigns apart from offering usual baits like liquor, clothes and mobile phones. The popularity of biryani was so utilized to tempt common people that the 2009 election in Chennai was notoriously nicknamed ‘Biryani Bypolls.’

Biryani was a Gift from Sania Mirza to Dilwale Team        

Biryani is not just taken advantage of as bait or bribe. It is a pretty gift too. When Sania Mirza visited Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan during the shooting of Dilwale in 2015, she carried a box of Hyderabadi biryani for them.

Two Indian Restaurants Locked their Horns over Biryani in USA

Not only India but also the United States has interesting biryani stories to tell. Two Indian businesses in the US – Paradise Biryani Pointe and Paradise Biryani Grill – locked their horns in a legal battle over biryani at a New Jersey court. Both of these Indian restaurants in New Jersey serve the dish. In 2011, Paradise Biryani Pointe moved the court against its rival Paradise Biryani Grill accusing the latter of infringing the former’s trademark and biryani recipe which the former claimed to have developed over 7 years.

Read More Interesting Food Stories and News

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On April 3, 2022, Indian American Falguni Shah created history. Her first ‘Grammy’ win is not just hers, but also that of the young vocalists who sang for the album A Colorful World. Most of us did not notice that Indian-origin Ayan Shah, the youngest of all the children singers, walked the red carpet and shared the stage with the lead vocalist Falguni Shah. Ayan’s suited gentleman-like presence on the stage for the Grammy Awards 2022 eluded the international media spotlight, perhaps because he was shying away from the camera during the live telecast in Las Vegas.

6-year-old Ayan Shah, a resident of New Jersey, is no music prodigy. Teaming up with Falguni who earned the Grammy nomination twice; singing for her album that advocates racial harmony; sharing the most coveted award with her made him extraordinary. He has sung three songs for the album. Being a budding vocalist at the 64^th Grammy Awards is a steppingstone for the 6-year-old to a bright future. He will be cherishing his debut in the world of music while growing up and forever. His kindergarten teachers organized a celebration for him and felicitated him.

It has just been a year since he started taking formal music lessons in Weehawken, NJ. Born with an ear to music, he hums Disney’s songs and feels tuned to the Beatles classics. Playing the piano is one of his favorite pastimes. Ayan’s opportunity to be a vocalist on Falguni Shah’s A Colorful World that celebrates unity in ethnic diversity came through a relative. This is his first-ever brush with stardom though he has given small performances here and there. Most recently, the School of Rock roped in him for a performance in Hoboken.

Some of us might be wondering what sharing a Grammy means to the 6-year-old. It was a whole different world being there, very different than we were used to,” said Shah. “It was his first foray into anything remotely similar to this kind of show. I don’t think he quite grasped the concept of what a Grammy was, he’s too young to have been watching, but he understood that it was an award given out for the album he was a part of. He was very excited throughout the weekend. I think the biggest thing now is that he is more motivated than ever to continue doing music and singing,” said Ayan’s father who had accompanied him to the gala night on April 3.

More good news is yet to come Ayan’s way. Indian American Ayan Shah may be the youngest person to receive a Grammy award by the Academy in the history of music. The Grammy Awards committee has not yet made an official statement. Travel Beats, a community portal for Indians in the US by Indian Eagle Travel, wishes him many more awards in music in the days to come.

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Indian American Sri Nihal Tammana is another budding prodigy with multiple feathers in his cap. The 12-year-old is an environment warrior, a STEM advocate, a TEDx Speaker, a doodle artist, an avid researcher and a Taekwondo black belt holder. The 7^th grader defied his age at 10 in having set up a non-profit for the recycling of used batteries – which can save the planet from a certain percentage of e-waste, a growing menace to the environment. Estimates have that 3 billion used batteries are thrown away every year in the United States alone.

On his 10^th birthday morning, Nihal woke up to the news about a massive fire incident that a discarded lithium-ion battery caused at a waste management plant in California and incurred losses worth millions of dollars. Shocked by the destructive power of a used battery, he pledged to rid America of used batteries first and take the campaign to India then. Despite having no prior experience, he founded RecycleMyBattery.org in 2019, with the initial objective of preventing used batteries from going into landfills. In only two years, the non-profit expanded across the US and to 6 major Indian states through collaborations with Call2Recyle and other similar organizations.

A resident of Edison, New Jersey, Nihal Tammana believes that the more our every-day life depends on electronic items, the more batteries will be sold, used and discarded. Hence, to make sure that the recycling of battery waste runs in parallel with the rising demand for batteries is his mission. “The entire world is powered by batteries, and they are only going to be more widely used. With the e-vehicle revolution spreading worldwide, the sale of batteries is shooting up, and thereby, intensifying threats to the ecosystem,” said the bespectacled Indian American prodigy.

Nihal Tammana’s Recycle My Battery has grown into an army of over 150 environment-conscious kids who have not only collected and recycled 150,000 used batteries, but also educated over one million people about the consequences of leaving battery waste unrecycled. Today, more than 200 locations in the US have recycle bins for battery waste of all types. He runs a YouTube channel to disseminate enlightening information and awareness messages about environmental sustainability through videos.

Nihal won New Jersey Governor’s Award and the Jefferson Award for this noble mission. His achievements are celebrated by his grandparents in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The success and expansion of Recycle My Battery surprised his parents who had thought earlier that Nihal was too young to be a social entrepreneur. On the contrary, he is looking to venture out into the manufacturing of clean batteries in the near future. He aspires to study at an Ivy League university like Stanford and become a space scientist.

Either in USA or India, you can take the mission ahead by requesting a bin for the recycling of discarded batteries in your neighborhood. Indian-origin Nihal Tammana, the founder of Recycle My Battery, offers the “Battery Free School” program. The program is aimed at “helping schools succeed in their efforts to fight against batteries being thrown in trash and bring awareness about the importance of recycling used batteries.” This program is absolutely free for any school wishing to join the bandwagon.

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The post This Indian American prodigy is Environment Warrior. He has Recycled 150000 Used Batteries in USA and India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.