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.

PC: Fomomousa | Instagram

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.

The post Techies by Day, Chefs by Night: Two Indian Women Serve Flavors of India at Fomo Momo Food Truck in USA appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

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.

Picture Credit: Gopi Sheth @ Twitter

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.

The post Indian-origin Family Installs Amitabh Bachchan’s Life-size Statue outside Their Home in USA for $75000 appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

With Diwali entering the list of New York City school holidays, 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 2023 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 Indian community portal in the US, has compiled a list of best Diwali 2023 events in New York and New Jersey 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 Indian Eagle, a trusted air-ticketing partner of Indians in America.    

Diwali at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple Long Island, NY

Hindu temples in New York are among the best places for NYC Diwali 2023 events. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Melville, Long Island organizes children’s Diwali celebration every year to make kids understand the significance of the festival and walk them through the traditional rituals. Children learn the art of making diyas and traditional decorations such as rangoli. BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in New York will celebrate kids’ Diwali on November 04.

Indians of New York can visit BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Long Island for Diwali and Chopda Puja on November 12 this year. The ceremony ‘Chopda Puja’ is an age-old cultural tradition wherein Gujarati and Marwari business people close their old account books and open new ones in paper or electric form (or both), and seek blessings of Goddess Lakshmi for a new year as per the Hindu calendar.

Date: November 4 (10 am to 4 pm) and November 12 (5 pm to 8 pm)

Pelham Art Center Diwali 2023, NYC 

Among the places for Diwali 2023 events in New York, Pelham Art Center celebrates Diwali through Indian folk art festivities including classical music and dance. Kathak and Bharat Natyam are not-to-be-missed performances which Indians of any age groups can take part in. The event schedule includes a hands-on traditional art workshop where you can paint your own diyas. Funded by New York State Council on the Arts, Pelham Art Center provides a multicultural community setting to help New Yorkers experience cultural diversity through participation in different forms of art. The Diwalis-special folk art event is free for all.

• Date: November 19
• Time: 1-3 pm
• Venue: Pelham Art Center, 155 Fifth Avenue, NY 10803

Bhakti Center Diwali at Manhattan

Diwali at Bhakti Center in New York is out and out a community affair. Bhakti Center, a spiritual retreat of enlightening Bhakti yoga practices in New York City, hosts a Diwali mela every year. The Diwali mela is a cultural extravaganza full of culinary delights and musical revelry. Diwali celebration is more of a spiritual occasion to connect with the Divine than a mere celebration of light over darkness and that of knowledge over ignorance at Bhakti Center on New York City’s lower east side.

• Date: November 12
• Time: 5 pm – 9 pm
• Venue: 25 First Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10003
• Contact: info@bhakticenter.org

Brooklyn Children’s Museum Diwali 2023

On Diwali, Brooklyn Children’s Museum organizes a puppet show by The Culture Tree for families and kids, irrespective of their community and nationality. The socio-cultural and spiritual significance of lighting lamps on Diwali is conveyed to kids through a puppet show. It teaches the US-born children of Indian descent the “meaning of devotion, compassion, love, and giving back that the Diwali celebration stands for. Diwali at BCM has more festival-themed fun-filled activities for kids and these include a mithai-making workshop and lantern-making at their ColorLab art studio. Children would love the storytime with author Navina Chhabria. 

• Date: November 9
• Time: 2PM – 5 PM
• Venue: 145 Brooklyn Avenue, NY 11213

Flushing Townhall Diwali 2023 in Queens, NY

Of all Diwali 2023 events in New York, the Flushing Townhall Diwali celebration is known for its cultural aspects. Their event features Bollywood, Kathak, and contemporary dance by Abha Roy and Ishita Mili. Abha is a Kathak exponent and the director of Srijan Dance Center. Ishita is a Bharatanatyam dancer. Celebrating the festival of lights at Flushing Townhall in Queens is a great opportunity to learn classical dance moves infused with hip hop.

You can take part in the rangoli design program, one of the mainstays of their annual event, this time with Anju Gupta. If you’re a foodie, you can binge on Indian foods there and also learn recipes from Chef Nupur, the founder of Queens Curry Kitchen. You can join various other workshops there, such as handicraft, henna art, calligraphy etc. Diwali at Flushing Town Hall is among the few ticketed Diwali events in NYC. Advance booking is recommended.

• Date: November 5
• Time: 11 am – 1 pm, 2 pm – 4 pm
• Venue: Flushing Town Hall Theatre, Queens

Diwali 2023 in Edison, New Jersey

After the success of Edison Township’s first Diwali celebration by Indian American Mayor Sam Joshi, the event is planned to be bigger and better this year. Edison’s Mayor Sam Joshi, who traces his roots in Gujarat, invites everyone to the Diwali 2023 event at Papaianni Park. You can participate in the Diya lighting ceremony there. Diwali being an Indian festivity, music and food are the mainstay of the event organized by Mayor Joshi.     

• Date: November 4
• Time: 12 to 9.30 pm
• Venue:  Papaianni Park, 100 Municipal BLVD, Edison
• Contact: 732-248-7283

Siddhachalam Jain Tirth Diwali Mela 2023, New Jersey

If you are looking to celebrate Diwali with oodles of devotion, you can visit Siddhachalam Jain Tirth, a Jain ashram and spiritual retreat sprawling 120 acres of hilly terrain in New Jersey. Founded in 1983, the ashram hosts Diwali mela for Indians, regardless of their religion. Traditional food and devotional music are among the trappings of Diwali Mela at Siddhachalam Jain Tirth. On the day of the festival, i.e. Nov 13, they also organize Mahavira Nirvan Ladoo Puja as per Jain tradition.

• Date: November 4
• Venue: 111 Hope Road, Blairstown, NJ 07825
• Contact: (908) 362-9793
• RSVP at events@siddhachalam.org

Saraswati Cultural Association NJ Diwali 2023

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. Ram Leela enactment will be one of the highlights of the events, which also hosts special children activities. Interestingly, entry to the event venue is free for all.

• Date: October 28
• Time: 1PM – 7PM
• Venue: East Brunswick Cultural Arts Center, East Brunswick, New Jersey
• Contact: 5519001541

Marlboro Indian Foundation Diwali 2023, New Jersey

One of the best Diwali events in New Jersey is organized by the Marlboro Indian Foundation, a non-profit community that was established in 2020. Named Diwali Milan, the celebration by the Marlboro Indian Foundation is a ticketed event. A ticket to the event costs $40-50 per adult, and it is $25 per kid in the age group of 5 to 16 years. The event comes with DJ music, dance, food, and of course, fireworks. This non-profit community has been felicitated by the Office of the Mayor, and the Senate of New Jersey State for promoting unity in diversity, organizing fund-raising drives, and spreading the joy of giving back. 

• Date: November 4
• Time: 5 pm to 11.30 pm
• Venue: Colts Neck Fire Company #2, 50 Conover Road, Colts Neck, NJ 07722
• Contact: marlboroindianfoundation@gmail.com   

Sanskriti of New Jersey Diwali 2023

Sanskriti of New Jersey, a non-profit organization established in 2008, brings together the vast Indian community in Livingston and neighboring towns (Maplewood, Cedar Grove, Madison & others) for a memorable celebration of important Indian events and festivals, from Holi to Diwali. In New Jersey, Sanskriti Diwali 2023 is back with its ‘Diwali Dinner and Dance’ gala on November 3 and a spectacular fireworks show on November 10. Miami-based record producer and rapper DJ Magic Mike will add a zing to the light-hearted evening on Nov 3. For families, there are lots of entertainment and special activities for kids from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Dazzling firework is simply unmissable during the Diwali celebration by Sanskriti at Memorial Oval and Park in Livingston. 

• Date: November 3 (Dinner & Dance) and November 10 (Fireworks)
• Time: 6 PM to 11.30 PM
• Venue: Hotel Sheraton, 199 Smith Rd, Parsippany, NJ 07054 (Dinner & Dance); Memorial Oval and Park in Livingston (Fireworks)
• Contact: info@sanskritiofnj.org

The post Diwali 2023 Events in New York and New Jersey: Festival of Lights is Back with a Bang after Pandemic appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

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.

PC: BAPS.org

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.

Mayur Dwar (PC: BAPS.org)

“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.

Ornate dome in the ceiling of the grand prayer hall (PC: BAPS.org)

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.

The post Built over 185 Acres for more than $150M, World’s Largest Akshardham Temple in USA to Open in October 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 in October 2023. 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 that 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 2023 celebrations in New York and New Jersey.  “Elo re Dugga elo re…” 

PC: Canva | Freepik

Sanskriti Durga Puja 2023: 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. Their Durga Puja celebration was graced by such renowned performing artists as Purna Das Boul and Bhupen Hazarika in the years gone by.

• Dates: October 20, 21, 22
• Venue: Hindu Cultural Society, 1595 N French Road, Getzville, NY 14068
• Contact: president@buffalosanskriti.org, +1 716-331-7657
• Website: Buffalosanskriti.org

East Coast Durga Puja Association, New York 

The East Coast Durga Puja Association (ECDPA), the oldest Bengali community in North America, is recognized for their celebration as the best of all New York Durga puja events. Mayor Eric Adams presented them with a citation in 2019 recognizing their contribution towards creating a platform for themselves and other ethnic communities in the borough of Brooklyn. Like previous years, the ECDPA Durga Puja 2023 has a lineup of cultural programs, including a kids talent show.  

• Dates: October 14 and 15
• Venue: Gujarat Samaj Hall, 17315 Horace Harding Expy, Queens, NY 11365
• Contact: (516) 308-2246 or ECDPANY@gmail.com 
• Website: ECDPAnewyork.com

New York Kali Mandir Durga Puja, Baldwin

One of the most traditional Durga Puja events in New York is organized by New York Kali Mandir in Baldwin. 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. Located close to NY JFK International Airport, the temple has a well-stocked library for all age groups. Those interested in volunteering can serve the temple this Durga Puja.    

• Dates: October 21 to 23
• 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 the 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: October 22
• 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, is planning a large-scale Durga puja event this year to mark its second anniversary. Founded in 2022, the non-profit organization celebrates every event significant to Bengali culture in a grand way, bringing together the Bengali community in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut areas. Their Durga puja celebration stands for cultural integrity and camaraderie. Their event schedule includes a Bollywood evening on OCT 20 with singer Vaishali Mhade of ‘pinga’ song fame in Bajirao Mastani. The ECCA Durga Puja organizers are yet to announce other cultural programs. 

• Dates: October 20, 21, 22
• Venue: Gujarati Samaj Hall, 17315 Horace Harding Expy, Queens, NY 11365
• Contact: eastcoastcultural@gmail.com
• Website: Eccany.com

Utsov Inc. Durga Puja 2023, Edison NJ

Utsov Inc. is known for one of the biggest Durga Puja celebrations in Edison, New Jersey. Utsov Inc. Durga Puja 2023 in East Brunswick has a number of ‘wow’ factors – delectable Bengali food, Sindhoor Kela, cultural programs, shopping stalls, art competition for kids and Dhunuchi dance competition for adults. Online or offline registration is mandatory to enter the venue. Raj Burman, a talented Hindi and Bengali artist (who won the “Best Bengali Playback Singer” in the Tele Cine Awards) will be entertaining the audience on a musical evening at the Utsov Inc Durga Puja in Edison.  

• Dates: October 21 and 22
• Contact: 732 648 7461 or 313 338 8678, 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: 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 2023 will celebrate its 42nd anniversary over foot-tapping numbers of rock bands, Lakkhichhara and the Anupam Roy Band. Nostalgic renditions of  Rabindra Sangeet by Sahana Bajpaie, a contemporary vocalist, will lend the vibes of Kolkata to the venue during the festivity.

Bongobhoj – a traditional Bengali food fare – is the mainstay of their celebration. Garden State Puja Committee, Jersey City is a non-profit community organization bridging the gap between their life in the US and their roots in Bengal, and providing gharoa paribesh for all festive celebrations. The funds it raises through the concert will be used for charitable and educational causes.

• Dates: October 21 and 22
• 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 2023  

Among the Durga Puja events in New Jersey, Kallol Durga Puja is an engaging celebration every year. Among the oldest Bengali organizations in the US, Kallol has grown from 24 members to a few hundreds now. Multicultural programs including musical performances by eminent artists from India are integral to their Sharodiya celebration. Prithibi rock band is all set to enthrall the audience with their electrifying performance on Friday, while Lopamudra Mitra, Joy Sarkar and Nirmalya Roy will take over the stage on Saturday.

Kallol Durga Puja 2023 will culminate with foot-tapping and soulful numbers by popular artists Shaan and Sandeep Bhattacharjee India. The four-day festivity is an absolute cultural and musical extravaganza at Kallol in Somerset, NJ.

• Dates: October 20 to 23
• 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

Alor Benu Durga Puja in Edison, NJ 

The ‘Ekchala’ style Durga idol is the main attraction of this simple, humble celebration by a few Bengali families in Edison. This is more a gharoa (family) puja than a community puja. The festive evenings from 20 to 22 October will see various cultural indulgences by the organizers and their families. The puja schedule is chock-a-block with traditional rituals from the morning till family dinner in the evening.

• Dates: October 20 to 22
• Venue: 2 Farmhaven Avenue, Edison, NJ 08820
• Contact: aamantran@aalorbenu.net

New Jersey Ananda Mandir Durga Puja 2023

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 for a slot. On successful booking of a slot, you would receive a confirmation email, which you can show to the volunteers at the temple complex.

• Dates: October 21 to 23
• 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 Durga puja events 2023 in New Jersey, Garden State Cultural Association (GSCA) is in the 32nd 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 event. You can register on their website given below. Popular Indian singers Papon and Aditi Munshi are among the eminent guests this year. Kumari Puja is a not-to-be-missed event at GSCA Durga Puja in New Jersey.      

• Dates: October 28 and 29
• Venue: Plainfield High School, 950 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060
• Contact: (908) 754-3079 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 2023: South Jersey

Of Durga puja events in New Jersey, Bengali Cultural Society’s celebration is a lot more than food, fun and frolic. Rather, it mirrors the rich cultural and literary 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.

• Dates: October 27 to 28
• 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. Devotees are required to pre-register for the Durga puja event at Bharat Sevashram Sangha in New Jersey.

• Dates: October 20 to 24
• Location: 3490 Route-27 Kendral Park, New Jersey 08824
• Contact: 732 422 8880/ 347 735 2984 | devotees@sevashramsangha.org
• Website: sevashramsangha.org

Dakshineswar Ramakrishna Sangha Adyapeath Durga Puja 

Adyapeath in Edison, an extension of the Dakshineswar Ramakrishna Sangha Adyapeath in Kolkata, is a must visit for its atmosphere full of divine bliss during Durga puja festivities. Adya Maa (Primordial Kali) is the presiding deity of the temple where ‘Ekchala’ styled Durga idol is worshiped in the sabeki way. Established in 1995 in New Jersey, Adyapeath is dedicated to the service to the divine and humanity.       

• Dates: October 20 to 25
• Location: Kiddie Keep Well Camp, 35 Roosevelt Dr., Edison, NJ 08837
• Contact: 732-249-7077
• Website: AdyapeathUSA.org

Trinayani Durga Puja in Plainsboro, New Jersey

This is one of the most-anticipated Durga Puja celebrations in New Jersey. A not-for-profit organization established in 2022 with the aim to promote India’s rich art and culture, Trinayani’s inaugural Durga Puja was the first such event to worship an in-house protima (idol) created by the community members. It was also named third on the list of the best 25 Durga Pujas in Tristate in 2022. This year, Trinayani Durga Puja will give you a memorable year through cultural programs and Bengali feasts. The musical acts to be performed by famous urban folk music group, Bhoomi (on 28th), and Sounak Chattopadhyay, new-gen singing sensation, (on 29th) will immerse you in classic and folk tunes of Bengal. Registrations are already open on their website.

• Dates: October 28 and 29
• Venue: Community Middle School, Plainsboro Township, NJ, USA
• Contact: trinayaninj2022@gmail.com  
• Website: www.vibrnz.com/org/trinayani

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

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

Indian Eagle Travel, a leading air-ticketing partner of Indians from India to America, makes you not only travel on the best flights for low fares, but also have great times over interesting stories of food, culture, and community from India as well as America.

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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.

Picture Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

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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“A genuinely free society cannot be a spectator society”. Founded on this premise way back in 1964, the White House Fellows program has been engaging young leaders of exceptional caliber in the process of governing the nation and offering them first-hand experience in the practice of decision-making leadership for more than five decades. Individuals, regardless of their cultural origin, are selected as full-time fellows to the federal government officials and allowed to participate in roundtable discussions with leaders from public as well as private sectors. A most prestigious program, the White House Fellowship encourages active citizenship of young professionals from diverse backgrounds.

Three Indian American professionals have been selected for the recently announced 2021-2022 class of White House Fellows. They are Sunny Patel, Joy Basu and Akash Shah. These highly-gifted future leaders of Indian origin will gain a first-hand understanding of the challenges the government faces over one year of their personal involvement in the workings of various federal agencies. On completion of the program, they are expected to continue participating in national affairs, whereas others judge public policies while sitting isolated on a fence.

Sunny Patel from Burbank, California is one of the three Indian American White House Fellows in the 2021-2022 class. He will be engaged in the affairs related to the US Department of Homeland Security. A public health psychiatrist on the mission of building an equitable health system for families, Sunny Patel developed an embedding mental health model for pediatric oncology during his fellowship at New York University. He proved to be a responsible citizen and a good human being by launching a mental health support service for frontline COVID-19 workers. He helmed health interventions for vulnerable communities and refugees in the US, India and other countries. He completed his psychiatry residency at Harvard Medical School.

Among the White House Fellows in the 2021-2022 class, Joy Basu from Illinois is selected for the White House Gender Policy Council. Currently residing in San Francisco, Joy Basu is a Doctor of Law and MBA from Stanford University. Born to an immigrant couple from West Bengal, she strives to act as “a thoughtful global citizen with strong Midwestern roots”. She has had an exemplary journey from a finance intern in the US Department of State to a public policy major to a corporate leader.

A Term Member of the Council of Foreign Relations, Indian American Joy Basu is a senior advisor to businesses in emerging markets. She rose from a project manager at World Economic Forum and became the first Chief of Staff at TPG Growth. As she believes in using private-sector solutions to help solve complicated social-sector challenges, she worked on a number of projects as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, supporting international nonprofits and corporate agencies in food security. She had also organized Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign in Indiana.

The 2021-2022 class of White House Fellows includes Indian American Akash Shah from New Jersey. He will gain a first-hand understanding of the affairs related to the US Department of Health and Human Services. The director of addiction medicine at Jersey Shore University and the medical director of HEAL (a hospital-based violence intervention program); Dr. Akash Shah helped to build momentum for the national healthcare policy. The White House honored him for his efforts towards promoting the Affordable Care Act. He has the distinction of being an advisor to local, state and federal policymakers. It was Dr. Shah who treated some of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in the early days of the pandemic. He is an MD from Harvard Medical School and a Rhodes Scholar of Oxford University.

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