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 2024 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 2024 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

Hindu temples in New York are among the best places for NYC Diwali events 2024. BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir at Melville, Long Island will celebrate Diwali and Chopda Puja on 31 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 November 10 this year.   

Diwali at NY Ganesh Temple, Flushing

Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam is one of the few 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 celebrated on October 31, Diwali will be followed by Govardhan Annakut Festival on November 1 at Flushing Ganesh Temple in New York.

Date: Diwali – October 31 | Govardhan Annakut – November 1 

Flushing Townhall Diwali 2024 in Queens

Of all Diwali 2024 events in New York, Flushing Townhall’s 10^th annual Diwali festival is out and out a cultural celebration. Abha Roy’s dance drama Navadurga is the mainstay of the event this year. Abha Roy, the Director of Srijan Dance Company, is a Kathak exponent.  She, along with her team, will show the aspects of feminine divinity, such as innocence, love, and compassion. You can groove on the dance floor with foot-tapping numbers churned out by DJ Rekha.

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, rangoli making, 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: November 2 | Time: 12 noon – 4 pm

New York Asia Society Diwali 2024

Diwali celebration at Asia Society in New York doubles up as a family day full of fun, joy and entertainment. Asia Society’s auditorium will throb with dance dramas and musical performances. In one of the major programs, kids will present Tathaastu, a musical act inspired by Ramleela. Asia Society is also organizing an interactive introduction to Indian classical music with focus on traditional instruments.

Asia Society’s Diwali event in New York is a great opportunity for Indian children to get introduced to the art of making clay diyas, traditional mithai, and handicrafts. A storytelling session is also among the programs. The eighth floor of the venue will host live bhangra and Bollywood dance. The event is being organized in collaboration with the Culture Tree that promotes South Asian culture in the east coast.

• Date: October 26 | Time: 1 pm – 4 pm
• Venue: 725 Park Avenue, NY 10021

Grand Diwali in Edison, New Jersey 

In New Jersey, Edison Township’s Diwali celebration is getting bigger and better every year. Presented by Indian American Mayor Sam Doshi and the Township Council, the Edison Diwali Festival 2024 will see a spectacular display of more than 100,000 lights at the venue, Papaianni Park. Mayor Sam Joshi, who traces his roots in Gujarat, invites everyone to the celebration scheduled on October 26, from 2 pm to 9 pm. Diwali being a traditional Indian festivity, music and food are the mainstay of the event. Alongside featuring 50 food stalls, the venue will be abuzz with a number of music and cultural performances.

• Date: October 26 | Time: 2 to 9 pm | Contact: 732-248-7283
• Venue:  Papaianni Park, 100 Municipal BLVD, Edison

Siddhachalam Jain Tirth Diwali 2024, 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 in New Jersey. On the day of Diwali festival, they also organize Mahavira Nirvan Ladoo Puja as per the Jain tradition.

• Date: November 1 and 2
• Venue: 111 Hope Road, Blairstown, NJ 07825
• Contact: (908) 362-9793
• RSVP at events@siddhachalam.org

South Street Seaport Museum Diwali

Do celebrate Diwali amidst waters at the South Street Seaport Museum in New York City. Wavertree, a historic wrought iron sailing ship dating back to 18885, is the Diwali event venue at the Seaport Museum. Visitors can make special decorations with diyas and marigold flowers. There is a pool on deck where you can float diyas while making a wish. 11 am – 6 pm is the Diwali schedule on November 1.

A puppet show has been organized to tell the audience about the religious and cultural significance of Diwali. There’s a book reading session for kids among the programs. The even will conclude with live performances and popular Diwali songs that you can groove to. You can be assured of a unique experience of Diwali celebration with a maritime twist.

Pelham Art Center Diwali, NYC 

Among the places for Diwali 2024 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 10 | Time: 1-3 pm
• Venue: Pelham Art Center, 155 Fifth Avenue, NY 10803

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

Sanskriti of New Jersey Diwali 2024

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 2024 is back with dazzling fireworks on November 2. The firework display is simply unmissable!

On October 30, Sanskriti of New Jersey is hosting an annual Diwali Meet with Sambandh, a vibrant community for adults above 55 years of age. Registration is mandatory for $15 per person. Neha Dave and Chirag Trivedi, who are popular for their Bollywood hits, will add a zing to the Diwali Meet with their special performances.

• Date: November 2 (fireworks)
• Time: Yet to be announced 
• Venue: Livingston OVAL 
• Contact: info@sanskritiofnj.org

Diwali by Brahma Kumaris in New York

The Brahma Kumaris, a global spiritual organization headquartered in Rajasthan, is inviting New Yorkers to their Diwali event on November 2, 2024 at their Manhattan Meditation Center. One of the free Diwali events in New York City, the celebration is that of the human soul’s journey from darkness to light. It is showcased through an art exhibition, live storytelling, live music, and guided meditation that intensifies one’s longing for spiritual awakening in the solitude of heavenly peace and divine bliss.

• Date: November 2 | Time: 1 – 2pm EDT
• Venue: 306, 5^th Avenue, NY 10001

Brooklyn Children’s Museum Diwali 2024

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, such as mithai-making and lantern-making workshop.

• Date: October 26 and November 7 | Time: 4 pm – 8 pm
• Venue: 145 Brooklyn Avenue, NY 11213

The post Diwali Events in East Coast USA: Know 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 in October 2024. 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 2024 in New York and New Jersey.  “Elo re Dugga elo re…” 

PC: Travel Beats

First-ever Durga Puja at Times Square, New York

2024 will see the first-ever Durga Puja celebration at Times Square, a most happening commercial hub in New York City. 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 5 and 6
• Contact: ecdpanewyork@gmail.com, +1315-586-3372

Sanskriti Durga Puja 2024: 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 is looking forward to a live performance by Snigdhajit Bhowmik and his band of musicians on October 6. Their event was graced by such renowned performing artists as Purna Das Boul and Bhupen Hazarika in the years gone by.

• Dates: October 4,5, and 6
• Venue: Hindu Cultural Society, 1595 N French Road, Getzville, NY 14068
• Contact: president@buffalosanskriti.org, +1 716-331-7657
• 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: October 8 to 12
• 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 13
• 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 2024 includes three musical evenings by Somlata on OCT 18, Snigdhajit Bhowmik on OCT 19, and Prashmita Paul on OCT 20.

• Dates: October 18, 19 and 20
• Venue: Gujarati Samaj Hall, 17315 Horace Harding Expy, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365
• Contact: eastcoastcultural@gmail.com
• Website: Eccany.com

Utsov Durga Puja 2024 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 Deep Chatterjee, a renowned folk singer, and Saberi Bhattacharya, a popular playback singer, to enthral the audience with folk music of Bengal.

Krosswindz, a Grassroot Grammy Award winning folk-fusion band from Kolkata, will churn out popular folk numbers and take the exuberance of Utsov Durga Puja 2024 celebration to the fever pitch on October 13. Prior registration is compulsory to enter the venue and attend the live band shows.

• Dates: October 12 and 13
• Contact: 732 648 7461 or 313 338 8768, 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 43rd 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 2024 will celebrate its 43rd anniversary over foot-tapping numbers of the most popular bands, Cactus on 12 OCT and Chandrabindoo on 13 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 this year.

• Dates: October 12 and 13
• 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 2024  

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, OCT 10-13.

Babul Supriyo will make the audience groove to his hit numbers on October 10, while the Nandi sister duo will set the stage on fire with their foot-tapping music on October 11. Madhubanti Bagchi from Mumbai will take over the stage on October 12 and her soulful songs will make the evening unforgettable. Kallol New Jersey Durga Puja 2024 will culminate in amazing rides on a rollercoaster of music by Piu Mukherjee and Sudesh Bhosle on October 13.

• Dates: October 10 to 13
• 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 2024. 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, as singer Javed Ali of ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, ‘Delhi-6’, and ‘Rockstar’ fame from Delhi will set the stage on fire on OCT 6.

• Dates: October 5 and 6
• Venue: Plainfield High School, 950 Park Avenue
• 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 October 4-6 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 family dinner at night.

• Dates: October 4,5,6
• Venue: 2 Farmhaven Avenue, Edison, NJ 08820
• Contact: aamantran@aalorbenu.net, 207-807-7556 (Suvro)

New Jersey Ananda Mandir Durga Puja 2024

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: October 8 to 12
• 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 2024 in New Jersey, Garden State Cultural Association (GSCA) is gearing up for their 33^rd 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 the cultural programs. You can register on their website given below. Popular Indian singers Richa Sharma and Pousali Banerjee are among the eminent guests this year.  

• Dates: October 19 and 20
• 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: South Jersey

Of New Jersey Indian events in October 2024, 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. Among the Durga Puja organizers in USA, only BCS South Jersey is presenting ‘Chitrangada‘, Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s dance drama based on a popular tale from the Mahabharata.

• Dates: October 11, 12 and 13
• 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: October 8 to 13
• 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 Raghab Chatterjee and jazzy Somlata Chowdhury, on October 2 and 13 respectively, will make you not only groove to live music but also feel nostalgic. You may contact Trinayani for registrations.

• Dates: October 12 and 13
• Venue: Community Middle School, Plainsboro Township, NJ, USA
• Contact: contact@trinayaninj.org  
• Website: www.trinayaninj.org

PBA Agomoni and Durga Puja 2024

Princeton Bengali Association in New Jersey will invoke Maa Durga on Mahalaya (September 29) through their ‘Agomoni’ program and celebrate Durga Puja on October 20 in Plainsboro. 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: 20 October
• Venue: Community Middle School, Plainsboro NJ
• 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 appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Chai, an incredibly versatile drink, is next to God in India. Like the Almighty, chai is omnipresent across the country, from a poor man’s hut to billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Antilia, from a roadside stall to a Taj Hotel restaurant, from rural interiors to urban hangouts, from railway platforms to the height of 35000 feet, from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, and from a writer’s desk to an IT employee’s favorite pastime. Reportedly, India consumed over 1.1 billion kilograms of tea in 2021 alone.

Ek cup cha (a cup of tea) is the elixir of life, especially in Kolkata. Serving tea with a couple of Britannia biscuits to guests in households is unique to the culture of Kolkata. Discussing and debating the current state of affairs, from politics to economy, while sipping garam cha (hot tea) at a tea stall is a morning ritual in the City of Joy. Tea is a must-have stimulant accompanying a big bowl of jhalmuri with tele bhaja (fritters) at any adda, a get-together of friends or family members, in the City of Rabindranath Tagore.

Picture Credit: Kolkata Chai Co

Having grown discontented with the westernized versions of tea in the USA, Ani and Ayan Sanyal – an Indian American sibling duo – have been brewing desi chai for thousands of Indians in and outside New York since 2018. Chai is one of the few things that have filled in the void between their life in America and the life they lived in India during their vacations. Ayan and Ani Sanyal in their thirties, established Kolkata Chai Co, an authentic Indian tea brand in New York, out of their love for Kolkata, respect for the native tradition, cravings for cha and, most importantly, nostalgia.

The genesis of the Sanyal brothers’ Kolkata Chai Co began with their trips to India. Right from the booking of flight tickets to Kolkata from USA for vacations, their tastebuds would long for the flavor of roadside tea stalls and street food that the City of Joy is known for. Their excitement would culminate in a visit to their parents’ favorite tea stalls during every trip to Kolkata. The visit is as holy as that to College Street, Coffee House, Nandan, and the Victoria Memorial for art and culture buffs. Hardly does any American tea brand have the flavor and aroma of chai brewed by even traditional stalls in Kolkata’s lanes and alleys.

After their return from one such enlightening trip to the City of Joy in 2017, Ani and Anil started brewing their thoughts and cooking up business plans to make their dream of making America sip authentic desi chai come true. An overwhelming response to the pilot testing of desi chai in farmers markets and culinary workshops gave them green signal to launch Kolkata Chai Co in 2019. Today, Kolkata Chai Café is a landmark on the lower side of Manhattan and a must stop for Indian tea lovers.

Just when the business started toddling, the pandemic shut the café down. Inarguably, opening a business is a capital-intensive process in a city like New York. On top of that, the pandemic made it a lot more difficult to make the business stand as public life came to a standstill in the Big Apple (rather across the globe). They started delivering chai door to door across the city in between two waves of the pandemic. They also came up with Chai Mix and began to ship it across the country. Chai Mix, a signature packaged product with different flavors including the one made with “organic Assam tea leaves and premium spices”, sells like hot cakes.

“Tea being the mainstay of Kolkata Chai Café, the menu has Masala Chai, Kesar Chai, Ginger Chai, Iced Chai, Oatmilk Chai, Filter Coffee, Cardamom Coffee, and Assam Milk Chai. Masala Limca, Turmeric Latte (haldi doodh), and Almond Milk are among the seasonal specials on the menu. Be it the Sanyal brothers’ café in NYC or a humble tea stall in India, chai and samosa make a perfect Indian couple. Therefore, the menu features samosa with mint and tamarind chutney. With egg rolls on the menu, the sibling duo brought a slice of Kolkata’s street food culture to New York. Egg rolls dominate the mood of evening outings in Bengal. However, I am surprised to see jhal muri missing from the menu of Kolkata Chai Café in New York,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indians in America.

Kolkata Chai Café in New York City is one of the best hangouts for Indians living in or visiting the United States. This exclusive story is part of the new series – Life in America – by Indian Eagle that hundreds of thousands of Indians in USA have chosen as their reliable travel-booking partner. Subscribe to Travel Beats, a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, for community stories, US-India travel news, visa and immigration updates.

The post This Indian-origin Sibling Duo is Brewing Desi Chai to Make America Fall in Love with Aroma and Taste of India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

How it feels when you wake up to your familiar aroma of homemade breakfast dishes on a Saturday morning thousands of miles away from India? Surreal and heavenly! A working couple from South India has turned their neighborhood into a dosa-loving community of the locals and other Indians residing there in the northeast USA. They capitalized on the Indian culture of cooking and sharing food to make friends with strangers in their adopted home and started Brooklyn Curry Project in 2021. 

“Swetha and Venkat Raju’s Brooklyn Curry Project in Fort Green, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, is to dosa lovers what Queens’ Ganesh Temple canteen is to devotees in the Big Apple. What they had started as a makeshift social hang during the pandemic has now become one of the few best places for authentic South Indian food in New York City. It is their third kid (now a toddler) after a 14-year-old son and an 8-year-old daughter,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats, a leading Indian Diaspora portal.

PC: Brooklyn Curry Project

It was 2016 when Venkat and Swetha Raju with their firstborn moved from Bengaluru to New York for a better life in the land of American Dream. “We really missed home when we first came here, so we just started cooking and inviting neighbors over,” Swetha, a software engineer, told Brooklyn Magazine, as we Indians believe that the way to one’s heart is through the one’s stomach. Soon the neighborhood began to swear by their food, and of course, their friendliness. Venkat, a lawyer by profession, is equally good at cooking; both come from families with a tiffin business in Karnataka.

Brooklyn Curry Project was born out of their daughter’s lemonade stand that was set up one summer near the weekly farmers market in Fort Greene. The sense of satisfaction, as they describe their feeling of meeting people at the lemonade stand, became a driver for their heartfelt wish to serve Bangalore-style masala dosa, fluffy idli, uthappam, and masala chai to the locals. While dosa – the king of the menu – is the crowd puller, they do also offer nutritious lunch platters with chapati, rice/khichdi, curry, pickle, and moong sprout salad.

Both Indians and non-Indians make a beeline to their humble food stand even before the first ladle of fermented batter makes it to the heated pan for a crispy dosa every Saturday morning. In addition to filling the void of authentic South Indian food in the lives of Indians in and around Brooklyn, Swetha and Venkat dispelled the most common myth of Indian food being all about butter chicken and chicken tikka masala. “Indian food is so stereotyped outside of India. There is more to our food culture; every region has its own cuisine,” said Swetha, a cofounder of Brooklyn Curry Project.

“It is like having a piece of India in your backyard. Swetha puts love into every dosa she makes. They even catered for our 2-year-old’s birthday celebration and made it extra special. The sambar she makes is probably the best. No exaggeration at all. As a New Yorker with a small child and no family nearby, their stand makes Brooklyn feel more like home,” said one of the regulars to Brooklyn Curry Project in Fort Greene. “It reminds me a lot of what my mom cooks in India. The food tastes just like mom’s. Besides, the Raju family is amazing,” said another Indian regular.

Mango lassi and masala chai are among the bestsellers in the Rajus’ repertoire. The USP of their parttime venture is their practice of environmental sustainability; those who bring containers from home for takeaways get a 5% discount. Another USP is the judicious use of spices that they source from India and ground at their New York residence. They also share various dosa recipes on Instagram and offer a weekly subscription of dosa batter so that customers make their own in home and don’t miss them on week days.

“Venkat and Swetha Raju organize an annual dosa eating contest out of their business sensibility for increasing the brand equity and brand loyalty among their customers. Indeed, Indian food is ruling tastebuds even on the other end of the spectrum, that is Washington Square Park at lower Manhattan where the ‘Dosa Man of New York’ effervescently serves smoking hot masala dosas. There is no denying that the proliferation of Indian food culture, including Payal Saha’s Kati Rolls, continues to make New York home to a majority of Indian immigrants,” said Editor Sourav Agarwal.

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 Indian Diaspora stories, US-India travel news, visa and immigration updates.

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The years of advocating for Diwali to be declared an official school holiday in New York City has come to a fruition. Mayor Eric Adams’ message, “Diwali will be a public school holiday in New York City starting 2023”, to a diverse populace of over 2,00,000 Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs has ignited fireworks in the Big Apple though Diwali 2023 is a few months away from now.

Amid beats of festive music produced by various Indian musical instruments, Indian American Jenifer Rajkumar announced the unanimous passage of her bill in the New York State Assembly and the Senate on June 26. It is Jenifer Rajkumar who led the movement to put Diwali on the list of New York City school holidays. She tweeted, “I was proud of lead and win this fight. I said I would do it and I did!” Since she broke the news on Twitter, congratulations and heartwarming ‘thank you’ notes have been pouring in for her.

“This is an educational moment because when we acknowledge Diwali, we are going to encourage Children to learn about Diwali. We’re going to have them start talking about what it is to celebrate the festival of lights, and how to turn the light on within yourself. I learned so much about Diwali and what the festival of lights means,” said NYC Mayor Eric Adams. He tweeted, “I’m so proud to have stood with Jenifer Rajkumar and community leaders in the fight to make it happen. I know it is a little early, but Shubh Diwali.” 

PC: NYC Mayor | Twitter (left), Bhaskar.com (right)

“New York City, the most diverse cultural capital of America, hosts Indian Independence Day and Diwali events with pomp at Times Square every year. So diverse is the social fabric of the Big Apple that over 42% of the school goers come from ethnic households where English is the second language. The Empire City has been home to the booming Indian community since before JJ Singh, a businessman from Punjab, got Indian immigrants’ right to naturalized US citizenship recognized by President Harry Truman’s approval to the Luce-Cellar Act, 1946 that further led to the removal of the quota on Indian immigration to the US in the 1960s,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indians in the US.

However, Jenifer Rajkumar’s bill for Diwali as a school holiday in New York City is to be signed into law by New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul. Little room is left for another school holiday on the NYC school calendar, as 180 days of school attendance is compulsory. Both NYC Mayor Eric Adams and NY Assemblymember Jenifer are confident that the Brooklyn-Queens Day (Anniversary Day) will be removed to accommodate Diwali on the list of NYC school holidays.

“Our time has come. For over two decades, South Asians and Indo-Caribbeans have been fighting for the Diwali school holiday in New York. I stand firm with them and for their mission. And we are finally going to realize that goal,” said Jennifer Rajkumar, the first Indian American woman in the New York State Assembly. She added, “Diwali is a celebration of the Hindu principles of interfaith, harmony, love, peace, and tolerance. The same principles had inspired Martin Luther King, the great American civil rights hero.”

New Jersey is more liberal than New York as far as Indian immigrants’ right to having a school holiday on their religious festivals is concerned. New Jersey school holiday lists incorporated as many as 19 major Hindu festivals including Diwali, Pongal, Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, Guru Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Raksha Bandhan, and Maha Shivaratri. Before Jennifer Rajkumar, Indian American Senator Kevin Thomas sought an amendment to the New York school holiday lists so that Diwali, Onam, and Vaisakhi could be accommodated for Indians across the state in his bill S4038.

“We’re happy for our customers from New York City, who celebrate Diwali away from their extended family, friends, and relatives in India. Many Indian families travel to India during the Christmas Holiday season. Having a day off for Diwali, children of Indian households in the Big Apple will be able to spend the day learning the significance of the festival of lights,” said the chief customer relations officer of Indian Eagle Travel, a most trusted air-ticketing partner of Indians in America.            

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Kati Roll, an easy-to-grab snack on the go from the street food landscape of Kolkata, has found home in the United States since Payal Saha started cashing in on her nostalgia in 2002. A newly wed bride from India back then, Payal turned her cravings for Kolkata’s Street food into her passion for a business in the US where spouses of H1B visa professionals were barred from taking up jobs due to H4 visa restrictions. She opened the first outlet in New York City, which eventually became a $16-million franchise – The Kati Roll Company – from the US to London.

Stuffed with skewer-grilled ingredients wrapped in flatbread (paratha) topped with sauces/chutneys and seasoned with chopped green chilies, Kati Rolls resonate with various emotions of Kolkata and define the vibes of different occasions. Grabbing bites of an egg roll or a chicken roll or a chicken egg roll is a ritual during a movie interval, a get-together, a friendly soiree, a holiday outing, a shopping spree, and during a lazy walk on a breezy evening in Kolkata. Even hopping across Durga Puja pandals and binging on Kati Rolls go hand in hand in the City of Joy.

Today, Payal Saha’s Kati Roll Company in New York has four outlets – Grand Central, Greenwich Village, Midtown East, and Midtown West. Grand Central is the newest one, while the oldest outlet is at Greenwich Village. Her business expanded to London where she owns an outlet near Oxford Street. Presenting Kati Rolls as a quick snack and a casual meal to people on the move in highly cosmopolitan cities like New York and London has been the recipe of her success thousands of miles away from India.

She took a flight to Kolkata from New York before making her entrepreneurial debut and visited many fast-food joints selling Kati Rolls from north Kolkata to south Kolkata. She also helped at a shop to learn the nitty-gritty of making and serving Kati Rolls the way it is done in every nook and corner of Kolkata. She went on to open the first outlet of the Kati Roll Company in New York without a business plan and any prior experience of running a business. There was no such extravagance as ceremonial opening. Her zeal to offer an authentic taste of Kolkata’s favorite street food to Americans, especially New Yorkers helped the business grow.

“She knew she may not be able to provide the vibes that treating one’s tastebuds to Kati Rolls in a typical Kolkatan setting comes with. However, she recreated the filmy ambience that many Indians are fond of by decorating her Kati Roll Company outlets in New York with vintage posters of old Bollywood movies and Bengali films. This reminds me of the décor of Google’s Indian restaurant in Silicon Valley,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats.

The USP of Payal Saha’s Indian street food business is chapati, not paratha. She chose whole durum wheat over refined floor to make chapatis to wrap various fillings in rolls. Durum wheat is rich in protein, potassium, zinc and dietary fibre. This is what distinguishes her rolls as healthy delights from the paratha-wrapped rolls sold across Kolkata. Achari Paneer Roll and Chicken Tikka Roll are the bestsellers of all varieties, including Chana Masala Roll, Shami Kabab Roll, Aloo Masala Roll, Egg Aloo Roll, Egg Paneer Roll, and Egg Chicken Roll.

Kati Roll Company’s founder Payal Saha inherited the entrepreneurial streak from both her grandparents, paternal and maternal. Her maternal grandfather studied chemical engineering at New York University and came back home to start a business. Her rolls are so high on demand even after 20 years that she sells over 3000 rolls a day and over a million a year. The rush is so huge some days that she hires bouncers to manage the serpentine queues of customers. Today, her company is a popular brand recognized by Americans and Indians alike.

This exclusive story is part of the new series, Indian Life in America, by Indian Eagle that hundreds of thousands of Indians in USA have chosen as their reliable air-ticketing partner. Subscribe to Travel Beats, a community portal by Indian Eagle, for Indian Diaspora stories, US-India travel news, visa and immigration updates.

Also Read: Americans in Love with Desi Chai Brewed by Indian-origin Siblings

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Good news for Indians in and around New York! Finally, the wait is over. Come February 2023, you will get direct flights from New York to Mumbai. Starting February 14, Air India will start operating daily nonstop service between New York JFK and Mumbai. In its current schedule, the airline connects New York to Mumbai via New Delhi. New Boeing 777-200LRs that the airline will induct into its long-haul fleet this year end will be deployed for direct service between Mumbai and New York JFK.

A one-way trip on nonstop Air India flights from New York to Mumbai will take 14 hours 10 minutes. The booking window is open at IndianEagle.com where cheap NY JFK to BOM flight tickets are available now for February and March. As of NOV 16, the best deals are $482 and $511 for weekday travel on February 15, 2023. The same deals are available on IndianEagle.com for New York to Mumbai travel in mid-March. Airfares being dynamic, these deals may not be available later this week or month.

The flight AI 116 will depart from New York JFK Airport at 11:55 AM EST and arrive at Mumbai CSMI Airport at 11:35 AM IST. In view of the continued suspension of flights to Mumbai by Delta and United Airlines, Air India’s will be the only nonstop service to Mumbai from the northeast US.

Boeing 777-200LR for Air India’s Nonstop NYC to Mumbai Flights   

Boeing 777-200LRs to be deployed for long-haul direct flights to India from New York JFK have three travel classes – economy, business, and first class. B777-200LRs belong to the long-range category of wide-body aircraft suitable for long-haul intercontinental routes like San Francisco to Mumbai, New York to Singapore, and Chicago to Sydney.

Air India’s B777-200LR has an increased maximum take-off weight (347.5 tons) among other unique features. The more take-off weight, the more payload (carrying) capacity. B777-200LR’s maximum take-off weight is almost double the aircraft’s fuel capacity (148.7 tons) plus payload capacity (passenger, baggage, and cargo). Since the aircraft can accommodate additional fuel tanks in the rear cargo hold, it can carry extra fuel for extra flying time (in case the airline needs to change its route due to some foreign airspace restrictions) without compromising on the total load of passengers’ checked-in bags.

Air India’s Baggage Allowance for New York to Mumbai Nonstop Flights  

Baggage allowance for Air India’s nonstop flights to Mumbai from New York JFK Airport is the same as that for airline’s nonstop flights on other routes between USA and India. As Air India’s check-in baggage policy goes, economy passengers are entitled to 2 check-in bags, each weighing up to 23 kg for free. Air India’s free baggage allowance for business class travelers permits 2 check-in bags of 32 kg each on New York to Mumbai flights. If the weight of one’s check-in baggage exceeds permissible limits, additional baggage fees apply.

“Our Indian customers in Washington DC, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Philadelphia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Maine are happy about the seamless connectivity to Mumbai from John F. Kennedy Airport, as they can easily reach New York by road,” said the chief customer relations officer of IndianEagle.com, a most trusted air ticketing agency selling cheap Air India tickets for nonstop flights to India from USA.

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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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Not all heroes wear capes. This maxim is true about the Indian Americans who emerged heroes at shooting sites, including the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. Shanti Viswanathan, an Indian American teacher, risked her life and saved the students of her class in the Parkland School shooting. Another Indian American became a hero in a recent deadly shooting.

The most recent shooting in the Harlem neighborhood of Queens, NYC saw Indian American Sumit Sulan, a rookie cop, act decisively in the face of a deadly situation. Sumit who joined the New York City Police Department 9 months ago is being hailed as a super rookie for shooting a convicted felon. The 47-year-old felon Lawshawn MacNeil gunned down one of the police officers and injured the other. The injured also died four days after the incident.

On January 21, the New York City Police Department got a call about domestic violence from MacNeil’s residence in Harlem and sent three cops including Sumit Sulan to investigate the call. Reportedly, MacNeil got into a tiff with his mother over the lack of vegan food in the kitchen. The moment the cops entered the residence, a fatal shootout ensued. With his gun, a Glock 45 that he owned unlawfully, MacNeil shot down two of the rookie cops: 22-year-old Jason Rivera and 27-year-old Wilbert Mora.

In the blink of an eye, Indian American Sumit Sulan retaliated and fired back at MacNeil. As per his reports to the media, the rookie cops did know that MacNeil was armed. 47-year-old MacNeil, a convict in four other cases, was out on probation on a 2003 felony narcotics charge in New York. The casualty would have been more if Sumit had not acted in the nick of time. Sumit is still in shock of the deadly mayhem, according to his mother, and is trying to come to terms with whatever happened. “I feel very bad for my colleagues who died in the shootout, and their families,” said Sumit.

This story of bravery is brought to you by Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indians in America, and a Subsidiary of Indian Eagle Travel. Sign up for Travel Beats’ newsletter for the latest community stories, US-India travel news, and visa updates.

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Since the onset of 2021 in the dead of the pandemic, a few new nonstop flights have entered the US-India travel corridor; the most awaited ones being American Airlines’ comeback flights to India. American Airlines’ nonstop flights to India from USA include New York to New Delhi, and Seattle to Bengaluru. The airline exited India in 2012, terminating its only Chicago-Delhi service in on account of unprofitability.

Since October 31, American Airlines has been operating New York to Delhi nonstop flights on a daily basis, which is up from the initially planned weekly three flights during non-peak times. The airline’s Boeing 777-300ER departs NY JFK Airport at 20:10 EST and arrives in New Delhi the next day at 19:30 IST. 13 hours and 50 minutes is the total travel time on this route. But the return flight from Delhi to JFK takes 16 hours.

American Airlines’ New York to India flights is a result of its strategic alliance with JetBlue Airways in the Northeast USA. JetBlue Airways’ passengers from the Midwest, Northeast and Southwest USA will be able to connect on American Airlines’ flights to New Delhi from JFK International Airport. To be precise, JetBlue will provide the regional feed for its partner American Airlines’ long-haul international flights from New York.

American Airlines’ Seattle to Bengaluru nonstop flights, which could not take off in October 2020 due to the pandemic, were rescheduled to be launched in November 2021. It was further postponed to March 2022. As the latest reports state, this route will not see American Airlines’ nonstop service until October 2022 or for an indefinite period of time.

This daily service will be the first-ever nonstop connectivity to India from the West coast. Notably, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the largest airport in the Pacific Northwest and the 8th largest in North America with nearly 52 million footfalls in 2019. The flight will take off from Seattle at 17:55 PST and arrive in Bengaluru the next day at 23:05 IST. The Seattle-BLR nonstop flight will take 16 hours and 30 minutes. The return flight will depart BLR Airport at 01:45 IST and reach Seattle at 06:00 PST. The total travel time be 16 hours and 45 minutes.

“Currently, Air India is ruling the JFK-DEL route, one of the busiest in the US-India corridor, with nonstop flights. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, and Virgin Atlantic are the best airlines offering one-stop flights between New York and New Delhi. Delta suspended its nonstop service from New York to India. There are nonstop United flights to Delhi and Mumbai from Newark EWR. In view of this, American Airlines’ New York to Delhi nonstop service will run into competition with Air India’s. American’s premium economy cabin will definitely be an advantage over Air India,” said the chief travel advisor of IndianEagle.com, a leading travel-booking partner of Indians in the US.

American Airlines’ new codeshare partner in India

American Airlines has inked a codeshare agreement with IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share. IndiGo will fly American’s passengers to 29 domestic destinations from New Delhi and Bangalore. American Airlines will place its code on IndiGo flights for onward connectivity on 29 destinations across India, as per the agreement which is subject to the government’s approval.

American Airlines’ check-in baggage policy for flights to India

American Airlines offers generous check-in baggage allowance for Premium Economy and Business. American Airlines’ Premium Economy tickets allow two pieces of free check-in baggage (each up to 23 kg) per passenger. You can check in two bags for free, each up to 32kg, on American Airlines’ business class flights to India. Checking in of a third bag in either of these two travel classes is permitted at the cost of $200.

American Airlines’ flagship aircraft for JFK-DEL flights

Boeing 777-300ER with Flagship First and Business Class will be deployed for American Airlines’ daily New York to Delhi nonstop flights. The flagship international aircraft can accommodate 304 passengers on board. There are 8 seats in the Flagship First class, 52 Flagship Business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, 28 extra legroom seats with 36-inch of pitch in Main Cabin Economy, and 188 standard economy seats with 31-32-inch of pitch. American Airlines’ premium economy seats come with the features of the airline’s domestic first class seats (recliner style) offering more width and pitch than economy seats.

American Airlines’ comeback to India, with nonstop flights to Delhi and Bangalore from the US, coincides with the lifting of entry restrictions for fully-inoculated Indians in November 2021. Booking of best flights to India for cheap fares is open on the website and over the phone at 01-800-615-3969.

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