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

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

Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, New York

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

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

Bronx’s Nightmare Before Christmas Halloween Festival

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

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

Halloween Harvest Festival 2025, Queens

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

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

Headless Horseman Haunted Halloween, Ulster Park, NY

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

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

Pure Terror Halloween Scream Park, Monroe

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

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

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

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

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

New Jersey’s Haunted Wild West City Halloween, Stanhope

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

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

Brookdale Halloween Celebration 2025, Lincroft, NJ

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

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

13th Hour Haunted House Halloween Celebration, Wharton, NJ

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

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

Six Flags Great Adventure Halloween 2025, Jackson, NJ

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

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

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

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

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

Times Square Diwali 2025, NYC

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

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

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

Diwali Celebration at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple Long Island

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

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

Diwali at NY Ganesh Temple, Flushing

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

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

Flushing Townhall Diwali 2025 in Queens

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

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

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

New York Asia Society Diwali 2025

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

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

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

Saraswati Cultural Association Diwali in New Jersey

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

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

Diwali Motorcade in Queens

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

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

Diwali Festival at Marine Park, Brooklyn

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

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

Shri Ramamayi Deepotsav 2025 in Somerset, NJ

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

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

Diwali Fest NJ 2025 in Maplewood

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

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

New York Brahma Kumaris Diwali 2025 

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

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

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

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India is home to many grand temple kitchens preparing and serving pure vegetarian meals to tens of thousands of devotees every day. Visitors are served food as holy prasad at the mega temple kitchens in India. But, temple canteen or temple restaurant is a rare concept in India though the sprawling complex of ISKCON Temple in Bengaluru houses ‘The Higher Taste’ restaurant which serves sattvic vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner in a luxurious setting. Both the buffet menu and the a la carte menu at Bangalore ISKCON Temple’s restaurant are as pricey as that at a semi-luxury restaurant.

Indians in America got the first Hindu temple restaurant in 1993. Located at Flushing in the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island across the East River from Manhattan, the Ganesh Temple Canteen is a most popular South Indian food hub for devotees and foodies alike. The cavernous basement of New York’s Ganesh Temple in Queens houses the self-service canteen which serves simple, delicious, authentic South Indian vegetarian dishes, as many as hundred, at very reasonable rates. The canteen operates from 8.30 AM to 9 PM on all days.

From Temple Kitchen to Temple Canteen

In contrast to the intricately sculpted pillars and the delicately ornate facade upstairs, the Ganesh Temple Canteen offers a no-frills space where a filling meal feels like a divine blessing. What started as a kitchen to prepare naivedyam (sacred culinary offering) for the presiding deities of New York’s Ganesh Temple in Flushing has evolved into a family restaurant for both the temple visitors and passersby.

No Food Item Exceeds $7

Many items on the menu of Queens’ Ganesh Temple Canteen, NYC are priced within $1 to $7, except a few dishes including Onion Masala Dosa for $7.5 each, the Saturday Special Mini Tiffin for $10.50 each, and the Sunday Special Thali Lunch for $11 each. Idli, Vada, Upma, Uttapam, Dosa, Puri Aloo, and Aloo Bonda are some of the most popular South Indian tiffin items at New York’s Ganesh Temple Canteen. Most of the South Indian food items are served with delicious sambar and coconut chutney.

Umpteen Varieties of Dosa

One of the best places for dosas in New York, the Ganesh Temple Canteen in Flushing serves as many varieties of dosa as in South Indian cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, Madurai, Kochi and Bengaluru. Both Indians and Americans go gaga over crispy, delicious dosa here. Popular dosa varieties are rava dosa, onion dosa, Mysore dosa, set dosa, Pondicherry dosa, and Hyderabadi masala dosa.

Saturday and Sunday Specials

Idiappam, Dahi Vada and Chole Puri are among the Saturday Specials. The Sunday Specials include Onion Pakoda and Mirchi Bajji. Available only on Sundays, three varieties of Thali Lunch – Andhra, Madras and Kerala – are favorites of visitors. Special red onion sambar vada is a Saturday staple here. Masala Tea, Madras Coffee, and Mango Lassi are some of the popular Indian beverages on the menu at Queens Ganesh Temple Canteen NYC.

Also Read: America’s tallest gopuram is at this Indian temple in East Coast

New York’s Ganesh Temple Canteen in Flushing, Queens is one of the best South Indian restaurants in New York City. It has earned rave reviews from eminent food critics, mentions in leading community portals including Travel Beats, and features in the US media. Since its opening in 1993, the canteen has grown rapidly with the support of temple visitors. Besides serving over hundred dishes round the year, the canteen also caters to Indian community events and festivities in and around the Big Apple.

All thanks to Dr. Uma Mysorekar, President of the Hindu Temple Society of North America, New York. Her dream of a temple canteen for devotees and visitors came true with the hiring of a special cook in 1993. Today, the Ganesh Temple in Queens is known not only as a place of worship but for its decades-old canteen, one of the few best places for authentic Indian food in New York.

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

The post Ganesh Temple Canteen in New York is First Hindu Temple Restaurant for Authentic Indian food in USA first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

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

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

Times Square Durga Puja, New York

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

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

Sanskriti Durga Puja 2025: Buffalo, New York

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

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

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

New York Kali Mandir Durga Puja, Baldwin

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

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

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

Durga Puja at Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center of New York

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

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

East Coast Cultural Association Durga Puja, NY

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

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

Utsov Durga Puja 2025 in New Jersey

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Jersey Kallol Durga Puja 2025  

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

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

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

Also read: Why Bengal worships living goddesses during Durga puja

Agrani Durga Puja, Plainfield NJ

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

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

Alor Benu Durga Puja in Edison, NJ 

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

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

New Jersey Ananda Mandir Durga Puja 2025

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

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

Garden State Cultural Association: Plainfield, NJ

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

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

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

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

Bengali Cultural Society Durga Puja: South Jersey

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

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

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

New Jersey Bharat Sevashram Sangha Durga Puja

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

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

Trinayani Durga Puja in Plainsboro, New Jersey

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

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

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

PBA Agomoni and Durga Puja 2025

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

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

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

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.

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 5 years old) after a 15-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats, a leading Indian Diaspora portal.

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, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indian Expats in the US. Subscribe to Travel Beats, a thriving community portal by Indian Eagle, for Indian Diaspora stories, US-India travel news, visa and immigration updates.

The post This Indian Working Couple, a Techie and a Lawyer, Brings Indian Culture of Socializing over Food to USA first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post This Indian Working Couple, a Techie and a Lawyer, Brings Indian Culture of Socializing over Food to USA appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. This idiom seems to be a passe. Do in America as you do in India – is the new idiom set by the extravagant Indian wedding in New York that took over the Wall Street and broke the internet over the last few days of May. Over 400 wedding guests (baraatis) turned the financial district into an open-air dance floor with a DJ churning out foot-tapping music and making them groove to electrifying beats. There was everything common to a well-off Indian wedding, designer lehengas to boundless energy.

The viral videos of the Indian baraat on Wall Street sent global netizens into a tizzy googling whether the couple is billionaire, how they managed to shut down the busy Wall Street for their pre-wedding revelry. It was a lavish multi-day Gujarati wedding in Manhattan. Not an Ambani or Adani one though there are billionaires in the Gujarati community worldwide. The Indian couple whose jubilant wedding procession on Wall Street became a viral spectacle online is identified as high-profile professionals from Boston.

The groom who arrived in a white vintage car during his baraat on Wall Street was Varun Navani, the founder and CEO of Rolai, an enterprise AI solution for businesses. His family hails from Gujarat. He was featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2023. The bride was Amanda Soll, the director of legal compliance and risk management at MasterCard in Boston.

As they chose to solemnize their wedding in the Big Apple, some of their guests took business class flights to New York from Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. CEO Varun Navani’s Indian wedding festivities covered multiple locations in New York City, from Conrad Hotel to The Glasshouse and Cipriani Wall Street. Both in America and India, the traditional baraat on Wall Street amused some, while some found it an unnecessary hurley burley in the public space.

The couple not only broke the internet but also their bank to take over New York’s Wall Street for a half day. As reported by several media, including New York Post, they officially filed 28 permits with the Mayor office to shut down the public areas in the financial district – which cost them between $25,000 and $66,000 per area. Some netizens despised the event as a mere display of wealth by super rich Indians, while others resonated with the celebration of traditional culture away from India.

Indians, especially Gujaratis and Marwaris can go the extra mile to make weddings an unforgettable bash full of fashion, food, culture, pride, and celebration. This reminds us of the first big fat Indian wedding hosted by Air India in the sky. What’s not available in the US these days! Nearly everything from homemade Indian snacks to Sabyasachi lehengas,” said Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor of Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indians in North America

The post Meet CEO Varun Navani whose Baraat with 400 Guests Rocked Wall Street as a Dance Floor in New York first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post Meet CEO Varun Navani whose Baraat with 400 Guests Rocked Wall Street as a Dance Floor in New York 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.

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 first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

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.

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.” 

“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.            

The post Good News! Diwali is a Public School Holiday in New York City from 2023 first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post Good News! Diwali is a Public School Holiday in New York City from 2023 appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

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

The post From New York to London, Payal Saha’s Kati Roll Company Selling Kolkata’s Street Food Continues to be a Success first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post From New York to London, Payal Saha’s Kati Roll Company Selling Kolkata’s Street Food Continues to be a Success appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

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.

The post Air India to Fly New Aircraft for Daily Direct Service from New York to Mumbai in February; Cheap Tickets Available Now first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post Air India to Fly New Aircraft for Daily Direct Service from New York to Mumbai in February; Cheap Tickets Available Now appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.