With Diwali entering the list of New York City school holidays, the Festival of Lights is now a public school holiday in both New York and New Jersey. Indian families are gearing up to celebrate the festival of lights at a number of Diwali 2023 events in New York and New Jersey, from Times Square to Garden City, from Ganesh Temple to BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, and from Bhakti Center to Brooklyn Children Museum. Diwali is one of the few Indian festivals, which is celebrated with great pomp and loads of enthusiasm from America to Australia.     

Like previous years, Travel Beats, a leading Indian community portal in the US, has compiled a list of best Diwali 2023 events in New York and New Jersey for you. If you have not planned your travel on last minute flights to India yet, you can celebrate Diwali with fellow Indians at any of the places listed below. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, a trusted air-ticketing partner of Indians in America.    

Diwali at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple Long Island, NY

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

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

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

Pelham Art Center Diwali 2023, NYC 

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

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

Bhakti Center Diwali at Manhattan

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

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

Brooklyn Children’s Museum Diwali 2023

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

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

Flushing Townhall Diwali 2023 in Queens, NY

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

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

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

Diwali 2023 in Edison, New Jersey

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

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

Siddhachalam Jain Tirth Diwali Mela 2023, New Jersey

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

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

Saraswati Cultural Association NJ Diwali 2023

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

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

Marlboro Indian Foundation Diwali 2023, New Jersey

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

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

Sanskriti of New Jersey Diwali 2023

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

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

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

Durga Puja is one of the grandest and most-awaited Indian festivals in October 2023. It is a most spectacular celebration in the Indian state of Bengal. However, the festival is celebrated with equal enthusiasm wherever Bengalis are in the world. About two dozen of Durga Puja events in New Jersey and New York transform the northeast cost into a mini Bengal with cultural exuberance this time of the year. Bengali associations across New York and New Jersey started preparations months ago, so that the festivity does not fall short of joy and happiness in their adopted home. They can live away from home, but can’t survive without the blessings of Maa Durga, the bliss of bhoger kichudi, the beats of dhak, and the ecstasy of dunuchi naach.

Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, recommends some of the best places for Durga puja 2023 celebrations in New York and New Jersey.  “Elo re Dugga elo re…” 

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Sanskriti Durga Puja 2023: Buffalo, New York

Sanskriti, a Bengali cultural association in Buffalo, is one of the best and oldest Durga Puja celebrations in New York. Founded in 1974-75, the Sanskriti Durga Puja is a cultural platform for the present generation of Bengali Diaspora in the northeast US to have a tryst with their heritage, literature, and traditions thousands of miles away from India. Sanskriti also celebrates other festivals with equal enthusiasm. Their Durga Puja celebration was graced by such renowned performing artists as Purna Das Boul and Bhupen Hazarika in the years gone by.

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

East Coast Durga Puja Association, New York 

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

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

New York Kali Mandir Durga Puja, Baldwin

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

• Dates: October 21 to 23
• Venue: 614 Seaman Ave, Baldwin, NY, 11510
• Contact: nykmdevotee@gmail.com, +1 516-771-5254
• Website: Nykalimandir.org

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

Durga Puja at Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center of New York

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

• Dates: October 22
• Venue: 17 E 94th St, New York, NY 10128
• Contact: (212) 534-9445
• E-mail:  rvcenternewyork@gmail.com
• Website: Ramakrishna.org

East Coast Cultural Association Durga Puja, NY

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

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

Utsov Inc. Durga Puja 2023, Edison NJ

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

• Dates: October 21 and 22
• Contact: 732 648 7461 or 313 338 8678, utsov@utsov.org
• Venue: Jo Ann Magistro Performing Arts Center, 200 Rues Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 
• Website: Utsov.org

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

Garden State Puja Committee: Durga Puja in New Jersey

One of the oldest and biggest Durga Puja events in New Jersey is organized by the Bengalis of Garden State Puja Committee, Jersey City. GSPC Durga Utsov 2023 will celebrate its 42nd anniversary over foot-tapping numbers of rock bands, Lakkhichhara and the Anupam Roy Band. Nostalgic renditions of  Rabindra Sangeet by Sahana Bajpaie, a contemporary vocalist, will lend the vibes of Kolkata to the venue during the festivity.

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

• Dates: October 21 and 22
• Venue: William L. Dickinson High School, 2 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
• Contact: +1 201-993-4577 | info@gardenstatepuja.org
• Website: gspcnj.com

New Jersey Kallol Durga Puja 2023  

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

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

• Dates: October 20 to 23
• Venue: Ukranian Cultural Center, 135 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, New Jersey 08873
• Contact: 732.290.5218
• Website: Kallol.com

Also read: Why Bengal worships living goddesses during Durga puja

Alor Benu Durga Puja in Edison, NJ 

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

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

New Jersey Ananda Mandir Durga Puja 2023

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

• Dates: October 21 to 23
• Venue: 269 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873-5212
• Contact: (732) 873-9821 or info@anandamandir.org
• Website: Anandamandir.org

Garden State Cultural Association: Plainfield, NJ

Among Durga puja events 2023 in New Jersey, Garden State Cultural Association (GSCA) is in the 32nd year of the celebration. GSCA, a nonprofit Indian American organization of Bengalis in Plainfield, leaves no stone unturned to make Durga Puja a grand get-together of not only Bengalis but also other Indian communities over delicious food, shopping and cultural entertainment. The interesting lineup of events include talent shows and drawing competitions.

Registration is compulsory to attend the event. You can register on their website given below. Popular Indian singers Papon and Aditi Munshi are among the eminent guests this year. Kumari Puja is a not-to-be-missed event at GSCA Durga Puja in New Jersey.      

• Dates: October 28 and 29
• Venue: Plainfield High School, 950 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060
• Contact: (908) 754-3079 or contact@gsca.us
• Website: web.gsca.us

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

Bengali Cultural Society Durga Puja 2023: South Jersey

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

• Dates: October 27 to 28
• Venue: Indian Cultural Center, 820 NJ-73, Marlton, NJ 08053
• Contact: info@bcssj.org
• Website: Bcssj.org

New Jersey Bharat Sevashram Sangha Durga Puja

The New Jersey chapter of Bharat Sevashram Sangha celebrates Durga Puja to worship the Supreme Power of the universe. The chanting of slokas and hymns reverberates in the air of the ashram temple on the five days of Durga Puja. Devotees can soak in numinous vibes that the ambience is rife with this time of the year. Devotees are required to pre-register for the Durga puja event at Bharat Sevashram Sangha in New Jersey.

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

Dakshineswar Ramakrishna Sangha Adyapeath Durga Puja 

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

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

Trinayani Durga Puja in Plainsboro, New Jersey

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

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

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

India is all set to celebrate the 77th Independence Day this August 15, and so are Indians in America. The way Indians abroad celebrate the Indian Independence Day is not different from the celebration at home. A lot of evidence about them being Indian to the core and nurturing their roots can be witnessed during Indian Independence Day events 2023 in USA. Like previous years, the month of August is full of Independence Day events for America’s Indian Diaspora.

This exclusive list of major Indian Independence Day 2023 events in USA is brought to you by Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle. These events not only celebrate the Independence of Mother India, but also Indian Americans’ roots, culture, and pride of being Indian to the core.

New York India Day Parade 2023

The New York Indian Day Parade is a special mention among the India Independence Day events 2023 in America. Scheduled to be held at Madison Avenue on August 20, the NYC India Day Parade is as important as the Diwali holiday in New York City. Billed as the world’s largest Indian event held outside India, the parade saw the attendance of over 200,000 people last year. New York Indian Day Parade 2022 also set Guiness Records for featuring the highest number of varied flags and also the largest damaru ensemble as part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebration. 

The 41st India Day Parade 2023 will be led by spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar from Bengaluru. Initiated in 1981 and organized by the Federation of India Association, the patriotic event was previously attended by some of India’s greatest legends from different walks of life, such as Raj Kapoor, A R Rahman, Anna Hazare, Ramdev Baba and Virendra Sehwag. FIA’s Empire State Building Lighting on August 15 is a must-watch. 

Atlanta Festival of India 2023

Since the 50th Independence Day of India, Atlanta Indians have been organizing the Festival of India as one of the biggest Indian Independence day celebrations in USA. One of the best Atlanta Indian events 2023, the Festival of India is a cultural celebration of Indian history and heritage. Organized by the India American Cultural Association, the 27th Atlanta Festival of India 2023 is scheduled to be held on August 13 at the Gas South Arena, located around 28 miles from Atlanta. With music, shopping, feasting, cultural performances, yoga, health fair, seminars and senior citizen meetup on the card, Atlanta’s 27th Festival of India is all set for a spectacular celebration of Indian Independence Day.

Boston India Day Festival 2023

Organized by the Indian Association of Greater Boston, India Day Festival 2023 is one of the major Indian events in New England. Boston India Day Festival will be held on August 19 at Hatch Shell Memorial. ‘India the Trailblazer’ is the theme of the program this year, and hence, the Indian Association of Greater Boston will honor some trailblazers from the local Indian community. The IAGB’s India Day 2023 has an interesting lineup of cultural performances, including the ‘Raaga Unleashed’ concert. Also, a grand food meal will be organized for participants to relish Indian food.   

Chicago India Day Parade & Celebration 2023

Indian Independence Day 2023 events in Illinois, USA include the most spectacular India Day Parade in Chicago. Organized by the Indian Community Outreach Organization, Chicago India Day Parade 2023 features a host of entertaining programs including fashion show and talent competition in the schedule. A one-mile parade with decorated floats, traditional Indian food, classical dance performance, modern music bands and fireworks are some of the attractions of the 9th Indian Independence Day celebration in Chicago.

A live performance by Daler Mehndi, a famous Indian singer known for his bhangra hits, will entertain attendees at the Chicago India Day Parade on August 13.

Fremont FOG India Day Parade, California

Celebrating whatever is Indian in and around Fremont is the objective of FOG India Day Parade & Fair 2023. One of the best Indian Independence Day events in California, Fremont’s Festival of India & Parade 2023 will take place on August 19 and 20 at Paseo Padre Pkwy. The celebration is a standout for its amazing India Day mela with more than 100 stalls and exhibits related to be put up by local Indian businesses dealing in different products and services, arts and crafts, literature and fashion. Dance competitions, health fair, and food fest are also a part of the two-day event.

• FOG India Day Mela: August 19 and 20 (10 am to 6 pm)
• FOG Dance Competition: August 19 910 am to 6 pm)
• FOG India Day Parade: August 20 (11 am to 1 pm)

Los Angeles India Independence Day 2023

The 24th Indian Independence Day 2023 in Los Angeles will be celebrated on August 26 in Birmingham Chatsworth High School. Indians of Southern California celebrate the Independence Day of India and other desi festivals with equal enthusiasm. Popularly known as Indian Independence Day Heritage Celebration, the event features a great selection of entertainment programs. The event venue will be dotted with food courts selling Indian dishes and shopping booths selling Indian ethnic dresses. Since 1999, Los Angeles’ India Independence Day celebration has been winning desi hearts.

Southern California Indians are eagerly looking forward to Air India’s nonstop service between Los Angeles and India, which is currently being planned as per reports.

Jai Ho! Indian Independence Day, Austin

Jai Ho! India Independence Day Celebration is what Indians in and around Austin are gearing up to with lots of enthusiasm. To be held on August 12 at Centennial Plaza in Round Rock, the event will feature a lively parade and lineup of spectacular cultural performances. At the celebration, you can groove to Bollywood music and DJ tunes and indulge in Indian food and shopping experiences.

India Day 2023 at Novi Michigan

Indians of Michigan get together to celebrate the Indian Independence Day as India Day in Novi, only 25 miles away from Detroit. Organized by India League of America (ILA), the India Day Michigan 2023 is more or less the same as other Indian Independence Day events in USA. Indian food, music, dance, and shopping are the major draws of the event which is to be held at Suburban Collection Showplace, Grand River Avenue, Novi. Michigan’s Indian Independence Day event is scheduled from 10 am until 8 pm on August 19. 

There is no dearth of celebration for Michigan Indians. Turkish Airlines’ one-stop Detroit to India service will take off in November 2023.

Namaste India at Cincinnati, Ohio

Namaste India, one of the best Indian Independence Day 2023 celebrations in USA, will be organized by the India Cultural Association of Cincinnati, Ohio. Scheduled on 20 August at the historic Fountain Square, the 4-hour event is packed with dance and music performances depicting the cultural heritage of India. The community parade, a highlight of the evening, will be accompanied by live music. And since no celebration is quite complete without food, there will be many booths to serve delicious Indian food.

Portland India Festival 2023, Oregon

The India Festival of Portland is one of the most popular Indian Independence Day celebrations not only in Oregon but in USA. Organized by the India Cultural Association (ICA), it is a meeting point for Portland Indians to get together and celebrate their roots. Unlike other Indian events in Oregon, Portland’s Pride India Festival 2023 is out and out a cultural gala with an array of activities including live music, dance performance, rangoli making, kids’ craft workshop, gastronomic euphoria, etc. Get ready to be part of the festivity on August 6 at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Florida India Independence Day 2023

India Independence Day 2023 in Altamonte Springs is one of the best Indian events in Florida this year. Organized by Indian Horizon of Florida and Central Florida Indian Cultural Association, the event is held in remembrance of the Indian freedom fighters and their supreme sacrifice. Florida’s India Independence Day celebration will take place at Cranes Roost Park on 12 August. In a proud celebration of Indian art and culture, the event will host a plethora of cultural programs, art and craft booths, and food stalls as well.

Brought to you by Indian Eagle Travel, the above listing of the Indian Independence Day celebrations in USA is neither sponsored by any of the event organizers, nor endorsed by us.

The post Soak in Patriotic Vibes at 10 Best Indian Independence Day 2023 Events in USA This Month appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

A vast expanse of the United States, from the Midwest to the Northeast to the Southeast, is under the grip of Elliott, a fierce Arctic winter snowstorm. Temperature in some parts has plummeted to -40-degree F, whereas some parts are steeped into 2 to 4 feet of snow. The “dangerously” cold storm has brought life to a standstill, painting Christmas celebrations all white and causing disruption of flights, domestic and international. Nearly 5000 flights have been cancelled as of today.

We at Indian Eagle compiled details of the following airlines’ travel waiver which is subject to the airlines’ terms and conditions pertaining travel dates, origin cities, arrival cities and seat availability.

Delta Airlines’ travel waivers in the wake of Elliott snowstorm 

Delta flights to/from/through the Pacific Northwest airports including Seattle, Portland and Vancouver can be rescheduled by December 26 without any change fee and fare difference. Rebooked travel must be completed by DEC 26; otherwise, a fare difference may apply. If you postpone your travel into 2023, you can keep the Delta Airlines tickets open so that the unused value of the ticket can be utilized to buy a new one within one year from the date of the original ticket issuance.

Delta flights to/from/through the Atlantic and Northeast region can be rescheduled by December 27. If the rebooked travel begins after December 27, you may have to pay a fare difference. The airports in the Atlantic and Northeast region are Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Boston, NY Buffalo, Hartford, NY JFK, Newark Liberty, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Rhode Island, Washington Dulles, and Portland.

United Airlines’ waiver for passengers affected by Elliott Storm

United Airlines has also come up with travel waiver for flight cancellations and delays caused by Elliott. The waiver is additional flexibility for the affected travelers to rethink their travel plans. Your travel with United Airlines originally booked on or before December 18 can be rebooked until December 28, 2022 without any change fee and a difference in fare.  

American Airlines’ waiver on rescheduling of affected flights 

Winter storm Elliott causing blizzard conditions resulted in the cancelation of American Airlines flights from, to, or through the Northeast US airports including New York JFK, LaGuardia, Newark EWR, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, NY Buffalo, Boston, Hartford, Rhode Island, Baltimore, NY Albany, and Washington Reagan. You’re eligible for American Airlines’ one-time change fee waiver in the wake of Elliott snowstorm, irrespective of your travel and fare class. Those who bought tickets before or by DEC 19 to travel by DEC 25 are eligible for the waiver if the origin and the destination remain the same. Fare difference won’t apply unless your originally booked travel cabin or travel sub-class is changed for rescheduled travel until DEC 30, 2022.

The same change fee waiver policy applies to American Airlines’ codeshare flights by JetBlue, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Finnair, and Qantas Airways. You are eligible for the waiver if your travel is affected by the Elliott-led cancelation of American Airlines flights to India from the Midwest airports, including Chicago ORD, St. Louis, Omaha, Milwaukee, Madison MSN, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Columbia, Des Moines, Springfield, and Champaign/Urbana.

All Nippon Airways’ travel date change fee waiver

All Nippon Airways announced travel rescheduling fee waiver for flights cancelled in the wake of Elliott snowstorm. The waiver code – 7JC0M – applies to ANA flight tickets issued on or before DEC 18, 2022. Change fees and fare differences will be waived for rescheduled travel between 22 and 28 December 2022 if the travel class, origin and destination remain unchanged. ANA flights from the Texas airports, including Houston, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, McAllen, San Antonio, Victoria, Midland, Corpus Christi and El Paso, are affected by Elliott. ANA flights booked by travel agencies, to say IndianEagle.com, will be rescheduled only by the agencies.

The rescheduling of affected All Nippon Airways flights from the Midwest airports is also eligible for a one-time waiver on change fees. The Midwest airports are Chicago O’Hare, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Fort Wayne, Appleton, Indianapolis, St Louis, Omaha, Kansas City, Springfield, Mason, and Grand Rapids.

• Impacted travel dates: December 21 – 25, 2022
• Waiver code: 7JC04
• Eligible tickets issued on or before: 17 DEC 2022
• Travel to be rescheduled until 30 DEC 2022

Indian Eagle Travel

We are at work 24×7 to help our customers reschedule or cancel their travel to, from, or through the cities affected by Elliott winter snowstorm. We do appreciate your patience since we are experiencing high call volumes (1-800-615-3969). We are in contact with the airlines that we book flights with to and from the US. However, be advised to check your flight status (delayed or cancelled) on the operating airline’s website.

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Forbes’ 2022 List of 400 Richest Americans features only four Indian American billionaires: Jay Chaudhry, Vinod Khosla, Ramesh Wadhwani, and Rakesh Gangwal. Forbes featured as many as seven richest Indian Americans in 2020, out of which three have been dropped this year. The net worth of Jay Chaudhry, the richest of all Indian-origin billionaires in the US, rose to $12 billion in 2021 from US$ 3.4 billion in 2018. However, his net worth has plummeted to $8.3 billion due to the stock market slowdown. Rakesh Gangwal, an aviation heavyweight from Miami, is the fourth richest Indian American on the Forbes 2022 list; whereas he had ranked first of all Indian-origin American billionaires in 2018 and 2019.

The four richest Indian American billionaires on the 2022 Forbes 400 list have a collective wealth of US$ 22.9 billion. “After a roaring 2021, the 400 richest people in the U.S. have been hit by rising inflation and falling markets. As a group, this year’s Forbes 400 is $500 billion poorer than they were a year ago. Their total net worth stands at $4 trillion, down 11% from last year,” said Forbes’ Deputy Wealth Editor.

Jay Chaudhry, Vinod Khosla, Ramesh Wadhwani, Rakesh Gangwal (left to right)

Jay Chaudhry, Net Worth $8.3 Billion

With a net worth of $8.3 billion, Jay Chaudhry, the CEO of Zscaler, is the richest Indian American billionaire or the wealthiest American of Indian origin in USA. His journey from a small Himalayan village to Wall Street is an inspiring story of American Dreams. Born in Panoh, a remote village without running water in Himachal Pradesh, Jay Chaudhry is a leading cyber security business tycoon in San Francisco Bay Area. He co-founded Zscaler, a virtual security checkpost for companies exposed to cyber threats, in San Jose after a short stint in sales and marketing positions at MNCs like IBM. He is an alumnus of Harvard University and the University of Cincinnati. Unlike other billionaires, he says “My success so far has mainly been because I have very little attachment for money. I definitely do not feel like a billionaire even with a billion-dollar fortune.”

Vinod Khosla, Net Worth $5.3 Billion

With a rise in his fortunes, Vinod Khosla’s net worth has swelled to $5.3 billion from USD 2.3 billion in 2020. Sun Microsystems’ ex-cofounder Vinod Khosla is now the second richest of all Indian Americans, according to Forbes 2022. An alumnus of Mount St Mary’s School in New Delhi, he studied at IIT Delhi, Carnegie Mellon University, and Stanford Graduate School of Business. An article on the founding of Intel in print media piqued his interest in technology when he was a teenager. He established Khosla Ventures, a venture capital firm in Menlo Park, California and co-founded the Indus Entrepreneurs (NiE), a non-profit network of entrepreneurs.

Romesh T. Wadhwani, Net Worth $5.1 Billion  

Symphony Technology Group’s founder and CEO, Romesh T. Wadhwani from California has moved to the third rank (from the second rank in 2020) among the richest Indian-origin American billionaires on Forbes 2022, with his net worth having gone up to USD 5.1 billion to $3.4 billion in 2020. Romesh Wadhwani is not just one of the wealthiest Indian American entrepreneurs but a compassionate philanthropist too. His family shifted from Pakistan to India during the Partition in 1947. He is an alumnus of IIT Bombay in electrical engineering and holds a PhD degree from Carnegie Mellon University. The richest Gujarati in America, Romesh T. Wadhwani is a self-made serial entrepreneur. One of the top 10 Gujarati Indian billionaires in USA, he set up the Wadhwani Foundation with several initiatives including the National Entrepreneurship Network to drive socio-economic development in countries like India. In 2012, he opened a research center at the National Center for Biological Sciences in Bengaluru.

Also Check: Romesh Wadhwani Invests $26M to Save Businesses in COVID-hit India

Rakesh Gangwal, Net Worth $4 Billion

Miami-based Rakesh Gangwal, with a net worth of over $4 billion, is the fourth and last richest Indian American among all billionaires in the United States, according to Forbes 2022. A former co-founder of IndiGo, India’s largest low-cost airline, Rakesh Gangwal was the richest of 10 Indian-origin American billionaires in 2018. With a drastic dip in his fortunes due to the pandemic’s impact on aviation, Kolkata-born Rakesh Gangwal saw his net worth valued at $2.3 billion in 2020. An alumnus of IIM Lucknow in mechanical engineering, he studied MBA at Wharton School of Pennsylvania University and fulfilled his American Dreams when he became the Chairman of US Airways Group after a stint in strategic planning for United Airlines in 1984. The richest Indian American Rakesh Gangwal founded InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. in 2000 and co-founded IndiGo in 2006. Today, IndiGo is India’s biggest low-cost carrier in terms of domestic market share.

Three Indian Americans – Neeraj Shah, CEO of Wayfair; Aneel Bhusri, CEO of Workday Inc.; Kavitark Ram Shriram, a venture capitalist – have been dropped from Forbes’ 2022 list of 400 billionaires due to a decline in their net worth and fortunes. 

Niraj Shah, Net Worth $2.8 Billion

The newcomer on Forbes’ 2018 list of 400 billionaires, Niraj Shah is the third richest Indian-origin American with a net worth $2.8 billion on Forbes 2020. The CEO of Wayfair, an American e-commerce company dealing in home goods online, Niraj S. Shah is the youngest of the wealthiest Indian-origin billionaires in the United States. A Cornell University graduate and a resident of Boston, he co-founded Wayfair in 2002. Wayfair that employs more than 5200 people today generated net revenue of $9 billion in 2019 alone. He featured on the Fortune list of 40 under 40 in 2013 and was made a director of Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Aneel Bhusri, Net Worth $2.3 Billion 

One of the seven richest Indian American billionaires and entrepreneurs, Aneel Bhusri is the co-founder and CEO of Workday Inc. Born in Pittsford, New York, Aneel Bhusri does also serve on the board of directors at Intel. Among the richest Indian-origin entrepreneurs in America, he is a partner at Greylock which has funded global companies such as Facebook, Airbnb, Tumblr, and Groupon. An alumnus of Stanford University in MBA, he began his career as a corporate finance analyst at Morgan Stanley. His fortunes has swelled from USD 1.85 billion in 2018 to US$ 2.3 billion in 2020. He currently resides in San Francisco, California. 

Also Check: Aneel Bhusri Joins the Giving Pledge to Donate Half of His Wealth

Kavitark Ram Shriram, Net Worth $2.3 Billion 

With a net worth of $2.3 billion, Kavitark Ram Shriram stands fifth on the list of richest Indian Americans and is one of the well-known Indian-origin investors in California. Among the early investors in Google, Kavitark was born in Chennai and graduated in mathematics at Chennai’s Loyola College. He worked for Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon and the world’s richest billionaire, before making headlines for his investment worth $250,000 in Google. A board member of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, Kavitark Ram Shriram founded Sherpalo, a venture capital firm for technology startups in 2000. He joined the league of Indian American philanthropists by donating a whopping $61 million to Stanford University.

The four Indian American billionaires below, who featured on Forbes’ 2018 and 2019 list of 10 richest Indian-origin entrepreneurs in USA, have been dropped from the 2020 Forbes list of 400 American billionaires.   

John Kapoor, Net Worth: $1.8 Billion

With a net worth of $1.8 billion, Amritsar-born John Kapoor is the fifth richest of Indian American billionaires in USA. A pharmaceutical entrepreneur in Phoenix, Arizona, John Kapoor founded Insys Therapeutics in 1990. Upon completion of his studies on pharmacy at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai, John Nath Kapoor earned a PhD degree in medicinal chemistry from the University of Buffalo and found ground to make his ‘American Dreams’ come true there. Apart from owning restaurants in San Francisco and Chicago, he heads the John and Editha Kapoor Charitable Foundation for victims of breast cancer.  

Brian Sheth, Net worth $2.2 Billion 

With a net worth of $2.2 billion, Brian Sheth is the youngest Indian American billionaire on Forbes’ 2019 list of 400 richest Americans. Brian Nirajan Sheth is the co-founder and president of Vista Equity Partners in Austin, Texas. An alumnus of Pennsylvania University’s Wharton School, he is a wildlife enthusiast and conservationist too. Along with his wife, Brian Sheth chairs Global Wildlife Conservation in Austin, an international organization dedicated to wildlife and environment. Prior to plunging into entrepreneurship, Brian Sheth worked at Bain Capital, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and Goldman Sachs.      

Jayshree Ullal, Net Worth: $1.43 Billion

The only woman of Indian origin from USA in the Forbes billionaire club, Jayshree Ullal is one of the richest, self-made business women in America. The President and CEO of Arista Networks, a computer networking firm, Jayshree Ullal featured on Forbes 2018 list of billionaires for her net worth $1.43 billion. Born in London and raised in Delhi, she traveled to the US at the age of 16 and graduated in electrical engineering from San Francisco State University. Featured in an article on Indian-origin women billionaires by Travel Beats, Jayshree Ullal got a big break in her career when Cisco Systems acquired Crescendo Communications and made her senior vice president of Data Center & Switching. A master’s in engineering management from Santa Clara University, she was the first woman to receive the Entrepreneurial and Leadership award in Silicon Valley in 1999. Currently, she resides in Saratoga, California.

Bharat Desai, Net Worth: $1.27 Billion 

Co-founder of Syntel, Bharat Desai slipped from the Forbes 2016 list of five richest Indian American billionaires to the tenth richest American billionaire of Indian origin in 2018. Born in Kenya and raised in Ahmedabad, Bharat Desai founded Syntel with $2000 and operated it from his apartment in Michigan initially. An IIT Bombay graduate in electrical engineering, he studied MBA in finance at the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Currently a resident of Fisher Island in Florida, he serves on the board of several institutions including the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is one of the richest businessmen in the Gujarati American community.

Travel Beats is an Indian American community portal owned by Indian Eagle, a trusted travel booking partner of Indians in USA. Subscribe to our free newsletter and stay tuned to latest news & stories about Indian Americans, Indian events in USA, US visa & immigration news and US to India travel updates.

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Time, nature, humanity, divinity and spirituality are omnipresent forces of the universe. These five eternal phenomena neither obey barriers nor mind bounds. Rather they unify geographies and travel cosmic distances. Temple is one of the abodes of these indestructible forces on earth. It is true about Sri Maha Kaleshwar Temple, which has made Santa Clara a home for Indians in California away from home.

Sri Maha Kaleshwar Mandir in Santa Clara is the first Jyotirlingam Shiva Temple in the US. One of the best places to visit in California, the temple is consecrated to the fierce incarnation of Lord Shiva. The presiding deity of the temple is worshipped in form of a Shivalingam made of two ton solid granite. The Shivalingam with 1008 individual shivalingams engraved upon it is called Sahasralingam. It multiplies divine power of the deity by 1000 times.

Santa Clara’s Sri Maha Kaleshwar Temple has strong connection with India not only in religion but also in origin. The main temple of Lord Maha Kaleshwar is in Ujjain, a historical temple town in Madhya Pradesh. It houses one of the twelve Jyotirlingams in India. Unlike other manifestations of Lord Shiva, Sri Maha Kaleshwar faces south both in India and USA. South is the direction to death and doom, according to Hindu scriptures.

Time is an all-conquering, indestructible force with an eternal flow. All mortal beings and things in the world are obliged to defy the whims of Time. The overwhelming blows of Time are inevitable and inescapable. Being Maha Kaleshwar, Lord Shiva is the god of Time. Being the god of Time, only He can conquer suffering and death. So it is widely believed that prayers to Him at Sri Maha Kaleshwar temples are answered with divine blessings such as wisdom, peace, wellbeing and fortune to empower mortal beings against odd circumstances.

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Swami Sathasivom founded Sri Maha Kaleshwar Mandir in Santa Clara based on this eternal belief as its foundation. The temple was ceremoniously inaugurated in 2010. He is the elder son of Sambamurthy Sivachariar, an eminent Hindu priest and preceptor from Chennai. His father was the principal priest of Chennai’s Kalikambal Temple. Swami Sathasivom’s spiritual journey began when he was only 9 years old. He alone set out on a spiritual pilgrimage across India at the age of 12. He traveled to Kolkata to visit temples of Goddess Kali and to Varanasi.

He got in touch with many saints as well as monks during his lone voyage and delved deeper into realm of spirituality. He spreads his spiritual knowledge and divine experiences with whoever he comes across, irrespective of their caste, religion, gender and social status. He remains free from all sorts of materialism and bondages of everyday life by means of his spiritual tentacles with the universe and the Supreme.

In 1989, Swami Sathasivom intuitively felt the need of bringing 12 sacred Jyotirlingams to USA and consecrating temples in honor of Lord Shiva’s holy manifestations for the Indian American community. In 2010, he performed 1008 Chandi yagnas seeking divine blessings to accomplish the mission. It resulted in the arrival of Sri Maha Kaleshwar Jyotirlingam at La Honda in the Santa Cruz Mountains between the Pacific coast of California and the Santa Clara Valley.

Thus Santa Clara’s Sri Maha Kaleshwar Temple, the first of his envisioned twelve Jyotirlingam shrines, was established for Indians in America. Also read how California became home to Goddess Kali from India.

Two of the remaining eleven Jyotirlingam temples are to come up in Texas and Boston. The upcoming Lord Shiva temple in Boston will be consecrated to Sri Aumkareshwar Jyotirlingam.

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The sun has been shining bright for foreign students pursuing higher education at recognized US colleges and universities since the White House announced that US-educated foreign nationals would be given preference for H1B visa over foreigners with native education early in 2019. The new H1B visa rules, which came into effect in April 2019 with good prospects for foreign students studying advanced degrees in the United States, made the American sun shine brighter for them.

Bright opportunities for foreign students in the US seem to be enveloped by some dark clouds casting their shadow over the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a pathway to H1B visa.

Four Republican Congressmen are seeking to end the Optional Practical Training, a federal government program in order to save Jobs for American students. OPT makes foreign graduates of US schools eligible to work in the US for up to three years. OPT for US-educated foreign students, is what H4 EAD for qualified spouses of H1B professionals. To be precise, the Optional Practical Training program is the first stepping stone for them towards realizing their American Dreams.

Picture Credit: The Indian Express

Republican Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs o Arizona; Mo Brooks of Alabama; and Matt Gaetz of Florida introduced the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act (HR 4644) in the House of Representatives on July 22, as the first step to end the OPT for foreign students in the USA. The bill ‘HR 4644’ which currently sits with the House Judiciary Committee also opposes the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, which California’s Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren has sponsored in order to scrap the per-country limit on issuance of employment-based immigrant visas.

The bill was originally brought in the year 2019 by Republican Paul Gosar who was also planning to write to the then President Donald Trump and seek his executive order to eliminate the OPT for foreign graduates, including over 96,000 Indian students in USA. The Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act proposes an amendment to the Immigration and National Act to bar them from working under the Optional Practical Training program. The suggested amendment reads:

“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no alien present in the United States as a non-immigrant may be provided employment authorization in the United States pursuant to the Optional Practical Training Program, or any such successor program, without an express Act of Congress authorizing such a program.”

From 2004 to 2016, nearly 1.5 million foreign graduates of U.S. schools, including Indian students were granted permission to work under the OPT, according to the Pew Research Center in Washington DC. In 2008, the US government increased the period of time that foreign students in America could stay and work for, and thereby fuelled the popularity of the Optional Practical Training program by a whopping 400%.

San Jose and San Francisco are home to a majority of US-educated foreign graduates under the federal government program. In the past few years, foreign students going for the OPT program outnumbered H1B visa applicants, as per the Pew reports. However, enrollment for work permit under the OPT program registered a slow growth in 2017.

Though the number of foreign graduates who received work permit under the OPT program rose from 257,100 in 2016 to 276,500 in 2017, there was a slowdown in the growth of the program from 34% in 2016 to 8% in 2017.

Republican Paul Gosar’s Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act ignores the fact that international students on extended F1 visa under the Optional Practical Training for up to 3 years made a $39-billion contribution to the US economy and created 455,000 jobs in the academic year 2017-2018 alone, according to Niskanen Center think-tank in Washington DC. Every seven foreign students in the USA create and support three American jobs.

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The Biden-Harris administration is hell-bent on vaccinating the whole of America by July 4. Several US states and conglomerates have come forward to help accomplish the national mission by offering various incentives to people to get inoculated. Vaccination being the ultimate key to unlock the pandemic-hit economy is gaining momentum across the country by dint of contests, sweepstakes and freebies. The more people get immunized, the nearer life is to normalcy.

United Airlines that shares the vision of a virus-free America with the government has joined the bandwagon by launching a unique contest, “Your Shot to Fly,” for travelers to get a vaccine prior to flying abroad. Lucky winners of United Airlines’ ‘Your Shot to Fly’ sweepstake will be awarded a round-trip flight for two, in any travel class, to any destination in the airline’s global network. Indians in the US can give it a try to win free round-trip flights between USA and India.

United Airlines’ CEO Scott Kirby said, “We are proud to do our part to incentivize people to get their shot. Thanks to the vaccine, more and more destinations are opening up for travel – and we know our customers are eager to fly. We’re excited to give people one more reason to get vaccinated so they can reunite with friends and family or take that long-awaited vacation which all could be just one shot away.”

If you are a US resident and a member of United’s MileagePlus frequent flyer program, you can participate in the sweepstake contest. You must be 18 years old or above. MileagePlus is an award-winning loyalty program for passengers of United flights. If you are not yet a member of United’s MileagePlus, you can join the program before entering the sweepstake. All you need to do, once you have enrolled to the loyalty program, is to upload a copy of your vaccination card to your MileagePlus account through the airline’s website or mobile app. The window is open till June 2, 2021.

Should you buy United flight tickets to participate in the sweepstake? ‘You don’t need,” said Indian Eagle, a leading air-ticketing partner of Indians in America. Five grand winners of United’s Your Shot to Fly will be awarded a year of free flights in any travel class (of course, given availability of seats in your choice of travel class). You and one companion of yours will get up to 26 round trips on United Airlines flights to India and other destinations. Hold on! There is more in the offing for five grand winners; each will be given a cash prize worth $275,000. Five winners will be selected randomly on July 1, 2021.

If you stand a chance to win the grand prize, you must take free flights for up to 26 round trips between July 15, 2021, and July 14, 2022. One year of free round-trip airfare will be issued in the form of 26 travel certificates which are non-transferable and non-cashable. Also, United Airlines is giving away a round-trip flight for two, in any travel class, to 30 winners selected randomly through June 30. Each of the 30 winners will additionally receive a cash prize of $7700.

With the ‘Your Shot to Fly’ contest, United Airlines – a major carrier in the US-India air bubble corridor – is encouraging both vaccination and safe travel. The winners of United’s Your Shot to Fly can choose to travel to European countries including Italy, Spain, France, Greece and Portugal, as the airline is planning on resuming the suspended routes to Europe.

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As per the memorandum that US President Donald Trump signed in May 2019 to enforce a 23-year-old long-standing law as an overhaul to the existing immigration system, the US-based sponsors of immigrants will receive a bill to reimburse the government for the federal public benefits rendered to or availed by their sponsored relatives of foreign-origin. This week, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made a new move to hold sponsors responsible for providing financial support to foreign immigrants sponsored by them.

Even if a foreign national could manage to enter the United States at the cost of his social media privacy, he will become a financial liability to his sponsor.

The new move named “Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)” is said to facilitate availability of information about sponsors to the federal agencies that are responsible for determining an alien’s eligibility for public benefits and rendering federal assistance to the eligible. The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) is an effort towards ensuring compliance with the laws related to the eligibility of sponsored foreign immigrants and the disbursement of federal benefits to them. The USCIS’ SAVE policy will also enable the agencies to establish the financial accountability of sponsors towards their sponsored aliens.

The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) is an outcome of Trump’s May 2019 memorandum that directs federal agencies to reshuffle legal immigration in the US by deterring US citizens and legal permanent residents from sponsoring their foreign relatives or extended family members residing in their native countries. Part of a greater force pushing the nation for an absolute merit-based immigration system, the move is being looked down upon as a crackdown on legal immigration in the United States by a few.

The provision that former President Bill Clinton signed into a law in 1996 has not been consistently applied due to lack of inadequate enforcement. The enforced legal liabilities and financial responsibilities that sponsorship comes with will apply to all current sponsors and sponsored aliens, according to Donald Trump’s memo.

Found in the sections – 212 (a)(4) and 213 – of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the law requires sponsors to sign an affidavit of support, Form I-864, a legally enforceable document to be responsible for sponsored individuals’ financial needs in the US. Form I-864 is a sponsor’s guarantee to the federal immigration officials that the immigrant sponsored by him will not depend on certain means-tested public welfare programs until the latter becomes a US citizen or is credited with 40 quarters (10 years) of work in the US.

The law, which is claimed to be not enforced consistently in the post-Clinton regime, does require a sponsor’s financial capacity to be considered as a key to check whether the sponsor can bear financial responsibility for the immigrant sponsored.

President Trump’s memorandum, signed on May 23 this year, is a mandate to create new procedures or update the existing ones by the end of 2019, so that federal agencies can enforce the law on US citizens or green card holders’ sponsorship liabilities and collect reimbursement from them for their sponsored immigrants’ use of the government’s public welfare programs including Medicaid.

The federal agencies working in such domains as health, homeland security, human services, nutrition and agriculture are directed to develop their own framework for “collection procedures”, so as to ensure strict enforcement of the sponsorship law, which has merely been there since 1996.

58% of immigrant households avail at least one federal welfare program, and about 50% of immigrant households have at least one member on Medicaid, according to a recent report released by the White House.

Critics are of the opinion that such moves are the bane of low-income immigrants, who do initially need the federal aid to get started in the US. In order to counter critics, President Trump said, “To protect benefits for American citizens, immigrants must be financially self-sufficient.”

In October 2018, the White House proposed new guidelines seeking to render immigrants, who are likely to become a “public charge” due to lack of self-sufficiency, ineligible for legal permanent residency in the United States. That foreign nationals who lack self-sufficiency are simply inadmissible to the US, has been a poorly defined law since the 1800s, according to the Trump administration.

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In August 2018, Stephen Miller in the Trump Administration drafted a policy to deny US citizenship and legal permanent residency to immigrants who don’t have high income standards or who depend on federal benefits, including Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act, childcare, food stamps, and public housing. Considered a deliberate act to axe the number of legal immigrants in the United States, Stephen Miller’s immigration policy, which was supposed to be enforced starting October 2019, has come into effect on February 24, 2020. The ‘Stephen Miller Policy’ will be enforced in a phased manner and is expected to affect over 20 million immigrants, according to NBC News.

Stephen Miller is a White House senior adviser and one of President Trump’s leading aides. The new policy is part of his plan to curtail the number of legal immigrants seeking green cards or US citizenship every year. To say in precise terms, Stephen Miller’s draft policy would make it more difficult for immigrants to become legal residents or citizens if they or their dependents have ever used the US public welfare programs like Obamacare, Children’s Health Insurance Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Immigrants in the United States, who used Social Security programs or received cash welfare payments from the government in the past, have already been denied legal status. The new version of White House adviser Stephen Miller’s plan which the Washington Post made public in February 2018 broadens the ambit of federal aid to extend denial of legal status to a maximum number of immigrants in America.

Foreign nationals claiming income tax credit or receiving health insurance subsidies would be brought into the ambit of the White House proposal. If an immigrant’s household income is as much as 250% of the poverty level in the US, he or she would be penalized with denial of legal status given the exclusion of federal benefits in the new draft policy.

Considered the “biggest change to the US legal immigration system in decades,” the proposal for denial of legal status would make it harder for those making an insufficient living, to support their families if they choose legal status over the federal benefits. Immigrants like Louis Charles, a Haitian green card holder who depends on the federal aid to provide for his disabled adult daughter in spite of working 80 hours a week as a nursing assistant, would suffer, according to NBC News reports.

NBC News quoted the Department of Homeland Security’s spokesperson, “The administration is bound to its commitment to enforcing the existing immigration law, which is undoubtedly meant to protect the interests of American taxpayers by ensuring that foreign nationals seeking to enter or stay in the US are self-sufficient.”

However, Cato Institute, a libertarian think-tank contradicts the above statement on the basis of its recent studies that immigrants use the federal aid lesser than US natives by 39%. Immigrants paid more medical expenses than what they withdrew from the government, according to a report that the international journal of health services published on August 8, 2018.

Four immigrant attorneys in California, Virginia, Tennessee and Massachusetts said on a condition of anonymity that there is an increase in the number of their clients whose petitions for naturalized citizenship and legal permanent residency have been rejected. The process to get green cards or gain citizenship became a lot more difficult through a series of immigration reforms even before Stephen Miller drafted his immigration policy.

Self-sufficiency is the keynote of Stephen Miller’s immigration policy which the US citizens, asylum seekers and border refugees are exempted from.

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