With Ganesh Chaturthi, the homecoming of Hindu gods and goddesses starts every year. Be it Marathas, Telugus, or Gujaratis, Indians welcome Ganesh Bappa with great pomp even in America. Their enthusiasm for festivities and appetite for divine bliss does not abate with geographies. Evidently, Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 celebrations in the USA are no exception. From traditional temple rituals to public Ganesh Utsav events, Indians celebrate it with beats of dhol-tasha, mirth of music, cultural programs, and of course, delicious food.

When is Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 in USA? 

Ganesh Utsav in USA will be celebrated on 14 September 2026, as in India. Indian Diaspora from Washington DC to Seattle, from Chicago to Dallas, from New York to the Bay Area are making grand preparations to welcome their favorite Bappa. Everyone from different age groups will be chanting – Ganpati Bappa Mourya. Travel Beats, the Indian Eagle blog, curates the best Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 USA celebrations for you.

Maryland Siddhivinayak Temple Ganesh Utsav 

Located in Glen Burnie, Siddhivinayak Temple will celebrate 10 days of Ganapati Utsav in September 2026. You can attend the temple’s Ganesh Chaturthi festivities with your family and participate in devotional activities. 

• Dates: 14-25 September 2026
• Venue: Siddhivinayak Temple, 1003 Stewart Lane NE, Glen Burnie, MD 21060
• Contact: siddhivinaayak.org | 410-766-1003

Baltimore 2026 Ganesh Chaturthi Celebration 

Baltimore Marathi Mandal will bring Indian families together for a day of Ganesh Chaturthi celebration in the USA. The family-friendly gathering will offer children an opportunity to experience Maharashtra’s traditions and connect with their cultural roots. 

• Date: 13 September 2026
• Venue: Greater Baltimore Hindu-Jain Temple, 2909 Bloom Road, Finksburg, MD 21048
• Contact: Baltimore Hindu-Jain Temple | 443-812-1548

Virginia Ganesha Utsav 2026 

Devotion meets creativity at Virginia Ganesha Utsav 2026. Hosted by Saanwee Performing Arts, the celebration will bring families together for traditional rituals, live student performances, festive photo spots and hands-on activities. The festive event is ticketed at $15 per person. 

• Date: 14 September 2026
• Venue: Saanwee Studio, South Riding, VA
• Contact: +1 (703) 201-2683 | info@saanwee.com

Marathi Kala Mandal Ganeshotsav, Virginia  

The beats of Dhol-Tasha and Lezim will add a Maharashtrian touch to Ganesh Chaturthi in Virginia. Organized by the Marathi Kala Mandal of Washington DC, Ganeshotsav 2026 will bring families together for cultural performances, traditional celebrations, and Maharashtrian food. 

• Date: 19 September 2026 | 9 AM–6 PM
• Venue: Rock Ridge High School, 43460 Loudoun Reserve Dr, Ashburn, VA 20148
• Contact: www.marathi.com/event/ganeshotsav-2026/

America Ka Raja Ganesh Utsav 2026 New Jersey 

America Ka Raja is returning to New Jersey as one of the biggest Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in the USA. Presented by 1946, the weeklong Ganapati Utsav draws more than 100,000 devotees every year and brings together faith, culture, music, food, and community spirit. 

• Dates: 14–20 September 2026
• Venue: 250 Woodbridge Center Dr, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
• Contact: www.ganeshafestival.com | +1 732-316-1947

New Jersey India Square Ganesh Festival 2026 

New Jersey India Square comes alive with the foot-tapping beats of dhol-tasha during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The week-long New Jersey Ganesh Festival will bring you music, dance, cultural performances and Indian food, creating a lively community celebration for devotees and families.

• Dates: 14-20 September 2026
• Venue: India Square, 792–94 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
• Contact: ganeshfestivalusa.org | 1-201-855-9533

New Jersey India Square Ganesh Festival 2026 

New Jersey India Square comes alive with the foot-tapping beats of dhol-tasha during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The week-long New Jersey Ganesh Festival will bring you music, dance, cultural performances and Indian food, creating a lively community celebration for devotees and families.

• Dates: 14-20 September 2026
• Venue: India Square, 792–94 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
• Contact: ganeshfestivalusa.org | 1-201-855-9533

New York Broome Street Ganesh Chaturthi 

Ganesh Chaturthi will bring five days of divine bliss to Manhattan’s Broome Street Ganesh Temple. You and your family can join the temple’s festive celebrations and experience the spiritual Ganesh Chaturthi in New York in the heart of the city. 

• Dates: 10-14 September 2026
• Venue: 430 Broome St, New York, NY 10013
• Contact: broomestreetganesh.org

Westchester Marathi Mandal Ganesh Utsav, New York 

Bring your family, meet the community, and celebrate the spirit of Ganesh Utsav in Yonkers. Hosted by the Westchester Marathi Mandal, this one-day celebration will feature Ganesh Pooja, cultural programs, and a community meet-and-greet. The event is RSVP-only, so registration is required.

• Date: 19 September 2026
• Venue: Grinton I. Will Library, 1500 Central Park Ave, Yonkers, NY 10710
• Contact: eventbrite.com/e/wmm-ganesh-utsav-2026-tickets-1994102964647

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 in Austin, Texas 

The beats of dhol will invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesha in Austin, Texas this September. Presented by Austin Dhol Rhythms, this festive evening will bring Indians together for devotion, music, dance, and cultural celebrations with family and friends. The event is ticketed, with prices starting at $10.   

• Date: 12 September 2026
• Venue: 8220 183A Toll Rd, Leander, TX 78641
• Contact: 531-777-6903 | austindholrhythms@gmail.com

Maha Ganesh Utsav in Newark, California 

Newark will come alive with three days of Ganesh Utsav celebrations this September. Presented by Radio Zindagi, the festival will feature Lezim, Dhol-Tasha, cultural performances and a dedicated kids’ zone, making it a great family-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi event in the Bay Area. 

• Dates: 11-13 September 2026
• Venue: New Park Mall, Newark, CA
• Contact: Radiozindagi.com/ganeshutsav | 510-565-9518 

California CVMM Grand Ganesh Utsav, Mountain House 

Ganesh Utsav returns to Mountain House with devotion, culture and the powerful beats of Dhol Tasha. The Central Valley Marathi Mandal (CVMM) will host its 3rd annual celebration, with Bappa Darshan, Aarti, cultural performances, shopping and food stalls throughout the day. The free event is open to all. 

• Date: 19 September 2026 | 11 AM–8 PM
• Venue: Central Park, Mountain House, CA
• Contact: 408-203-3251 | cvmm@cvmarathimandal.org

BICS Dublin Ganesh Chaturthi Mela 2026, California 

California’s Indians in Dublin are set to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 with a vibrant Indian mela. Presented by the Bay Area Indian Cultural Society (BICS), this free community event will bring together music, culture, Indian food, and shopping, giving you an irresistible way to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in California with family and friends. 

• Date: 20 September 2026
• Venue: Emerald Glen Park, Dublin, CA
• Contact: bicsca.org | +1 (925)-365-8066

EBMM Shri Ganapati Utsav 2026, California 

Pleasanton will echo with music, Lezim and Dhol-Tasha as East Bay Marathi Mandal (EBMM) celebrates Shri Ganapati Utsav. The family-friendly gathering in California will feature local artists, EBMM Samooh Gaan’s Anand Asha Sumananjali, traditional Modak prasad, a special lunch from Annapurna Restaurant and afternoon tea. 

• Date: 20 September 2026
• Venue: Pleasanton Middle School, 5001 Case Ave, Pleasanton, CA
• Contact: www.ebmm.org | samiti@ebmm.org

The post Where and How to Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 in USA: Dates, Events, Venues first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post Where and How to Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 in USA: Dates, Events, Venues appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

India is all set to celebrate the 80th Independence Day this August 15, and so are Indians in America. The way Indians abroad celebrate the Independence of Mother India is no way different from the celebration at home. Hence, like previous years, the August 2026 calendar is full of Independence Day events for nearly 5 million Indian-origin population in the United States.

This exclusive list of major Indian Independence Day 2026 events across USA is brought to you by Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, the most-trusted travel-booking partner for Indians in America. These events not only celebrate the Independence of Mother India, but also Indian Americans’ roots, culture and pride of being desi to the core.

India Day Parade 2026 NYC

New York India Day Parade tops the list of all Indian Independence Day celebrations in USA. Scheduled on 16 August 2026, the FIA India Day Parade NYC will follow the spectacular hoisting of Indian Tricolor at Times Square on August 15, celebrating India’s 80^th Independence Day. It celebrates the diversity of Indian culture and heritage through performances by different age groups on Madison Avenue. This most anticipated event is getting bigger every year.

• Date: 16 August 2026
• Venue: Madison Avenue, Manhattan, NYC
• Website: www.fianynjct.org

Atlanta Festival of India 2026

For three decades, the Indian American Cultural Association of Atlanta has been organizing the Festival of India as one of the biggest Indian Independence Day celebrations in USA. Scheduled on 15 August 2026, the Atlanta Festival of India holds special significance as it will celebrate both India’s 80^th Independence Day and America’s 250^th anniversary together this year. With music, feasting, shopping, yoga, chess, dance, and artistic displays, the Festival of India – Atlanta promises a great deal of patriotic fervour. This is a ticketed event.

• Date: 15 August 2026 (Saturday)
• Time: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Venue: Gas South Convention Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097
• Contact: www.iacaatl.org | info@iacaatl.org

Boston India Day Festival 2026

The vibrant culture, music, and traditions of India take center stage at the Boston India Day Festival 2026, one of the most anticipated Indian Independence Day events in USA. Organized by the Indian Association of Greater Boston (IAGB), the patriotic celebration showcases the cultural diversity of the country. Set against the scenic backdrop of the Hatch Memorial Shell, IAGB’s India Day Festival 2026 is titled “Colors of India” promising an unforgettable day of glory and pride in the heart of Boston.

• Date: 15 August 2026
• Venue: DCR Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G. Mugar Way, Boston, MA 02108
• Website: www.iagb.org

Fremont FOG India Day Parade, California   

Of all Indian Independence Day events in America, FOG India Day Parade is as big as the FIA India Day Parade, New York. Fremont’s India Day Parade 2026 is a two-day celebration known for a grand procession, vibrant community gathering, and celebrity appearance. The Grand Marshals of this year’s event are Sanya Malhotra and Abhimanyu Dassani from Bollywood. Organized by the Federation of Indo Americans of Northern California, FOG India Day Parade also features a lively mela with tens of food, shopping, book, and craft booths.

• Date: 15-16 August 2026
• India Day Parade: 16 August at 11:00 AM
• Tickets: $5 to $6
• Venue: 39439 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont, CA 94538
• Website: www.fogsv.com | +1 (510) 491 4867

Los Angeles India Independence Day 2026

The 80^th Indian Independence Day has one of the grand events for Indians in Southern California. The India Association of Los Angeles (IALA) is gearing up for a greater celebration this year. This is a culturally immersive, family-friendly event that features an open air mela, cultural performances, community activities, Indian food stalls, and fashion booths. Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, the Consul General of India in Los Angeles, and Congressman Brad Sharman are the Guests of Honor this year. since 1999, Los Angeles’ Indian Independence Day has been fostering unity and pride among SoCal Indian immigrants.

• Date: 22 August 2026 (Saturday)
• Venue: Hjelte Sports Center, Burbank Blvd, Encino, CA 91436
• Website: www.indiaassociationla.org/

Michigan India Day 2026

Every year, Indians of Michigan get together to celebrate the Indian Independence Day as India Day in Novi, only 25 miles away from Detroit. Organized by the India League of America (ILA), Michigan India Day 2026 is more or less the same as other Indian Independence Day events in the Midwest USA. With traditional Indian food, dance, music, and cultural performances, the India Day in Novi, MI will surely immerse you in the colors and flavors of India. Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh is the Celebrity Guest at this year’s celebration.

• Date: 15 August 2026 (Saturday)
• Venue: Vibe Credit Union Showplace, 46100 Grand River Avenue, Novi, MI 48374
• Website: www.ilamichigan.org

North Carolina Indian Independence Day 2026 

Patriotism meets cultural glory at the Hindu Center of Charlotte during Indian Independence Day celebration every year. “Maa Tujhe Pranaam” is the theme of the 2026 celebration that includes a lineup of performances to pay a spectacular tribute to Mother India. The folk art and culture of various Indian regions make it an unmissable event in Charlotte, North Carolina.

• Date: 15 August 2026
• Venue: Vihar Hall, Hindu Center of Charlotte
• Participation: Registration required (First come, first served)
• Contact: hcculturalteam@gmail.com | (704) 877-4706

Jai Ho! Indian Independence Day Texas

Everything is bigger in Texas, and so is the Indian Independence Day celebration! Jai Ho! 2026 returns with a special musical tribute – Ye Jo Des Hai Mera – to celebrate India’s 80th Independence Day through patriotic songs and storytelling on a balmy evening in Cedar Park near Austin. The event schedule includes live performances by renowned singers Jitendra Abhyankar, Chaitanya Kulkarni, Abhilasha Chellam, and Malvika Dixit. Obviously, Jai Ho! is one of the most-awaited Indian Independence Day events in Texas.

• Date: 15 August 2026
• Time: 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM
• Contact: 732-771-5271
• Venue: 1501 E hope Dr, Cedar Park, Texas 8641-5100

India Independence Day Festival 2026, Florida

The Association of Indians in America (AIA), Florida Chapter is once again bringing the Indian community together for the much-awaited India Independence Day Festival 2026. It is a wonderful occasion to bask in the glory of the home country, soak in the patriotic spirit, and celebrate India’s 80th Independence Day with family and friends. Cultural programs, delicious Indian food, ethnic fashion, and patriotic music are the main draws of the event.

• Date: 16 August 2026
• Venue: Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale 33312
• Website: www.aiafl.org

The post 80th Indian Independence Day 2026 USA: Full List of Events and Celebrations for Indians in USA first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post 80th Indian Independence Day 2026 USA: Full List of Events and Celebrations for Indians in USA appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

There are many Indian restaurants in Silicon Valley serving the best Indian food in San Francisco Bay Area. It is one of the reasons why Silicon Valley is home to a great number of Indians in California. Most of the Silicon Valley companies including Google keep their Indian employees happy about food according to their desi taste buds, which is often a concern with many living or going abroad.

Among the Silicon Valley companies in San Francisco, Google at Mountain View deserves a special mention for providing free food to its employees. Google Headquarters houses 30 different eating joints to pamper its employees with various cuisines. The global search engine giant has an Indian restaurant named Baadal to provide its Indian-origin employees with authentic Indian food for free at its Mountain View campus in Santa Clara County.

Café Baadal at Googleplex is Indian to the core from its décor to menu. With glittering lanterns hanging from the ceiling and flamboyant cushions on cozy chairs, this Indian restaurant at Google headquarters has captured the colors of India in its interior. With eye-catching posters of popular Bollywood films from the golden eras of Indian Cinema adoring the walls, Baadal has truly nostalgic ambiance, which makes Google’s Indian American employees feel a connect with India.

The maps and flags of India not only dominate the interior décor but also add to the nostalgic quotient of Café Baadal at Googleplex in Mountain View.

The menu at Café Baadal has some of the best and most popular Indian dishes, including chicken biryani, which is a favorite of many Google employees in the Mountain View campus. Masala chai is their favorite pastime too. The restaurant changes the menu every day but chicken biryani and masala chai are available all time. The menu serving authentic Indian food from north Indian dishes to south Indian thalis makes dining a desi affair at this Google restaurant in Santa Clara County.

Baadal Rice is the mainstay of the menu at Café Baadal. It is a special mix of Sona Masoori rice, brown rice, and Bhutanese red rice. There is a special meal named Brahmin for some employees who prefer Sattvik food.

Be an employee Indian or Indian American, a meal or thali is incomplete without desserts for them. Unsurprisingly, Café Baadal at Googleplex serves sinful Indian desserts. The restaurant has become so popular that even Google employees need to book tables in advance. There is a small food truck outside Café Baadal at Googleplex for those having no reservation. The employees without advance booking and those on the go can grab some of the dishes from the truck instead of making a beeline.

The story of Indian food at Googleplex does not end here. There is a smaller van beside the food truck, which serves desserts outside the restaurant.

Chef Irfan Dama, who is popular as Chef Dama in San Francisco Bay Area, cooks Indian food for the Google employees in Mountain View. He specializes in Indian cuisine and cooking. It is his culinary magic that has made the Indian restaurant Baadal at Google Headquarters a hit with employees.

“Baadal is one of the best restaurants for Indian food in Silicon Valley. Each bite reminds you of your mother, home and country. The Indian street-style masala tea is my favorite at Baadal,” said an Indian-origin Google employee to Travel Beats, the Indian Eagle blog. 

The post Google Headquarters has Indian Restaurant in Silicon Valley: Free Indian Food for Employees first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post Google Headquarters has Indian Restaurant in Silicon Valley: Free Indian Food for Employees appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

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 Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

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 Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The global Indian community has been googling who are Indian-origin billionaires among the richest immigrants in America since Forbes’ 2025 list was published. For the first time, 12 Indian Americans made it to the Forbes list of billionaires, with Jay Chaudhry having retained the distinction – the wealthiest Indian-origin billionaire in USA – since 2021. His net worth rose to $17.9bn from $12bn in 2021. America’s highest paid CEO Nikesh Arora, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Atlanta-based Raj Sardana, a self-made billionaire, are the newcomers in the elite club of America’s billionaire immigrants.

Jay Chaudhry, Net Worth $17.9 Billion

With a net worth of $17.9 billion, Jay Chaudhry, CEO of Zscaler, is the richest Indian American billionaire and one of the 10 wealthiest immigrants in the USA. His journey from a small Himalayan village to Wall Street is an inspiring story of American Dream. Born in 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 check-post 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 multibillion-dollar fortune.”

Vinod Khosla, Net Worth $9.2 Billion

Vinod Khosla’s net worth has swelled to $9.2 billion from USD 2.3 billion in 2020. Sun Microsystems’ ex-cofounder Vinod Khosla is now the second richest of all Indian American billionaires, according to Forbes 2025. 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. A newspaper article on the founding of Intel 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.

Rakesh Gangwal, Net Worth $6.6 Billion

Miami-based Rakesh Gangwal, with a net worth of $6.6 billion, is on Forbes 2025 list of richest immigrants in America. A former co-founder of IndiGo, India’s largest low-cost airline, Rakesh Gangwal topped the list 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’s net worth dropped to $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 Dream when he became the Chairman of US Airways Group after a stint in strategic planning for United Airlines in 1984. He founded InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. in 2000 and co-founded IndiGo in 2006. Today, IndiGo is the Indian airline in terms of domestic market share.

Romesh T. Wadhwani, Net Worth $5 Billion  

Symphony Technology Group’s founder and CEO Romesh T. Wadhwani from California with a net worth of $5bn continues to be among the 10 richest Indian American billionaires in 2025. His fortunes rose from $3.4 billion in 2020. Romesh Wadhwani is not just the richest Gujarati Indian entrepreneur in USA but a compassionate philanthropist too. His family shifted from Pakistan to India during the 1947 Partition. He is an alumnus of IIT Bombay in electrical engineering and holds a PhD degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Romesh T. Wadhwani is a self-made serial entrepreneur. 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.

Rajiv Jain, Net Worth $4.7bn 

Forbes 2025 list of richest immigrants in America features Rajiv Jain with a net worth of $4.7 billion among 12 Indian American billionaires. Born and raised in north India, Rajiv Jain is the founder, chairman and chief investment officer of GQG Partners, a Fort Lauderdale-based global investment firm managing over $150 billion in assets. He moved to the US in the early 1990s to pursue MBA at the University of Miami. He started his career as an equity analyst and had a progressive career spanning two decades at Vontobel Asset Management where he became co-CEO in 2014. His firm is closely tied to India, with major stakes in ITC, HDFC, RIL, ICICI Bank, SBI, Sun Pharma, Infosys, Bharti Airtel, Adani Group, and more.

Kavitark Ram Shriram, Net Worth $3bn 

With a net worth of $3 billion, Kavitark Ram Shriram stands sixth among the richest Indian Americans in 2025.  Among the early investors in Google, Kavitark was born in Chennai and graduated in mathematics at Chennai’s Loyola College. Based in California, he worked for Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon, 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.

Raj Sardana, Net Worth $2bn

Born in Delhi to a family displaced by the 1947 Partition, Innova Solutions CEO Raj Sardana from Atlanta is a new face on Forbes’ 2025 list of billionaire immigrants in the US. His journey from just $100 in 1981 to his current net worth $2bn is phenomenal. After he moved to the US, he worked in a college cafeteria while studying MS Georgia Tech. Later, he opened a small print shop in Georgia, which became the foundation of Innova Solutions. Today, the company has over 50,000 employees in multiple countries. From humble beginnings to building a billion-dollar company, Raj Sardana’s pursuit of American Dream is the envy of many.

David Paul, Net Worth $1.5bn

With a net worth estimated at $1.5 billion, David C. Paul, Executive Chairman of Globus Medical, one of the top spine and orthopedic device makers in the US, is featured on the Forbes 2025 list of richest immigrants in the United States. Born in India and educated in Chennai, he moved to the US to pursue a master’s degree at Temple University in Philadelphia. He began his career in biomedical research and later started Globus Medical in 2003. Currently living in Audubon, Pennsylvania, David is a prolific innovator with dozens of patents in surgical technology. Globus Medical operates a major subsidiary in Chennai, showcasing Indian-American innovation in global healthcare.

Nikesh Arora, Net Worth $1.4bn

California-based Nikesh Arora, with a a net worth of $1.4 billion, is one of the richest Indian American CEOs on Forbes’ 2025 list of immigrant billionaires. Originally from north India, Nikesh was born into an army family and studied engineering at IIT-BHU before heading to the US for MBA at Northeastern University and master’s in finance from Boston College. He spent nearly a decade in top roles at Google, then went on to become the President of SoftBank. Since he joined Palo Alto Networks in 2018, he has transformed the company into a cybersecurity giant. In 2023, he hit the headlines as the highest paid Indian-origin CEO in the US, earning over $150 million in a single year.

Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella

Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, both sporting net worth of around $1.1 billion, are among the Forbes ‘America’s Richest Immigrants 2025’ list. They’re also at the helm of two of the biggest tech giants in the world, Google and Microsoft. Sundar, based in Los Altos Hills, is a graduate of IIT Kharagpur, Stanford University, and Wharton, and has been serving as the CEO of Alphabet and Google since 2015. Satya, originally from Hyderabad and now living in Washington, holds degrees in computer science engineering and business from institutions in both India and the US. He became the CEO of Microsoft in 2014 and now also serves as the chairman of the board.

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The post Forbes 2025 List of Richest Immigrants USA has 12 Indian American Billionaires with Total Net Value $55bn first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post Forbes 2025 List of Richest Immigrants USA has 12 Indian American Billionaires with Total Net Value $55bn appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

With the H1B visa registration window for fiscal 2026 opening on March 7, the US Department of Homeland Security brought new H1B visa rules to reform the system for both American employers and foreign workers. Effective from January 17, 2025, the H1B program modernization rule redefines ‘specialty occupation’, enhances transparency, reduces visa fraud, assures seamless visa extension, and updates the lottery process.

Beneficiary-Centric Selection Process

Unlike previous years, multiple employers cannot submit applications for the same candidate. USCIS has implemented enhanced measures to prevent duplicate filings by employers for the same beneficiary and ensure that each applicant has an equal chance. Any employer submitting multiple registrations for the same candidate will face disqualification from the H1B lottery system.

New Definition of ‘Specialty Occupation’

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has refined the definition of “specialty occupation” as part of the H1B visa modernization rule in 2025. Previously, possessing a bachelor’s degree in a specific field might have sufficed. Now, your degree must be directly related to the position and the job responsibilities. Employers can list multiple acceptable fields of study, but each must have a clear connection to the job description.

Regular Worksite Inspections

To prevent H1B visa fraud and misuse, the USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) unit will conduct more frequent worksite inspections, including at third-party client sites. Employers who deny these inspections risk having their petitions denied or revoked. It is essential for companies to maintain detailed records and ensure full compliance with H-1B regulations.

H1B Extension Approval without Re-evaluation

In the new H1B visa rules, USCIS officers are now instructed to defer to prior approvals when deciding on H-1B extension requests. Only if there has been no material change in the previous approval. This means if your job, employer, and circumstances remain unchanged, your visa extension request is more likely to be approved without re-evaluation. However, all required documents must still be provided.

Other H1B Visa Updates for Indians

• The H1B registration fee has increased from $10 to $215 per applicant. This move is intended to deter non-serious applicants and reduce unnecessary applications.
• Employers seeking to extend the H-1B worker’s stay must now submit proof that the worker has maintained their previous visa status. This requirement also applies to H-4 dependents.
• To ensure fairness and prevent fraud, USCIS will conduct more frequent audits and reviews of H-1B registrations during the month of March 2025. Employers must maintain accurate records and provide truthful information to avoid penalties.

The H-1B visa program is evolving under the Trump administration, bringing both positive reforms and stricter compliance measures. Undoubtedly, with the new H1B visa rules for fiscal 2026, the focus is shifting towards a fair and merit based selection process. Whether President Trump brings additional challenges or opens up new pathways, it remains to be seen. For now, the key is to stay informed, act promptly, and prepare thoroughly.

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The post New H1B Visa Rules Redefine Specialty Occupation, Assure Easy Renewals, Reduce Fraud first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post New H1B Visa Rules Redefine Specialty Occupation, Assure Easy Renewals, Reduce Fraud appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

Is the US President above the law? Could he scrape off a constitutional guarantee to those born on the American soil? Is it legal for the President to violate or deny a constitutional amendment? Is an executive order above the Constitution?

These questions are making waves on the international fore, as Donald Trump signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship for the US-born children of immigrants, right after he took oath as 47^th President of America. This is part of Trump’s hardline immigration policies which could not take shape during his first term in the White House’s Oval Office. In USA, birthright citizenship is a 150-year-old constitutional principle that says, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States.”

“We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in, has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years with all of those benefits. It’s ridiculous. It has to end…” Trump said rhetorically during his election campaigns promising to tighten the noose around immigration, while seemingly unaware of the fact that America is one of the 30 countries (including Canada) offering birthright citizenship, according to the Center for Immigration Studies.

The US Constitution was amended 150 years ago (the 14^th Amendment in 1868) to include and protect the right to citizenship for those born or naturalized on the American soil. But President Trump’s executive order expounded the argument, “The 14th Amendment has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States…”

Who will be affected by Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship?

The Trump order eliminating birthday citizenship will affect not only undocumented immigrants, but also legal non-immigrants including H1B, H4, B2, F1, F2, L1, L2 and other visa holders. Undeniably, a majority of legal non-immigrant visa holders in the US are Indians.

As per the presidential order briefing, kids born after 30 days from the date of the order issued shall not be granted US citizenship if their fathers are neither US citizens nor lawful permanent residents, and if their mothers are lawfully but temporarily present in the US, like on a tourist or student visa. President Trump has already directed federal agencies not to issue American passports for and not to accept US citizenship documents issued by state governments for those kids.

The presidential order further states “the privilege of US citizenship does not automatically extend to persons born in the United States when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States at the time of said person’s birth was lawful but temporary (such as, but not limited to, visiting the United States under the auspices of the Visa Waiver Program or visiting on a student, work, or tourist visa) and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth.”

It is evident from the above that Trump’s executive order to end US birthright citizenship may also affect Indian families stuck in the Green Card backlog, as they are neither lawful permanent residents nor US citizens. Uncertainty looms large over the future of the US-born kids of a million Indians stuck in the Green Card backlog, which is being anticipated to have nearly 22 lakh Indians holding various US work visas by the year 2030.

President Trump’s plan to erase the birthright citizenship guarantee in the 14^th Amendment of the US Constitution has split up the nation into two different hemispheres; one supporting the POTUS, with their immovable faith in his vision, and the other condemning his plan as a ‘blatantly unconstitutional attempt to sow division’, thereby encouraging hate crimes against immigrants in the US.

Even Trump’s defenders, who are collectively referred to as immigration hardliners, are divided in opinion. One group of them finds birthright citizenship a ‘great magnet for illegal immigration in the USA’, while the other group has thumbed down the executive order to end birthright citizenship for the US-born children of immigrants. Notably, the American Civil Liberties Union has denounced Donald Trump’s interpretation of the 14^th Amendment of the US Constitution.

Interestingly, a survey in 2015 by the Pew Research Center found that 37% of Americans questioned the relevance of birthright citizenship, before Trump rose to the presidential power. The number of babies born to undocumented immigrants meteorically rose to a whopping 370,000 in 2016, according to the Pew Research Center. The antagonists of birthright citizenship sarcastically call those babies ‘anchor babies’.

Nearly 200,000 Indian American children from a Microsoft engineer to ‘DALCA Kids’ (Deferred Action for Legal Childhood Arrivals) are caught up in the turbulence of immigration in the Trump regime. President Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship may shatter the ecosystem of US immigration, according to legal scholars.

The post Trump Scraps Birthright Citizenship for US-born Kids of Immigrants; It will Mostly Affect H1B and H4 Visa Holders first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post Trump Scraps Birthright Citizenship for US-born Kids of Immigrants; It will Mostly Affect H1B and H4 Visa Holders appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

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.

The post Get Your Travel Rescheduled without Change Fee in the Wake of Elliott Snowstorm Affecting Flights first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post Get Your Travel Rescheduled without Change Fee in the Wake of Elliott Snowstorm Affecting Flights appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

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.

The post Know How California became Home to Maha Kaleshwar Mandir, the First Jyotirlingam Temple in America first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post Know How California became Home to Maha Kaleshwar Mandir, the First Jyotirlingam Temple in America appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

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.

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.

The post New Bill to End OPT for Foreign Students Ignores Their Multi-billion Dollar Contribution to US Economy first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post New Bill to End OPT for Foreign Students Ignores Their Multi-billion Dollar Contribution to US Economy appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.