Mahatma Gandhi District
Jan 18, 2010 Celebration, Social Hour
Event: Hilcroft/Harwin Area gets A New Name
Venue: East West Appliance, Hilcroft
Date: Saturday, January 16, 2010
On January 16, 2010 the Hilcroft/Harwin area got a new name. It was a moment of joy for many Indian Americans in Houston since after years of effort led by the India Culture Center, the area of Hilcroft and Harwin is now to be known as the Mahatma Gandhi district.
The project was proposed during the tenure of former Mayor of Houston Bill White while the new Mayor Annise Parker officially renamed the District along with other City of Houston officials and the Consul General of India in Houston, Sanjiv Arora.
Inaugural of Ayurvedic Center in Houston
Oct 9, 2009 Celebration, Health, Social Hour
Event: Inaugural of Ayurvedic Center in Houston
Venue: Hillcroft, Houston, Texas
Date: Friday October 9, 2009
Report: Ruchi Mukherjee
With the Indian festival of lights Diwali just a week away, Hillcroft Shopping plaza was privileged with the opening of an Ayurvedic Center.
Swami Ramdev
This year during his stay Swami Ramdev is conducting a two day Yog Science Camp with Patanjali Yogpeeth members on October 9-10.
Celebrating Indian Film Festival of Houston
Sep 29, 2009 Bollywood, Celebration, Film, Fund Raiser, Gala, Non-Profit, Social Hour
Event: Indian Film Festival of Houston Closing Night Gala
Venue: Intercontinental Hotel, Houston, Texas
Date: September 26, 2009
Report: Ruchi Mukherjee
Photography: Ajay Sarpeshkar
Houston finally concluded a week long celebration of Indian cinema with a celebrity gala held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Houston,
Ruchi M with Actress Manisha Koirala
Texas on September 26, 2009. After ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ made a mark at the Oscars, Houston based film maker Sutapa Gosh felt that the time was right to give Houstonians a taste of Indian cinema. The film festival kicked-off with a reception party at Hotel Sorella Citycenter and showcased a few selected Indian films at Studio Movie Grill from September 21-25, 2009.
The Indian Film Festival of Houston is a non-profit organization devoted to creating a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by show casing quality films. The First Annual Indian Film Festival of Houston brought the best films made in different regional languages. A feast including ten feature-length movies, short films and documentaries. Screenings included Smile Pinki, an award-winning documentary about an impoverished girl whose life is changed by free surgery, bengali film ‘Janala’, Deepti Naval’s ‘Do paise ki dhoop Chaar aane ki baarish’ and Student Academy Awards Winner ‘Kavi’ by Gregg Helvey.
Gregg Helvey winner of the film Kavi
The festival was enjoyed by an international audience that featured question and answer sessions with directors, cast and the audience.
Friday evening saw the biggest crowds as Deepti Naval, Manisha Koirala and others showed up at Studio Movie Grill. The week wrapped with a star studded red carpet high profile celebrity gala which had 400 plus in attendance. The main highlight of the evening were the fashion statements of the guests at the gala.
Dr. Carolyn Farb’s mauve attire ‘lehenga’ (an Indian outfit) was quite a show stopper. Joanne King Herring who as usual never failed to impress with her warm personality and exotic costume. Dressed in gold, Joanne not only turned many heads but honored the theme of the celebrity gala. However, the very beautiful bollywood actress Manisha Koirala who charmed the guests with her personality did little with her outfit and looks. “It seems like she just rolled out of bed” says an onlooker. Deepti did maintain her directorial personality with a classy Indian saree.
Pretty in Mauve Carolyn Farb
Others present at the gala were Pop singer and India’s best playback singer Sonu Nigam, and model/television actor Mohammed Iqbal Khan.
Proceeds from the festival and gala will benefit the Indian Film Festival of Houston and MediSend International, that supports under resourced hospitals in developing countries with a multi-dimentional approach to improving community health.
Bayou City Art Festival, Spring Happy Hour
Jun 1, 2009 Arts, Celebration, Fine Arts, Fund Raiser
Event: Bayou City Art Festival, Spring Happy Hour
Venue: Capital One Building, Houston, Texas
Date: May 27, 2009
The Board of Art Colony Association (ACA) and Capital One Bank City President Annella Metoyer hosted a celebratory “Double Rewards” evening May 27, to present Nonprofit Partner appreciation payments totaling a record-breaking $129,501! And, for the first time ever, the Festival honored each organization’s “Top Ten Volunteers.” 
The event, which filled Capital One Bank Plaza’s Main Lobby with Festival fans, food, cocktails and music, was abuzz with accolades, including official thank you’s from Houston City Council Member-At-Large Peter Brown. ACA Board President Joe Pogge presented appreciation checks to the Nonprofit Partners, which brought the Art Colony’s overall contributions to NPP organizations, the City and its parks department to $2.5 million over the past 38 years.
Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park 2009 Nonprofit Partners include Art League Houston, Bering Omega Community Services, City ArtWorks, 
DiverseWorks, Downtown YMCA, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston Center for Photography, Lawndale Art Center, MECA, Memorial Park Conservancy, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, Several Dancers Core, SNAP, SPARK and TALA.
Tags: Bayou City Art Festival
Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston 2008 Awards Banquet
Feb 18, 2009 Business, Celebration, Gala
Event: IACCGH 2008 Awards Banquet
Venue: Westin Oaks Galleria, Houston, Texas
Date: January 30, 2009
Due to Hurricane IKE the Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Houston had to reschedule their awards banquet which was finally held on Friday January 30, 2009.
The event was sold out as the Chamber honored Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and Houston Mayor Bill White for their extraordinary Leadership during Hurricane IKE at the awards banquet.
The Consul General of India Hon. Sanjiv Arora was the Chief Guest for the occasion.
At the event the best Community service award was bagged by Mr. Bangar Reddy of India Culture Center, Atul Vir got the entrepreneur of the year award and the Women’s entrepreneur award was given to Yasmin Wadia.
Tags: IACCGH
Go fly a kite | Makar Sankranti Celebrations in Houston
Feb 11, 2009 Celebration, Religious
Event: Makar Sankranti
Venue: George Bush Park , Houston , Texas
Date: Sunday, Jan 11, 2009
Inspite of a very cold day in Houston nearly 3,000 men, women and children gathered at the park to celebrate Makar Sankranti and fly kites.
The Makar Sankranti and Swami Vivekanandaji’s birth celebration was first started by three or four families from Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America and Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh in 1989. This annual event has grown steadily in popularity over the years and in mid-1990s Gujarati Samaj of Houston joined to organize the event. By late 1990s and early 2000, it regularly drew between 3,000 to 5,000 people. Hindus of Greater Houston has joined this year.
Consul General Sanjiv Arora attended with his wife Chhaya and son Akash. Arora flew a kite. The event was sponsored by Vishwa Hindu Parishad of American-Houston, Gujarati Samaj of Houston, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), Vallabh Priti Seva Samaj (VPSS) and Hindus of Greater Houston.
Khichadi and spicy buttermilk was provided by volunteers of Gujarat Samaj. Masala tea was provided by volunteers of Ekal Vidyalaya-USA.
Tags: Kite, Makar Sankranti
Republic Day Celebrations – India Fair 2009
Feb 2, 2009 Celebration
Event: Republic Day Celebrations
Date: Sunday, January 25, 2009
Venue: New Stafford Center, Houston, Texas
India Culture Center in association with the Indian Consulate and other Indo American associations hosted India’s Republic Day and India Fair on Sunday January 25, 2009.
Along with cultural programs there was the new addition of Miss & Mr. Teen India Texas Pageant. Thousands gathered for the event.
Interviewed at the event were Atul Vir, Ashok Dhingra, Ash Shah, winners of the Cultural Jewels of India, Ashok Rao and Shobana Muratee, and fourteen year old Rukshar, participant of the Miss Teen Texas contest.
Asia Society Texas Celebration
Jan 14, 2009 Celebration, Gala, Non-Profit
Event: Asia Society Texas Celebration
Venue: Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Houston
Dignitaries and other well known faces from the Asian American community gathered at the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China as Asia Society was celebrating both the 30th anniversary of China US relations as well as their own 30 years of Asia Society in Texas.
The event was also a kick-off party for the upcoming Asia Society Tiger Ball on February 26, 2009 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Houston and this time the theme would be ‘The Splendors of China’.
The Chairs of the Tiger Ball Mrs. Ping Sun and Mr. David W. Leebron. The Honorary Chairs are The Honorable George H. W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush. The Diplomatic Hosts are His Excellency Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the United States Zhou Wenzhong and the Honorable Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Houston Qiao Hong.
News/Feature Journalist Ruchi M interviewed:
- Nancy C Allen
- Yellow Magazine Publisher Viet Hoang
- Gala Chair Mrs. Y. Ping Sun
Tags: Asia Society, China, Tiger Ball
The Investiture of Renu Khator
Nov 16, 2008 Celebration, Education
Event: The Investiture of Renu Khator
Venue: Cullen Hall, University of Houston
Indian Americans called November 7, 2008 a historic day as Renu Khator became the thirteenth president of the University Of Houston. Khator oversees a system with an annual operating budget that exceeds $1 billion, serves more than 57,000 students, and has an annual economic impact of $3 billion.
Investiture: “Formal ceremony of conferring the authority and symbols of high office.”
In higher education, an investiture -- traditionally held with the president’s first year in office. It is an ancient academic ceremony that has symbolized the pursuit of knowledge since the Middle Ages. Today, universities view investitures as an opportunity to welcome a new era and celebrate as a community.
The entire Indian community was very proud of her. In her speech Khator did not shy away from embracing her motherland India and her roots. “I was thrilled the way her speech concluded with Tagore’s poetry,” says Houston community leader Vijay Pallod.
[altpwa user=rmrvideo album=RenuKhator]
Tags: Renu Khator, University of Houston
A 1000 Lights of Peace
Oct 20, 2008 Celebration
Event: Mahatma Gandhi Birthday Celebrated
Date: October 5, 2008
Venue: Miller Outdoor Theater
It was the third annual 1000 lights for Peace on October 5, 2008 at the Miller Outdoor Theater. A Festival Celebrating Mahatma Gandhiʼs Birthday, or, Jayanti, as it is called in Hindi and the United Nations official decision to declare this day, for ever more as the International Day of Peace and Non Violence.
The parade started from the Rose Garden in Herman Park, near the Gandhi Statue where people gathered to walk 3.1 miles around the park, demonstrating that a life commitment to peace is a daily steadfast process requiring patience. The crowd smiled while they walked around carrying banners with songs of peace, non-violence, service and love. Upon reaching Miller Outdoor Theater the crowds assembled onto the stage as Lamar High School Orchestra cheered the crowd.
A memorable reenactment of the famous Salt March, led by Gandhi in 1930 which took place at Dandi, was top notch to say the least. Performance written by Yaksha Bhatt and performed by Shunya Theater.
Atul Kothari Director of the Mahatma Gandhi Library was given a special declaration from the United Nations, and was signed by Congresswoman Sheela Jackson Lee personally, recognizing his work in the great city of Houston.
The event concluded with lighting up candles. Making the evening ʽA 1000 Lights of Peaceʼ a success, promising it to get bigger and better.
Tags: Mahatma Gandhi
Houston Celebrates 2008 Janmastami
Sep 8, 2008 Celebration, Religious
Report: Ruchi M
TV Asia
Part 1
Part 2
{Video Courtesy -- TV Asia}
Over 5,500 gathered at the George R Brown Convention Center to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna: Janmastami on August 30, 2008. The festivities were put together by The Hindus of Greater Houston.
The programs began at 6:30pm with a procession followed by a puja by the local pandits. Costume contest, dance competitions and an elaborate decoration with rangoli attracted many locals.
The community honored Houstonian Raj Bhavsar, 2008 US Olympic medal winner, and the Akhil Chopra Award for community service was handed over to Manish Mehra.
The festivities went all along till midnight with kirtans (singing in the praise of Lord Krishna) and garba (a form of Indian folk dance).
Tags: Hindu, Janmastami, Raj Bhavsar
Festival of the Month: Janmastami
Aug 19, 2008 Celebration, Religious
Report: Ruchi M.
The organizers called it a historic day. A dinner reception was held at the India House, Houston Texas on Sunday August 17, 2008 to kick start the preparations for the mega 19th Annual Janmastami celebration. The Hindus of Greater Houston gathered here to promote awareness of Sanatan Vedic cultural and spiritual values to the present and future generations. The purpose was also to encourage celebration of Hindu festivals collectively.
The buzz for this month amongst Hindus is celebrating Janmastami on a grand scale. Every year thousands gather at the George R Brown Convention Center to rejoice the birth of Lord Krishna. “This year too festivities are at its peak”, says active community leader Vijay Pallod.
On August 30th 2008 about 10,000 people are expected to attend the Janmastami festivities that start at 6:30pm till midnight. The event is free to public.
Images from Last Year’s celebrations:
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