Events
TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER
DEC. 3: ANNUAL BANQUET FUNDRAISER; benefits the Hindu Temple of Florida; entertainment by Anjali Dance Academy; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; social hour from 5 to 6:30 p.m., program starts at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 9 p.m.; $100 adults, $50 for students and retired seniors; for information, call (813) 962-6890, (813) 931-7442 or visit www.htflt.org
DEC. 11: INDIAN SENIORS DAY; organized by Ambaji Mandir of Tampa Bay, 10991 58th St., Pinellas Park; 5 to 7 p.m.; followed by mahaprasad; there is no minimum age requirements; for more information, call the mandir at (727) 537-9445.
DEC. 21: ICC SENIORS GET-TO-GATHER; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; free seminar, lunch and entertainment; no minimum age requirement; for information or ride, call John Adhia at (813) 784-1132 or Ram Jakhotia at (813) 962-4172.
Pandit Rajin Balgobind
JAN. 14-20: DISCOURSE ON THE BHAGWAT KATHA BY PANDIT RAJIN BALGOBIND; second annual community event put together by several organizations in Tampa Bay area; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; bhajans from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., followed by discourse, then dinner at 9; for more information, call (813) 962-4172 or (727) 798-4258 or (727) 460-2460.
FEB. 17-19, 2012: THIRD ANNUAL INDIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (IIFF) OF TAMPA BAY; Channelside Cinemas, Tampa; for details, call Francis Vayalumkal at (813) 719-0303, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.iifftampa.com
ORLANDO/OAKLAND/WINTER SPRINGS
DEC. 3: TALENT SHOW & GROUP DANCE COMPETITION; presented by the Gujarati Society of Central Florida; Linda W. Chapin Auditorium, Orange County Convention Center Hall C, International Drive, Orlando; starts at 4 p.m.; free; for information, call Alka Shukla at (407) 221-3517, Neil Kapadia at (407) 832-3835 or visit www.gujaratisocietycfl.com
DEC. 4: NEW AGE GROUP MONTHLY; organized by the Hindu Society of Central Florida (HSCF) New Age Group; 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; HSCF community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; chess, carom and playing cards will be played; snacks, tea/coffee to be served; RSVP to [email protected] or call Madan Arora at (407) 971-9259, Dev Sharma at (407) 862-9920.
DEC. 11: SENIORS TRIP TO HOTEL/CASINO IN TAMPA; organized by Gujarati Society of Central Florida; society seniors to take a trip to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tampa; bus will leave from Swaminarayan Temple, 1325 W. Oak Ridge Road, Orlando at 8:30 a.m. and return at about 5 p.m. to the temple; $20 per person; for more information, call Rupaben at (321) 948-4113 or I.C. Bhavsar at (407) 948-1058.
GAINESVILLE
MARCH 17, 2012: HEALTH FAIR & INDIA FEST; presented by the India Cultural & Education Center; health fair will be 9 a.m. to noon and the festival will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Santa Fe Community College, Gymnasium (Building V), 3000 N.W. 83rd St., Gainesville, FL 32606; $5 admission, kids younger than 5 years of age are free; Indian food, dance, art, music, jewelry, clothing, henna; for information, call (352) 378-7112, (352) 505-9106, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.icec-florida.org
TITUSVILLE
DEC. 26-31: SIXTH FAMILY MEDICAL MISSION 2011; organized by Doctors’ Goodwill Foundation; doctors, nurses, premed and medical students will be volunteering at RMS Hospital, Bhavnagar – Ahmedabad Highway, Dhandhuka, Gujarat (www.rmshospital.org); donations from doctors and hospitals of used working medical equipment X-ray, EKG and anesthesia machines, operating room and surgical supplies; for information, call Dr. Kanti Bhalani at (321) 298-5531, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.doctorsfoundation.org
OCALA
DEC. 3: SATSANG AT YOUR HAVELI; starts at 3 p.m. with children’s lessons followed by Satsang; Pushtidham (Haveli of Florida), 14080 S.W. 20th Ave. Road, Ocala; for information, call (973) 460-5936 or Raj Kamdar at (352) 568-5729.
DEC. 18: SATSANG AT YOUR HAVELI; starts at 3 p.m. with children’s lessons followed by Satsang; Pushtidham (Haveli of Florida), 14080 S.W. 20th Ave. Road, Ocala; for information, call (973) 460-5936 or Raj Kamdar at (352) 568-5729.
FORT MYERS
DEC. 4-10: BHAJA GOVINDAM; Hindu Temple of Southwest Florida, 12552 Plantation Road, Fort Myers; lectures by Shri Ravi Bharati; for information, call Mallika Nandur at (239) 482-0677, Anjana Bhatt at (239) 274-5584, e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.hindutempleswfl.com
DEC. 11: CHARITY WALK; food and bazaar in aid of soup kitchen; Hindu Temple of Southwest Florida, 12552 Plantation Road, Fort Myers; for details, call Mallika Nandur at (239) 482-0677, Anjana Bhatt at (239) 274-5584, e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.hindutempleswfl.com
SOUTH FLORIDA
DEC. 3: JAGRUTHI (AWAKENING); Ekal Vidyalaya fundraiser; colorful dance and music show; 6:30 to 10 p.m.; Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center, 1770 Monroe St. (U.S. 1 and Monroe Street), Hollywood; $25 in advance or $30 at door; children 11 years of age and younger are $10; above 12 years of age are $20; dinner is included; to purchase tickets online, visit www.ekal.org, call (305) 273-0009 or email dadebygmail.com
DEC. 10: ANNUAL BANQUET & MEDICAL EXHIBITION; organized by the Indian Physicians of South Florida (IPOF); free to all current active IPOF members; guests pay $35; 6 p.m. till midnight; India House Banquet Hall, 1711 N. University Drive, Plantation; for information, call Dr. Asha Gupta at (954) 234-5674, Dr. Meenu Gupta at (954) 560-9846, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ipof.org
FEB. 18, 2012: “RAGA UNVEILED;” two hours of educational documentary on Indian classical music in English; filmmaker Gita Desai will be at the site to meet and greet and answer questions at the end; presented by the Association of Performing Arts of India; 6 p.m.; Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center, 1770 Monroe St., Hollywood (U.S. 1 and Monroe Street); $15 general admission and $12 for students and seniors; for more information, call (954) 885-1466, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.apaiart.com