SIGNIFICANT DATE
FEB. 13: MAHA SHIVRATRI
EVENTS
TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER
FEB. 3: 2018 TAMPA BAY BENEFIT GALA; organized by Akshaya Patra; keynote speaker is Dr. Sheena Iyengar, author and professor of behavioral economics at Columbia University Business School; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; 5:30 p.m.; for information, email [email protected] or visit www.foodforeducation.org/tampa
FEB. 7: “Desi Club;” organized by India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa: 1 to 4 p.m.; table tennis, carom, card games, chess, etc.; no membership, no minimum age requirement; free; for information, call Ram Jakhotia at (813) 962-4172.
FEB. 17: Kanchi Paramacharya Padhuka Yatra; Sri MahaPeriyava ManiMandapam will perform Padhuka yatra for Kanchi MahaPeriyava; 11 a.m.; Saamohika Padhuka Pooja at Sri Ayyappa Society of Tampa Inc. (SASTA) temple, 6829 Maple Lane, Tampa; also, will visit Orlando and Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 18 and 19 respectively; for house visits of Padhuka (holy sandals), contact Shankar Narayan at (813) 294-4476 or [email protected]
FEB. 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.
MARCH 24: STILL MORE SPICES OF LIFE: 2018 PROJECT STARFISH FUNDRAISER; organized by Project Starfish; 6 to 10 p.m.; Chester H. Ferguson Law Center, 1610 N. Tampa St., Tampa; $25 adults, $10 children; fundraiser features food for four Indian regions, cash bar, Bollywood dancing, silent auction, etc.; Project Starfish provides medical care to the underserved in southern India; for information, visit projectstarfishindia.org/2018-fundraiser
MARCH 31: TIECON FLORIDA 2018 – FOSTERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP; organized by TiE Tampa Bay; USF Sam and Martha Gibbons Alumni Center, 11810, USF Alumni Drive, Tampa; several keynote speakers and networking on agenda; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with entertainment; register at www.tieconfl.com
ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY
FEB. 3: INDIA DAY; Indian American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) partners with Orlando Magic; Amway Center, 400 W. Church St.; street fest starts at 3 p.m. followed by 7 p.m. game Magic vs. Washington Wizards; for information, visit www.iaccorlando.com or email [email protected]
FEB. 3, 10, 17, 24: HEARTFULNESS MEDITATION CLASSES; free; Hindu Society of Central Florida community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; 9 to 10 a.m.; for information, call (407) 699-5277 or visit www.hindutempleorlando.org
FEB. 4: EARLY VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION; presented by HSCF New Age Group; 1:30 p.m.; HSCF community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; snacks and hot tea/coffee; also seminar on new tax law; antaakshri; free for paid 2018 members with prior RSVP at [email protected] or $5 at gate; for information, call Madan Arora at (407) 971-9259.
FEB. 7, 14, 21, 28: AAPI YOGA THERAPY; free; Hindu Society of Central Florida community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; for information, call (407) 699-5277 or visit www.hindutempleorlando.org
FEB. 10: KEERTHANA (MUSICAL GALA NIGHT); presented by the Hindu Society of Central Florida (HSCF) in its community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; 4:30 p.m.; donations welcome; Indian American Youth Orchestra will perform; for information, call Dr. Guru Prasad at (321) 277-3724 or e-mail [email protected]
FEB. 11-14: MAHA SHIVRATRI PROGRAMS; Shri Shiv Dham Hindu Temple and Brahmrishi Yogashram, 460 O’Berry Hoover Road, Orlando; for information, call (407) 380-2661, e-mail [email protected] or visit
FEB. 13: MAHASHIVARATRI MAHOTSAVAM; Hindu Society of Central Florida, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; celebrations from 8 a.m. till midnight for information, call the temple at (407) 699-5277 or visit www.hindutempleorlando.org
FEB. 17: Thyagaraja Aaradhana music festival; 9:30 a.m. onward; Hindu Society of Central Florida, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; donations welcome; for information, call Dr. Vasundhara Iyengar at (407) 876-7686 or visit www.hindutempleorlando.org/
FEB. 24: “ADHURA TOY MADHURA;” Gujarati comedy presented by Gujarati Society of Central Florida; 6 p.m.; Lyman High School, 865 S Ronald Reagan Blvd., Longwood; free for GSCF members; $35 non-members; for information, call (407) 460-2020 or visit www.gujaratisocietycfl.com
APRIL 15: MYSHADI BRIDAL EXPO; presented by Desh-Videsh Media Group; Hilton Orlando, 6001 Destination Parkway; noon to 5 p.m.; free admission, parking; several booths to showcase latest trends and products for weddings; for information, call (954) 784-8100.
GAINESVILLE
APRIL 7: INDIA FEST & HEALTH FAIR; presented by the India Cultural & Education Center; health fair will be 9 a.m. to noon and the festival will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Santa Fe Community College, Gymnasium (Building V), 3000 N.W. 83rd St., Gainesville; $5 admission and children 5 years of age and younger free; Indian food, dance, art, music, jewelry, clothing, henna; for information, email [email protected] or visit www.icec-florida.org/
FORT MYERS/ESTERO
FEB. 24: JAZZ CARNATICA; presented by Raaga; Sameer Gupta on drums, Arun Ramamurthy on violin and Perry Wortman on bass; 6:30 p.m.; Temple Beth-El, 16225 Winkler Road, Fort Myers; $25 adult non-members, $20 adults members, $10 children 12 and over; for information, call Anju at (239) 994-7120 or visit www.raagafl.org
APRIL 7: 31st ANNUAL INDIA FEST; organized by India Association of Fort Myers; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Estero Community Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero; $5; free parking; Indian food, clothing, jewelry, entertainment, Bollywood fashion show; for information, call Denny Sharma at (239) 770-7427 or visit www.iafortmyers.org
NAPLES
MARCH 24: INDIA FEST; organized by India Association of Naples; tentative date; timing and venue to be decided; for details, email [email protected]
MELBOURNE/COCOA (SPACE COAST)
MARCH 10-11: INDIAFEST; presented by Manav Mandir; at a new venue this year; Wickham Park, 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; cultural and fashion shows, music, henna, arts and crafts, yoga demonstration, Indian cooking demo; $5 for adults, $2 for children under age 12 and kids under 5 are free; for information, call Yasmin Majeed at (321) 720-8590 or visit www.indiafestbrevard.org
JACKSONVILLE
FEB. 3: “NATURE THE MAGNIFICENT: GRACEFUL & FURIOUS”; musical with multiple dance forms presented by Rasajhari (cultural wing of Mothers Cry Inc.); relief fundraiser for Puerto Rico hurricane victims; UNF, Robinson Theatre, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville; $20 admission; 3 p.m.; for tickets, call (904) 810-7626.
SOUTH FLORIDA (DAVIE/WEST PALM BEACH/PEMBROKE PINES)
FEB. 3: ANNUAL IPOF BANQUET; organized by Indian Physicians of South Florida; 6:30 p.m.; The Signature Grand, 6900 W. State Road 84, Davie; to sponsor exhibit booth or for more information, visit www.IPOF.org
FEB. 17: 15th ANNUAL INDIAFEST; organized by Palm Beach India Association; Meyer Amphitheater, 105 Evernia St., West Palm Beach; 10 a.m.; free and open to public; features musical, dance and cultural performances; food, clothing, and craft vendors; and art exhibits; for details, visit http://www.sfindiafest.org/ or e-mail [email protected]
MARCH 4: HOLI CELEBRATION; organized by Indian Religious and Cultural Center (IRCC); C.B. Smith Park-Shelter No. 19, 900 N. Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $15 for IRCC members, $20 non-members; for information, call (954) 543-1539 or email [email protected]
MARCH 10: DANCING FOR GOD; presented by Association of Performing Arts of India on eve of its 20th anniversary; Broward County Main Library Auditorium, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 3 to 5:30 p.m.; $25 general admission, $35 VIP, $15 students with current ID; purchase tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dancing-for-god-tickets-41948217247
MARCH 17-18: 25th ASIAN TRADE, FOOD FAIR AND CULTURAL SHOW; presented by Bangladesh Association of Florida; South Florida Fairgrounds (Expo Center), 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach; noon to 10 p.m. both days; for information, call (561) 876-2255 or visit www.asianfair.org
Event submissions are free, e-mail information to [email protected] by the 20th.
Disclaimer: Event details are subject to change. Please check with local organizers.