significant dates
JAN. 5: GURU GOBIND SINGH SAHIB BIRTHDAY
JAN. 14: MAKAR SANKRANT/PONGAL/MAGHI
JAN. 26: INDIA REPUBLIC DAY
EVENTS
TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER
JAN. 4: PURNIMA PUJA; Shree Raam Mandir, 7411 E. Comanche Ave., Tampa; 10 a.m.; for information, call Nick Ramlal at (813) 334-0443 or e-mail [email protected]
JAN. 5-31:”SQUARE ONE ART;” art exhibit presented by Shyama’s Art for all of January; Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa; art reception and award ceremony will be 2 to 5 p.m. on Jan. 24; also, Pandit Jasraj School of Music Foundation to perform; for information, call Shyama Rangwala at (813) 843-6784, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.shyamshyama.com
JAN. 10: FIA FAMILY SPORTS & FUN DAY; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Lake Park, 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Lutz; yoga, jewelry workshop, food carving; for more information, visit www.fia-tampabay.com or email [email protected]
JAN. 18: ALMOST FAMOUS WORLD TOUR; standup comedian Russell Peters; 7:30 p.m.; Straz Center (Morsani Hall), 1010 N Macinnes Place, Tampa; tickets start at $45.50; for information, call (813) 229-7827 or visit www.strazcenter.org
JAN. 21: BUSINESS & NETWORKING EVENT; organized by INDO-US Chamber of Commerce; speaker is Sheryl Hunter of Hunter Business Law; free; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; HCI Ballroom, 5300 W. Cypress St., Tampa; no RSVP required; for information, visit www.indo-us.org
JAN. 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.
FEB. 21: BOLLYWOOD NIGHTS; Bollywood-themed party to support Children Across Borders; entertainment, Indian food by a celebrity chef, fusion DJ dance music; 7 p.m.; Tampa Museum of Art, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa; $350 per person or $700 couple; for tickets, visit www.childrenacrossborders.org or email [email protected]
WINTER HAVEN/LAKELAND
JAN. 16-18: “UNDERSTANDING JOY & SORROW”; 18th Jain Vishwa Bharati Orlando annual Spiritual Camp; Magnuson Grand Conference Hotel, 5651 Cypress Garden Blvd., Winter Haven; for information, call (407) 852-8694, email [email protected] or visit www.jainvishwabharati.org
ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY
JAN. 4: MAUJ AND MAASTI; organized by Hindu Society of Central Florida (HSCF) New Age Group; HSCF community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; 1:30 p.m.; New Year’s resolutions, carom, chess, snacks, tea/coffee; $3 per person for non-members with prior RSVP or $5 at the gate; RSVP [email protected]
JAN 4: MATA KI CHOWKI; 5.30 to 8.30 p.m.; Maa Durga Sri Sai Baba Temple, 11414 S Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando; also, there is a Sai Bhajan program 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Thursday; for information, call (407) 574-8044 or visit www.durgasaitemple.org
JAN 18: MANDIR ANNIVERSARY; Maa Durga Sri Sai Baba Temple, 11414 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando; moorti pooja from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Annakut, Bharatnatyam by children, Bhajan Sandhya and aarti from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; for information, call (407) 574-8044 or visit www.durgasaitemple.org
JAN. 17: BOLLYWOOD THROUGH THE AGES; presented by Vedic Cultural Samaj of Central Florida; features songs, dances and acts from Bollywood in last 60 years; $10; doors open at 5, Soiree Event & Conference Center, 6394 Silver Star Road, Orlando; for information, call Karishma at (407) 802-8716 or visit www.vedicsamaj.com
JAN. 31: “INDIA DAY”; Indian American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) partners with Orlando Magic; Amway Center, 400 W. Church St.; street fest starts at 4 p.m. followed by 7 p.m. Magic vs. Dallas Mavericks game; singer Jay Sean to perform after game; for more information, email [email protected]
OCALA/BELLEVIEW
JAN. 4: SATSANG; Pushtidham (Haveli of Florida), 14080 S.W. 20th Ave. Road, Ocala; for information, call Bharat at (973) 460-5936, Raj Kamdar at (352) 568-5729 or visit www.pushtidhamocala.org
PUNTA GORDA (CHARLOTTE COUNTY)
FEB. 15: SHOWCASE INDIA 2015; organized by the Indian American Cultural Center; Charlotte Harbor Event Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $10 per person; $5 for children ages 6-12; for information, call (941) 613-2222, email [email protected] or visit www.indian-american-cultural-center.org
SOUTH FLORIDA (FORT LAUDERDALE/MIAMI)
JAN. 31: DANCING FOR GOD; presented by Association of Performing Arts of India; Indian classical dance by Odissi dancer and dance therapist Srinwanti Chakrabarti and Bharatnatyam dancer Sahana Balasubramanya; 6 to 8 p.m.; Broward County Main Library Auditorium, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale; $10 for students; $20 general and $30 for VIP; for information, call (954) 885-1466, email [email protected] or visit www.apaiart.com
FEB. 21: 12th ANNUAL INDIAFEST; organized by Palm Beach India Association; free; starts at 11 a.m.; musical, dance and cultural performances; food, clothing, and craft vendors; and art exhibits; Meyer Amphitheater, 105 Evernia St., West Palm Beach; for details, visit www.sfindiafest.com or e-mail [email protected]
FEB. 28: MIAMI MAYHEM VIII; intercollegiate garba/raas competition; hosted by University of Miami Indian Students Association; to benefit Sunil’s Home Charity; Julius Littman Performing Arts Theater, 17011 N.E. 19th Ave., North Miami Beach; 6 p.m. onward; for information, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.miami-mayhem.com
Event submissions are free, e-mail information to [email protected] by the 20th.
Disclaimer: Please check with local organizers, event details are subject to change.