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SIGNIFICANT DATES

MARCH 9: MAWLID AN NABI (BIRTHDAY OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD)

MARCH 11: HOLI

MARCH 27: HINDU NEW YEAR

Other Area Events

By NITISH S. RELE - editor@khaasbaat.com

TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER

TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER MARCH 1: GUJARATI PLAY "UNMARRIED HUSBAND;" organized by the Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay; 5:30 p.m.; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; free for Samaj members, $15 for non-members; for information, visit www.gujaratisamaj.org

MARCH 14: BAPS WOMEN'S CONFERENCE 2009; topic is "Health, Wellness & Balanced Development"; 1 p.m.; BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, 9556 E. Fowler Ave., Thonotosassa; for information, call (813) 986-5473 or visit www.baps.org

MARCH 18: ICC INDIAN SENIOR GET-TOGETHER; 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.; at ICC, Lotus Hall, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; free for seniors and everyone else is invited; for information or a ride, call Hitesh Adhia at (813) 784-6930 or Ram Jakhotia at (813) 962-4172.

MARCH 21: COMEDY SHOW; presented by India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; performing are Rajiv Satyal, Vijai Nathan and Vidur Kapur; dinner at 7:30 with show starting at 9 p.m.; free for ICC members; $50, $75, $100 (includes dinner) for non-ICC members; seniors and students are $25; for information, call Kanti Bakarania at (813) 653-4981 or Hitesh Adhia at (813) 784-1132.

MARCH 21: SECOND ANNUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR, sponsored by Vishnu Mandir; 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the temple, 5803 Lynn Road, Tampa; health screenings for blood sugar, cholesterol, obesity as well as a bond density test and blood pressure check; health care professionals and physicians will be available to answer questions and distribute information about child, adolescent, senior health and safety topics; for information, call Dr. Sadhana Shah at (727) 798-4258 or Dr. Ram Ramcharran at (727) 460-2460.

MARCH 28: GUDI PADWA; organized by the Maayboli Melawa Tampa Bay (MMTB); for time, venue and more details, write to mmtb_moderator@yahoo.com or join MMTB mailing list at groups.yahoo.com/group/mmtb

APRIL 4: ANNUAL BAISAKHI CELEBRATIONS; organized by the Punjabi Association of America; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Rd, Tampa; 6:30-7:30 p.m. hors d'oeuvres; program begins at 7:30 p.m.; featuring Ali Pervez Mehdi, Kashmira Nayak, UF Gator Bhangra, among others; $30 per person, $100 VIP; for tickets, call Amrita Bedi at (352) 650-4667 or e-mail bediamrita@hotmail.com or Dr. Devindra Kahlon at (407) 765-0660 (Orlando calls).

APRIL 8: PRATIMA: REFLECTION; Indian classical dance presented by Nrityagram Dance Ensemble of India; 8 p.m.; tickets start at $29.50; Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa; for information, call (813) 229-7827 or visit www.tbpac.org

ORLANDO

MARCH 1: HSCF NEW AGE SENIORS ANNIVERSARY DINNER; organized by the Hindu Society of Central Florida New Age; Hindu Society of Central Florida; 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; registration at 5 p.m.; cultural program starts from 6 p.m. onward followed by dinner; $15 per person, children younger than 5 years of age are free; for more information, call Madan Arora at (407) 971-9259, Dev Sharma at (407) 862-9920 or e-mail hscfnewagegroup@yahoo.com.

MARCH 14: AKSHAYA PATRA FOUNDATION INFORMATIONAL MEETING; foundation's USA President Madhu Sridhar will be in attendance; 7 p.m.; Hindu Society of Central Florida, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; there is no admission charge and dinner will be served; to RSVP, e-mail Stephanie Peterson at stephanie@akshayapatrausa.org, call (781) 438-3090 or visit http://www.foodforeducation.org

MARCH 29: GUDI PADWA; organized by the Orlando Marathi Mandal; 4:30 p.m.; Hindu Society of Central Florida community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; cultural program for all age groups; $8 for adult members and $15 for non-members; $5 for children of members and $8 for children of non-members; for information or to participate in the cultural program, call Anjali and Milind Dange at (321) 663-2291, Mitali and Ken Lecroy at (407) 383-2573, Yashashree and Ravi Angal at (321) 948-5838 or Prachi and Nishant Muley at (407) 924-5048.

GAINESVILLE

MARCH 21: INDIA FEST; presented by the India Cultural & Education Center (www.icec-florida.org); 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Santa Fe Community College Gymnasium, 3000 N.W. 83rd St., Gainesville, FL 32606; $3 admission, kids younger than 5 years of age are free; Indian food, dance, art, music, jewelry, clothing, henna; music band will play from 11 a.m. to noon and cultural show will be from 2 to 5 p.m.; for vendor information, call Lalitha Ganesh at (352) 377-3844; for cultural events, call Varsha Kulkarni at (352) 331-1641.

FORT MYERS

MARCH 21: INDIA FEST; organized by the India Association of Fort Myers; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Lee County Alliance for the Arts grounds (10091 McGregor Blvd., near the corner of McGregor and Colonial Drive); entry fee is $4 per person; parking is free; for details, call association President Rajen Patel at (239) 634-1412 or visit www.iafortmyers.org

JACKSONVILLE

MARCH 20-22: HINDU SOCIETY OF N.E. FLORIDA ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS; temple is at 4968 Greenland Road, Jacksonville; for information, call (904) 268-7630 or visit www.jaxhindutemple.org

MARCH 27: GUDI PADWA AND UGADI; Hindu Society of N.E. Florida, 4968 Greenland Road, Jacksonville; for details, call (904) 268-7630 or visit www.jaxhindutemple.org

MELBOURNE (SPACE COAST AREA)

MARCH 13: AKSHAYA PATRA FOUNDATION INFORMATIONAL MEETING; foundation's USA President Madhu Sridhar will be in attendance; 7 p.m.; Taste of India, 606 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne; there is no admission charge and dinner will be served; to RSVP, e-mail Stephanie Peterson at stephanie@akshayapatrausa.org, call (781) 438-3090 or visit http://www.foodforeducation.org

SOUTH FLORIDA

MARCH 7: MIAMI MAYHEM 2009; organized by University of Miami's Indian Student Association; eight teams from across the nation go head-to-head to battle for $4,000 in cash prizes and the glory of being crowned Miami Mayhem 2009 Champion; Julius Littman Performing Arts Center, 17011 N.E. 19th Ave., Miami Beach; tickets are $15, $20 and $25; winner will go into the Best of the Best Wildcard Pool and receive a bid to Raas All-Stars: National Championships; for more information on teams, hotel, charity, or sponsorship, visit www.miami-mayhem.com; for more information, e-mail miami.mayhem@gmail.com.

MARCH 19-22: "SPIRITUALITY BEYOND BOUNDARIES: AN INSPIRATION CONFERENCE"; presented by Anandmurti Gurumaa; no cost admission; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center and Spa, 250 Racquet Club Road, Weston, FL 33326; for information, call Lily at (954) 801-7867 or Revti at (954) 433-1422 or visit www.gurumaa.com

APRIL 18: INDIAN SENIORS "SPRING" MEET AND GREET; free breakfast, lunch and seminar; 7 a.m.; Quality Inn Sawgrass Conference Center, 1711 N. University Drive, Plantation; for reservation, call (561) 292-3238 or e-mail Chandrabilgi@yahoo.com

THROUGH APRIL 25: BHARATNATYAM DANCE; the Association of Performing Arts of India (APAI) has sponsored to teach Bharatnatyam dance at Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Boca Raton from 3:30 to 4:50 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays; for more information, e-mail Prof. Clarence Brooks at Clarence.Brooks@fau.edu



CLASSES

YOGA AND MEDITATION: The Hindu Temple of Florida Vidyalaya presents Yoga and Meditation Classes 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sundays, starting April 6. Conducted by Shri Sree Reddy, the classes will be held in the temple hall, 5509 Lynn Road, Tampa, FL 33624. Minimal fee of $20 per month for the Raja Yoga and Jyothi Meditation classes will be charged. For information, call Nainan Desai at (813) 931-7442, Indira Sastry at (813) 854-1444, Suman Lingappa at (813) 994-2915 or Gayathri Chandra 813-814-2966.

VEDAS: Veda class is being conducted by B. Ganesan (Ganesh) at the Hindu Temple of Florida, 5509 Lynn Road, Tampa; 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; an engineer by profession, Ganesan works in Abu Dhabi, teaching Veda mantras for the last 17 years; Sri Rudhram, Chamaham, Sookthams, Upanishads are being taught for Vedic chanting during this free class; for information, call Ganesan at (813) 732-5935.

VIDYALAYA AT HINDU TEMPLE OF FLORIDA: Every Sunday except on public holiday for first-graders to 12th grade; 12:15 to 2:45 p.m.; subjects include Mathematics and English; $25 registration fee per academic year, $125 per fall or winter term; Hindu Temple is at 5509 Lynn Road in Tampa; for more information on Vidyalaya, call Manish Kharod at (813) 963-0616 or Ravi Narayanan at (813) 961-6120.

PANDIT JASRAJ SCHOOL OF MUSIC FOUNDATION: Vocal and harmonium classes by Pandit Rattan Mohan Sharma and Radha Raman Kirtane; table classes (group and special) by Aditya Narayan Banerjee (www.adityabanerjee.com); classes held at different locations depending on the day; for more information, call (813) 960-0176 or e-mail: pjsmftampabay@hotmail.com; Web site: www.pjsmf.com

CHHANDAYAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC: Sitar, vocal and table classes by Hidayat Khan (son of sitar maestro Vilayat Khan), Mithali Bhaumik Banerjee (vocal) and Pandit Sameer Chatterjee (tabla); classes are held in Clearwater; for more information, call Satya Challa at (727) 712-1233 or Viji Reddy at (727) 934-7721 or e-mail sameer@tabla.org

BALVIHAR BY CHINMAYA MISSION OF TAMPA BAY: Sundays from 10am to noon in Tampa; ages 5 through teen; children learn about Hindu religion, culture and festivals through stories from the Ramayana and Bhagwad Gita; for more information on location and fees visit www.chinmayaprasad.org or call Laxmi Sastry at (813) 948-3590 or e-mail nsastry@tampabay.rr.com

SANKARA CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF FLORIDA: classes in Carnatic percussion instruments mridangam, ghatam, kanjira and morsingh by Ghatam Vidwan Sri T.H. Subash Chandran (brother of T.H. "Vikku" Vinayakram) and N. Ganesh Kumar (www.ganeshkanjira.com); classes held in Tampa and at the Hindu Temple of Florida; for more information, call Kala Gangadharan at (813) 979-4598 or Jyothi Venkatachalam at (813) 977-9039 or (813) 404-7899 or e-mail jvenkata@yahoo.com or ganesh@ganeshkanjira.com

TAMPA SHAKHA/BALAGOKULAM: free activities for all ages, including yoga, games, field trips, and shlokas for children and adults; 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, Hindu Temple of Florida, Lynn Road; for more information, call Vijay Singh at (813) 920-7494.

VEDANTA CENTER IN ST. PETERSBURG The Vedanta Center of St. Petersburg, 216 19th Ave. S.E. (first house to the right on crossing Bay Street on 19th Avenue Southeast) holds lectures on Vedanta every Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon by Swami Yuktamanandaji. There also is a Gita class on Wednesday from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., followed by meditation at the center, which is part of the Ramakrishna Mission and Math of India. For more information, call (727) 896-9840 or click on www.vedantaflorida.com

ORLANDO

JAIN VISHWA BHARATI U.S.A.: Every Saturday classes are held on Pranayam, Yogic Exercise and Relaxation, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; donations accepted; JVB Center, 7819 Lillwill Ave., Orlando; for information, call (407) 852-8694 or e-mail jainvishwa@hotmail.com

SOUTH FLORIDA

CHINMAYA MISSION: Classes and activities for adults and children from kindergarten to grade 12 on Hindu culture, based on the universal philosophy of Advaita Vedanta (Oneness); times and days vary; for information, e-mail studygroup@CMmiami.org


PLACES OF WORSHIP

TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER

HINDU TEMPLE OF FLORIDA: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; 5509 Lynn Road, Tampa, FL 33624; (813) 962-6890.

DADA BHAGWAN’S GROUP OF TAMPA BAY: Satsang every Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.; everyone is invited; call Ramesh Patel at (813) 926-1143 or Mukesh Patel at (813) 969-1740.

JAIN SOCIETY OF TAMPA BAY: Monthly bhavna from 3 to 5 p.m. every fourth Sunday; also, non-Jains can take Dev Darshan of statues made of marbles by sculpture-artist from Rajasthan; 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.; both events at Days Inn hotel at Fletcher Avenue and Interstate 75; call Kini Shah at (813) 503-0715 or Pradeep Bavishi at (727) 525-5400.

VISHNU MANDIR: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday only, discourse by Pandit Vishnu Sharma; 5303 Lynn Road, Tampa, FL 33624; (813) 654-2551.

SANATAN MANDIR: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday; 311 East Palm Ave., Tampa, FL 33602; (813) 221-4482.

SHRI SARASWATI DEVI MANDIR: 9:30 a.m. to noon Sunday only; officiating priest is Pandit Purnanan Sharma; 16220 Livingston Avenue, Lutz, FL 33559; (813) 264-1539.

SHRI RADHA-KRISHNA MANDIR: daily morning arotik at 7 followed by Srimad-Bhavatavam class; 6 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Wednesday Bhagavad-Gita class followed by prasadam; 14610 N. 17th St., Tampa; (813) 971-6474 or click on www.iskcontampa.com

BAPS SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; darshan is closed between noon and 4 p.m. but reopens at 4 p.m.; 9226 E. Fowler Ave. (between Interstate 75 and U.S. 301); (813) 986-5473.

MANAV DHARMA ASHRAM: sumiran is from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. first Thursday of every month; satsang is 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, followed by dinner; yoga classes begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday; bhajans are 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. every third Sunday; 7520 Caron Road, Tampa, FL 33615; call the ashram at (813) 889-7155, Himatlal Parekh at (813) 969-1661 or Ashok Modh at (813) 935-3439.

SHREE YAMUNA PREETI SEVA SAMAJ: Pushtimargiya Satsang Mandal invites Vaishnavs of Tampa Bay area to weekend Satsang sabhas and kirtans; 1340 Robin Road S., St. Petersburg, FL 33707; call Smitabein Patel at (813) 961-3816 or Himatlal Parekh at (813) 969-1661.

ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF TAMPA BAY AREA MOSQUE: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; 7326 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa, FL 33601; Tel: (813) 628-0007.

GURDWARA: 8 a.m. till 8 p.m. daily; 15302 Morris Bridge Road, Thonotosassa, FL 33592; (813) 986-6205.

CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA (CSI) CONGREGATION OF FLORIDA: Worship services at 10 a.m. every Sunday at Springhill Missionary Baptist Church, 8119 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa, FL 33619; for information, call John Philip at (813) 986-6844 or Daniel Cherian (Anand) at (813) 985-9890 or click on www.csichurchflorida.org

ORLANDO AREA

HINDU SOCIETY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA: 8:30 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry, FL 32707; (407) 699-5277.

GURDWARA, SIKH SOCIETY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA: 11:30 A.M. to 1 p.m. Sunday; 2527 W. Aloma Ave. (west State Road 426), Oviedo; (407) 805-0404.

MASJID AL-RAHIM, ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, WEST ORLANDO: five times daily prayers and pray on Friday; 4962 Old Winter Garden Road, Orlando, FL 32811; (407) 523-7882.

SARASWATI DEVI MANDIR/INDO CARIBBEAN CENTER: Sunday service is from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; all special days observed with worship; 1453 N. Pine Hills Road, Orlando, FL 32808; for information, call (407) 522-1988 or click on www.saraswatidevimandir.com

SHRI SHIVDHAM HINDU TEMPLE AND BRAHMRISHI YOGASHRAM: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily; 460 O’Berry Hoover Road, Orlando, FL 32825; (407) 380-2661 or e-mail ymcco@yahoo.com

SANTOSHI MA TEMPLE: bhajan and aarti first Friday of every month; 10900 Park Ridge Gotha Road, Windermere, FL 34786; (407) 996-2830.

SHRI DEVI BHAVAN: 9 A.M. TO 11:30 a.m. every Sunday; Pandit is Eshwar Persaud; 6206 W. Amelia St., Orlando, FL 32835; (407) 822-8057.

SHRI LAXMINARAYAN MANDIR: 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday; 269 N. Klondike Ave., Pine Hills, FL 32811; (407) 877-7916.

SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR (BAPS): 1325 W. Oak Ridge Road, Orlando, FL 32809; (407) 857-0091.

POINCIANA HINDU MANDIR INC.: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each Sunday and on special festivals; 3999 Monterey Road, Kissimmee, FL 34758; (407) 873-2679.

LAKELAND(POLK COUNTY)

SHRI SWAMINARAYAN TEMPLE: 2793 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, FL 33815; (863) 682-8260.

ALACHUA (ALACHUA COUNTY)

ISKCON OF ALACHUA (International Society for Krishna Consciousness): founder is A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, P.O. Box 819, Alachua, FL 32616; (386) 462-2017.

INVERNESS (CITRUS COUNTY)

SHIRDI SAI CENTER: 4707 Pleasant Grove Road, Inverness, FL 34452; for timings of the center and any other information, call (352) 860-2181 or e-mail shirdi@gowebco.com

JACKSONVILLE/ORANGE PARK

HINDU SOCIETY OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA (HSNEF): 714 Park Ave., Orange Park; for information, call (904) 269-1155 or click on www.jaxhindutemple.org

SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI AREA)

SOUTH FLORIDA HINDU TEMPLE: 13010 W. Griffin Road, Southwest Ranches, FL 33330; for timings and classes at the temple, call (954) 438-3675 or e-mail info@sfht.org

SHIVA VISHNU TEMPLE OF SOUTH FLORIDA: 5661 Dykes Road, Southwest Ranches, FL 33331; 9 a.m. to noon and 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays; call (954) 689-0471 or click on www.shivavishnu.org

SHIVA MANDIR: 3000 N.W. 29TH Ave., Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309; for information, call (954) 735-3560 or click on www.fhosm.com

ISLAMIC CENTER OF BOCA RATON: 3100 N.W. FIFTH AVE., Boca Raton, FL 33431; for information, call (561) 395-7221 or click on www.icbr.org

SIKH GURUDWARA: 1600 S.W. 60th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331; for information, call (954) 680-0221.


Send information on upcoming events to Nitish S. Rele, Khaas Baat, 18313 Cypress Stand Circle, Tampa, FL 33647
or e-mail editor@khaasbaat.com
Deadline for submissions is the 18th of each month to be included in the next issue.




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