SIGNIFICANT DATES
OCT. 1: HAJJ BEGINS
OCT. 4: DUSSERA
OCT. 21: DIWALI BEGINS
OCT. 24: JAIN NEW YEAR
EVENTS
TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER
OCT. 4: 3RD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CURRY FESTIVAL; Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg; noon to 8 p.m.; for details, visit www.tbicf.com
OCT. 11: SUPPORT GROUP FOR RETIRED AND SEMI-RETIRED PROFESSIONALS: meeting Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; no cost; 6107- E-3 Memorial Highway, Tampa, 33615; to explore the psycho spiritual impact of this stage of life and share personal stories in an atmosphere of support and respect; to review and practice self-care tools; attendance is limited, for more information and to RSVP, call Mally Kartha at (813) 331-5341 by Oct 7.
OCT. 15: DIWALI SOCIAL; organized by INDO-US Chamber of Commerce; free; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; WXYZ at Aloft Hotel Downtown, 100 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa; no RSVP required; collecting non-perishable canned food for Metropolitan Ministries; for information, visit www.indo-us.org
OCT. 15: 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.
OCT. 17: TAMPA BAY DIWALI DHAMAKA; presented by Kakimaas Box, Rakesh Mittal and Fuundu and Kagie; Bollywood musical starring singers Jolly Mukherjee, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Shreyashi and Bishakh Jyoti on stage; Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 5500 Memorial Highway, Tampa; 7 p.m. to midnight; complimentary desserts and tea during intermission; bar and snacks for purchase; tickets start at $25 (students $15 for $25 ticket); for tickets, visit www.sulekha.com (Tampa Bay Diwali Dhamaka); call Rakesh Mittal at (727) 409-7407 or Meena Jain at (727) 480-6597.
OCT. 25: Children Across Borders 5K/1K Race; adults and children will participate in a 5K Run/Walk and a 1 mile Fun-Run (costumes encouraged) at Cotanchobee Park, 601 Old Water St., Tampa, to raise money for programs sponsored by Children Across Borders; food, music and massage chairs available for participants; to register, visit www.childrenacrossborders.org and click on the events tab.
NOV. 1-2: SPIFFS INTERNATIONAL FOLK FAIR; Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg; $10 admission; for information, visit www.spiffs.org
NOV. 7: ANNUAL TAMPA AWARENESS & GALA DINNER; presented by Hindu American Foundation; keynote speaker 2014 Miss America Nina Davuluri; 7 p.m.; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; for information, email [email protected] or visit www.hafsite.org
NOV. 14: MISS INDIA FLORIDA PAGEANT & ENTERTAINMENT SHOW; Stanleyville Theatre, Busch Gardens, Tampa; 7 p.m.; for registration, tickets and sponsorship information, visit www.missindiaflorida.us
NOV. 15: 27th ANNUAL INDIA FESTIVAL; organized by the Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay; 11 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.; Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa; $9 adults, $5 children (3 to 11 years of age); for vendor information, call Vijay Gandhi at (863) 287-7970; for details, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.indiafestivaltampa.com
NOV. 15-16: YOGA THERAPY FOR HEALTH AND HEALING; seminar by Dr. Dilip Sarkar; Marriott Residence Inn, 2101 Northpointe Parkway, Lutz; for information, call Anita Rao at (727) 937-4744 or visit www.yogashaktionline.com
NOV. 19: BUSINESS & NETWORKING EVENT; organized by INDO-US Chamber of Commerce; speaker is from Hill Ward Henderson law firm; 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
NOV. 22: SHARAD - CELEBRATING AUTUMN; multimedia musical journey by Kanniks Kannikeswaran; India Cultural Center event, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; tickets range from $25 to $200; for information, call Manjul Derasari at (813) 503-8584 or Dipak Shah at (813) 486-1074.
AVON PARK/SEBRING
NOV. 22: Abhinava Dance Company; fusion of modern and ethnic dance, dazzling costumes, beautiful choreography accompanied by global music; South Florida State College Theatre for the Performing Arts, 600 W. College Drive, Avon Park; 7:30 p.m.; tickets start at $20; to purchase, visit www.sfscarts.org
ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY
OCT. 2: SECOND ANNUAL GANDHI DIVERSITY BREAKFAST; presented by Florida Diversity; honorary chair will be Rick Singh, CFA, Orange County Property Appraiser; keynote speaker is Lakshmi Singh, NPR newscaster; noon to 2 p.m.; Orlando Museum of Art , 2416 N. Mills Ave., Orlando; for information, visit www.floridadiversity.org
OCT. 4: BMM MAHOTSAV ORLANDO 2014; participating associations are Orlando Marathi Mandal, Maharashtra Mandal of South Florida, Maayboli Melawa of Tampa Bay and Maharashtra Mandal of Jacksonville; Lyman High School, 865 S. Ronald Reagan Blvd., Longwood; 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; cultural performances as well as Marathi Taraka; $35, $50, $75, $100; children ages 5 to 12 years of age are $15; for information, call Prashant Saoji at (321) 460-0800 or Kirti Rege at (513) 236-2784 or visit www.bmmmahotsav.org
OCT. 5: HSCF NEW AGE GROUP SEMINAR; organized by Hindu Society of Central Florida (HSCF) New Age Group; HSCF community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; 1:30 p.m.; free; Dr. Gopal Basisht will be speaking about rheumatism and how modern medicine could be supplemented with yoga; snacks and tea/coffee to be served; RSVP at [email protected]
OCT. 10-12: THE ORLANDO CRICKET FESTIVAL; presented by American Cricket Federation and Florida Cricket Conference; Silver Star Park Cricket Bowl at Orlando Magic Recreation Center, 4863 N. Goldenrod Road, Winter Park, and Eagle Nest Park, 5165 Metrowest Blvd., Orlando; six regional teams compete for the National Championship Crown; for details, call Rahul Joshi at (407) 435-8826 or email [email protected]
OCT. 11-13: “BEYOND BOLLYWOOD: 20TH ANNUAL SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL”; presented by Enzian and Asian Cultural Association; Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; films to be screened include “Siddharth,” “Brahmin Bulls,” “Beyond All Boundaries,” “The Auction House;” $10 individual ticket or $45 series pass; for details, visit www.enzian.org or call (407) 333-3667.
OCT. 12: SHE CONNECTS: A WOMEN’S FORUM LUNCHEON; presented by Indian American Chamber of Commerce; noon to 2 p.m.; Mingo’s, 100 S. Eola Drive, No. 105, Orlando; speaker is Dr. Neha Sangwan, CEO, and founder of Intuitive Intelligence; free for IACC members; $10 non-members; for information, call (407) 391-5151, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.iaccorlando.com
OCT. 19: SANAM MARVI LIVE IN CONCERT; The Florida Hotel and Conference Center, 1500 Sand Lake Road, Orlando; 7 p.m.; tickets start at $75 and include dinner; presented by Chabbria Entertainment and Sizzler Indian & Pakistani restaurant; for information, call Abidah at (407) 963-1619 or Tahira at (321) 231-4118.
OCT. 24: PUNJABI NIGHT; 7 p.m.; Bahia Shrine-Maitland, 2300 Pembrook Drive, Orlando; tickets start at $35; performers include Prabh Gill, Kaur B, Roshan Prince, Jassi Gill and Babbal Rai; for information, call (386) 307-5947.
NOV. 8: FIFTH ANNUAL IACC GALA; presented by Indian American Chamber of Commerce; 6:30 p.m.; Gaylord Palms Resort, 6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee; $100 per person early bird price by Oct. 18; afterward, $125; for information, call (407) 391-5151, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.iaccorlando.com
NOV. 16: ANNUAL TENNIS TOURNAMENT; presented by Indian American Chamber of Commerce; 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; The Grand Cypress Tennis and Racquet Club, 1 Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando; free for members, $40 non-members; for information, call (407) 391-5151.
SOUTH FLORIDA (FORT LAUDERALE)
OCT. 5: MUSIC FOR THE SOUL; presented by Association of Performing Arts of India (APAI); vocalist Pandit Kumar Mardur will be accompanied by Pandit Ashis Sengupta on tabla and Satishreddi Kolli on harmonium; 4 p.m.; ArtServe Auditorium, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale; $25, $35 (VIP, first two rows) and $15 for students with current ID at door only; for information, call APAI at (954) 885-1466, email [email protected] or visit www.apaiart.com
Event submissions are free of charge, e-mail information to [email protected] by the 20th.
Disclaimer: Event details are subject to change. Please check with local organizers.