SOUTH FLORIDA
FORT LAUDERDALE: The Indian Regional and Cultural Center will hold its Diwali festivities from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. The program will include Bollywood, folk, classical music and dance, IRCC Children Show, and dance competitions. Other attractions are food, fashion, jewelry, arts and crafts, henna, yoga, kids’ zone and raffle prizes. For information, call (954) 543-1539, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.irccflorida.com
PALM BEACH: And the Palm Beach India Association will celebrate Diwali from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30. The venue for the free event is yet to be confirmed. For details, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.gopbia.com/
Also, the ninth annual Divali Nagar will be held on Oct. 22. For venue, time and other details, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.divalinagar.us
ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY
Annakut celebrations will begin from 4 p.m. with cultural program on Nov. 5 at the Hindu Society of Central Florida (1994 Lake Drive) in Casselberry. For information, call (407) 699-5277, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.hindutempleorlando.org
Gujarati Society of Central Florida will celebrate its 36th anniversary/Bollywood Diwali Night on Oct. 29 at Hilton Orlando, 6001 Destination Parkway. There will be social hour, dinner and entertainment. Bollywood actors Nargis Fakhri and Celina Jaitley will be present. Tickets for society members are $101 person; non-members are $201 person; for information, call Arvind Shah at (863) 651-4418 or visit www.gujaratisocietycfl.com
Orlando Marathi Mandal will be celebrating Diwali from 4 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Hindu Society of Central Florida community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry. For details, call (281) 912-4907 or e-mail [email protected]
Kids Diwali celebration will be on Oct. 23, Diwali and Chopda pujan on Oct. 30 and New Year/Grand Annakut the next day at Swaminarayan Mandir, 1325 W. Oakridge Road, Orlando. For information, call (407) 857-0091.
The Association of Asian Cultural Festivals will present its 19th annual free Diwali Mela from 4 p.m. on Oct. 22 at Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola, 101 Rosalind Ave., Orlando. For more information, call Lallman Persaud at (407) 202-2161 or e-mail [email protected]
TAMPA/PINELLAS PARK
Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay is hosting a Diwali Dinner and Annual Election on Nov. 12 at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road. The event, which begins at 4 till 11 p.m., is free to GSTB members; non-members are $20 per person. Entertainment will be by Orchestra Music Lovers consisting four musicians and four singers, including reality show singer Misbah Ali. Everyone is requested to report first to Hindu Temple Hall next door for passes and registration. For more information, call GSTB President Jigisha Desai at (813) 731-7747.
Telugu Association of Florida, Tampa Bay, will celebrate Deepavali from 5 p.m. Nov. 19 at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa. For details, call Dr. Neeraja Jasthi at (813) 789-4976 or visit www.taftampa.com
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir will hold Chopda Pujan at 10 a.m. and Children’s Diwali celebration at 2 p.m. on Oct. 30. Annakut Darshan will be from noon till 7 p.m. (aarti every hour) on Oct. 31. BAPS is at 9556 E. Fowler Ave. in Thonotosassa. For details, call (813) 986-5473.
Ambaji Mandir at 10991 58th St., in Pinellas Park, will hold Dhanteras Mahalaxmi Pujan at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 28. Diwali Puja will be at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 30. New Year Annakut will be at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. For more information, call the mandir at (727) 388-6685 or visit www.ambajimandir.com
Laxmi Narayan Mandir, 4615 George Road, Tampa, will hold Dhanteras Mahalaxmi Pujan at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 28. Diwali Puja will be at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 30. New Year Annakut will be at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. For information, call (813) 444-9786.
Sanatan Mandir in Tampa will hold Dhan Teras/Laxmi Puja at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 27. Deepawali and Laxmi Chopra pujan will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 30. And Annakut will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. The mandir is at 311 E. Palm Ave. For information, call (813) 221-4482 or visit www.ourmandir.org
Shree Raam Mandir, 7411 E. Comanche Ave., in Tampa, will celebrate Diwali on Oct. 22 starting at 6.30 p.m. For information, call Nick Ramlal at (813) 334-0443 or e-mail [email protected]
A Diwali Pahat/Dawn vocal jugalbandi organized by Swaradhana will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 29. Apoorva Gokhale and Pallavi Joshi will be accompanied by Chinmay Kolhatkar and Sanjay Deshpande. Also, an instrumental concert featuring bansuri (Indian flute), sitar and tabla by Jay Gandhi, K.V. Mahabala and Shankhachur Lahiri will be held. The concerts will be at Hillsborough Community College, Dale Mabry Campus, 4001 W. Tampa Bay Blvd., Tampa. Tickets are $50 per person; sponsor (two tickets) are $150. Tea/coffee, light lunch are included in ticket price. To purchase tickets online visit www.swaradhana.org
Maayboli Melawa Tampa Bay (MMTB), a not-for-profit organization for promoting Marathi culture, is celebrating Diwali from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 12 at HCC Campus Auditorium - Brandon, 10414 E. Columbus Drive, Tampa. MMTB members will be showcasing their talent through various instrumental, vocal and dance performances. Free for current members; non-members can attend with a ticket. For information, visit www.mmtbusa.org or email [email protected]
Rajasthani Association of Tampa Bay will hold its Dipawali celebration from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Oct. 22 at the Hindu Temple of Florida, 5509 Lynn Road, Tampa. For details, call Rashmi Jakhotia at (813) 962-4172.
OCALA/BELLEVIEW
Diwali celebrations will be from Oct. 30 with Annakut darshan from 1 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 6 at Pushtidham (Haveli of Florida), 14080 S.W. 20th Ave. Road, in Ocala. For details, call (352) 307-0065 or email [email protected]
INVERNESS
Shirdi Sai Florida Center, 4707 S. Pleasant Grove Road, Inverness, will celebrate Deepavali on Oct. 29. For timings and other details, call (352) 860-2181.
BARTOW/WINTER HAVEN/LAKELAND
Bhartiya Samaj of Central Florida will celebrate Diwali at 6 p.m. on Oct. 30 at Bartow Civic Center, 2250 S. Floral Ave., Bartow. Tickets are $35 per person. For more information, call Subhash S. Patel at (863) 648-0294 or visit www.bscfl.com
Shree Swaminarayan Mandir ISSO, 2793 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, will celebrate Diwali Family Funday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 16. Dhan Teras, Chopda and Laxmi poojan will be 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 28. The next day will be Kali Chaudas, Hanumanji poojam from 6 to 8 p.m. and rangoli competition. On Oct. 30, the mandir will hold its Diwali Annakut from 8 a.m. to noon. On Oct. 31, there will be a New Year’s aarti at 6 a.m. For information, call (863) 687-4776 or click on www.issofl.com
GAINESVILLE
Indian Student Association of University of Florida will hold its Diwali show on Nov. 13 at Curtis M. Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road, Gainesville. Doors open at 6. For more information, email [email protected]
MELBOURNE (SPACE COAST)
Manav Mandir will celebrate Dhanteras at 5 p.m. on Oct. 28, Diwali/Lakshmi Puja on Oct. 30, and Ankut the next day. The temple is at 7400 Waelti Drive, Melbourne. For information, (321) 426-0668, email [email protected] or visit www.mmbrevard.org
The Indian Association of the Space Coast will hold Diwali and annual dinner Saturday, Oct. 29, at Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. For more information, call (321) 271-7072 or visit www.iascbrevard.com
JACKSONVILLE
Gujarati Samaj of North East Florida will celebrate Diwali on Saturday, Oct. 29, at Morocco Shine Center Auditorium, 3800 Saint Johns Bluff Road S., Jacksonville. Doors open at 3:30 with entertainment from 5 followed by dinner and dancing. For tickets and other information, call (904) 307-8420 or visit www.gsnef.org
Also, the Indian Cultural Society of Jacksonville will hold its Absolute Diwali from 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 at Morocco Shine Center Auditorium, 3800 Saint Johns Bluff Road S. There will be food, dance and music. Tickets are $30 per person. For details, e-mail president@jaxics.org or visit www.jaxics.org
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NAVRATRI FESTIVITIES CONTINUE IN FLORIDA
JACKSONVILLE
The Gujarati Samaj of North East Florida will celebrate Absolute Navratri from 8 p.m. to midnight on Oct. 1, Oct. 8 and Oct. 15. Venue is Jacksonville Ice & Sportsplex, 3605 Phillips Highway, Jacksonville. For more information, visit gsnef.org
TAMPA/PINELLAS PARK
The Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay will celebrate Navratri from 9 p.m. on Oct. 1 and Oct. 7-8 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301, Tampa. Ramzat Group (orchestra of three singers, four musicians) from India with celebrity garba artists and playback singers Brijesh Parekh and Shobhna Sankar will perform. The event is free for GSTB 2016 members; students are $10 (must present student ID) and non-members are $15. Also, the Samaj and India Cultural Center will hold Kids Garba (for families with kids age 11 and younger) from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 2 at ICC, 5511 Lynn Road. For information, call GSTB President Jigisha Desai at (813) 731-7747.
Sanatan Mandir at 311 E. Palm Ave., Tampa, will celebrate Navratri beginning on Oct. 1 with Durga Puja daily from 5 to 8 p.m. For details, call the temple at (813) 221-4482, email [email protected] or visit www.sanatanmandirtampa.org
Ambaji Mandir at 10991 58th St., in Pinellas Park, will celebrate Navratri with daily garba at 7:30 p.m. from Oct. 1-10. For more information, call the Mandir at (727) 388-6685 or visit www.ambajimandir.org
Sri Laxmi Narayan Mandir will hold Navratri celebrations daily from Oct. 1 with garba singing/dance at 7:30 p.m. Sri Laxmi Narayan Mandir is at 4615 George Road, Tampa. For information, call the temple at (813) 444-9786.
Shree Raam Mandir, 7411 E. Comanche Ave., Tampa, is hosting Navratri celebrations and pooja from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 1-8. Pandit Khemraj Vyas and Pandit Premnath Ramsawack will conduct discourses from 7:30 p.m. to 9. The festivities end on Oct 9 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For information, call Narine at (813) 334-0443.
SOIKOT (Bengali Association of Greater Tampa Bay) will hold Durga Puja from Oct. 7-9 at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa. For details, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.soikot.org
Vishnu Mandir, 5803 Lynn Road, in Tampa will hold Navraatri celebration from 7 to 9 p.m. daily from Oct. 1-9. It will be officiated by Aacharya Ramesh Mehta, assisted by Pandit Prem Sukhra. For information, call Shantia Singh at (727) 492-1010 or email [email protected]
Telangana Association of Florida, Tampa Bay, and Telugu Association of Florida, Tampa Bay, will hold Bathukamma (Dussera celebrations) from 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 8 at Lettuce Lake Park, 6920 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa. For information, call Chandu Talla at (813) 476-9508 or Dr. Neeraja Jasthi at (813) 789-4976.
Sri Ayyappa Swamy Temple, 6829, Maple Lane, Tampa, will hold a Saraswathi Pooja (kids are encouraged to participate) from 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 followed by Sri Lalitha sahastranaama parayanam. The next day, there will be a Durga Navaratri special Durga homam at 10.30 a.m., followed by Ayyappa Swamy Abhishekam and bhajans. And on Oct. 9, there will be a Durga Ashtami special Durga Pooja at 11 a.m. and then bhajans. Sri Lalitha sahastranaama parayanam will be at 6:30 p.m. For homam or Abhishekam or pooja sponsorship, call Dr. Siva Panguluri at (502) 439-7881.
ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY/LAKE MARY
The Gujarati Society of Central Florida will hold Navratri Garba from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Oct. 1 and Oct. 7-9 at Lyman High School, 865 S. Ronald Reagan Blvd., Longwood. Admission is free for Gujarati society members; $25 per day for non-members and $15 for students with ID. For information, call (407) 342-0117 or visit http://www.gujaratisocietycfl.com/
Indian Cultural Society of Orlando will hold Navratri Raas Garba Oct. 1 and Oct. 7-8 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Greenwood Lakes Middle School, 601 Lake Park Drive, Lake Mary. It is free for cultural society members. For information, call Vijay Joshi at (407) 701-2989 or visit www.icsocfl.com
Hindu Society of Central Florida (HSCF) temple will hold Navratri celebrations from Oct. 2 to Oct. 10 in the community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry. Snacks will be available at the canteen stall. Dussehra celebration will be at 5 p.m. on Oct. 15. For more information, call Mahesh Kapadia at (407) 902-8634, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.hindutempleorlando.org
An Orlando Dussehra Night will be held Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. at Apna Event Hall, 9404 S. Orange Blossom Trail. Tickets are $25 per person, $50 family, $15 students; for information, call Ramesh Reddy at (732) 316-0108 or email [email protected]
Shri Shivadham Hindu Temple, 460 O’ Berry Hoover Road, Orlando, will hold Sharan Navratri Mahotsavam from Oct. 1-11. For timing and other details, call (407) 380-2661 or visit www.shivtemple.net
And Maa Durga Sri Sai Baba Temple will present free Garba Night from 8 p.m. Oct. 7-8 at Jewish Community Center Hall, 11184 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando (which is close to the temple). The Pandya family group will perform. For information, call (407) 437-6709 or e-mail [email protected]
FORT MYERS
Hindu Temple of Southwest Florida, 12552 Plantation Road in Fort Myers, will hold Navaratri Mahotsav from Oct. 1. Durgaashtami will be at 7 p.m. on Oct. 9. For details, call the mandir at (239) 225-0319 or visit www.hindutempleswfl.org
INVERNESS
Navratri at the Shirdi Sai Florida Center, 4707 S. Pleasant Grove Road, will begin on Oct. 1 with Vijaya Dashami (Dussera) celebrated on Oct. 10. For information, call (352) 860-2181.
SOUTH FLORIDA
FORT LAUDERDALE: The Indian Regional & Cultural Center (IRCC) will celebrate Navratri from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 at Silver Trail Middle School, 18300 Sheridan St., Fort Lauderdale. IRCC members pay $10 per day, non-members are $15 and seniors are $5. For information, call (954) 543-1539 or visit www.irccflorida.com
PALM BEACH: Palm Beach India Association will celebrate Navratri/Garba from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Oct. 1 and Oct. 7-8. For venue and other information, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.gopbia.com
BARTOW/LAKELAND/WINTER HAVEN
The Bhartiya Samaj of Central Florida will celebrate Navratri at 8 p.m. Oct. 1 and Oct. 7-8 at Bartow Civic Center, 2250 S. Floral Ave., Bartow. For more information, call Subhash S. Patel at (863) 648-0294, Vinoobhai Patel at (863) 293-0942 or visit www.bscfl.com
MELBOURNE (SPACE COAST)
The Indian Association of the Space Coast will hold Navratri celebrations from 8 to midnight on Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 at Viera High School, 6103 Stadium Parkway, Viera. For more information, call (321) 271-7072, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.iascbrevard.com
Also, Manav Mandir temple, 7400 Waelti Drive, Melbourne, will begin Navratri, Garba and Amba Puja at 7 p.m. daily from Oct. 1-10. Durga Ashtami Havan will be on Oct. 9 and Dassera on Oct. 11. For information, call (321) 426-0688 or visit www.mmbrevard.org
