TO SEE THE NOVEMBER ISSUE IN ITS ENTIRETY, CLICK BELOW:
Here are the Florida communities celebrating the Festival of Lights:
TAMPA BAY AREA
Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay is hosting a Diwali night from 5 onward with dinner followed by entertainment by Bhavin Shastri and Rhytum Shastri on Nov. 15 at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa. The event is free for GSTB members and $75 for non-members. For information, call Sandip Patel at (865) 771-9190 or visit https://www.gujaratisamajtampabay.com/
Telugu Association of Florida, Tampa Bay, will hold Dasara-Diwali celebrations from 4 p.m. onward at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa on Nov. 7. The event is free. For information, email [email protected] or visit www.taftampa.com
Sanatan Mandirin Tampa will hold Dhanteras from 6 p.m. on Nov. 6. Diwali celebration – Laxmi Puja and Chopda Pujan – will be in the evening of Nov. 8 followed by Gujarati New Year next day from 7 p.m. The mandir is at 311 E. Palm Ave. For information, call (813) 495-0272 or visit www.sanatanmandirtampa.org
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirwill hold Chopda Pujan at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 8. Annakut/New Year will be on Nov. 10 from 1 to 7 p.m. with aarti every hour. Kids’ Diwali celebration will be from 1 p.m. on Nov. 14. BAPS is at 9556 E. Fowler Ave. in Thonotosassa. For details, call (813) 986-5473.
SOUTH FLORIDA
PEMBROKE PINES: The Indian Regional and Cultural Center will hold its Diwali festivities from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, at a new location – Charles F. Dodge City Center, 601 City Center Way, Pembroke Pines. The program will include music and dance performances, including bhangra, Bollywood, folk dances. Other attractions are food, fashion, jewelry and henna. Call Sanjay Gupta at (954) 461-4003 or visit www.irccflorida.org
WEST PALM BEACH: Palm Beach India Association will hold a community Diwali Festival from 5 p.m. on Nov. 14 at Royal Palm Beach High School, 10600 Okeechobee Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, with food and performances. The event is free for PBIA members, and $75 and $85 for non-members. For details, visit www.gopbia.org or email [email protected]
CORAL SPRINGS: Anando (South Florida Bengali Group) will hold Kali Puja/Diwali Bash 2026 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 7 at Ramblewood Middle School, 8505 W. Atlantic Blvd., Coral Springs. There will be snacks, lunch, dinner and a concert. Cost is $40 per adult. To register, Zelle money to [email protected]
ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY/OCOEE/WINTER PARK
Hindu Society of Central Florida (1994 Lake Drive)in Casselberry will celebrate Diwali and Annakut from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, with several competitions and cultural programs, fireworks. Parking is $10. For information, call (407) 574-1814 or visit www.orlandohindutemple.org Also, HSCF and city of Casselberry will hold Diwali celebrations from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 13 at Lake Concord Park, 95 Triplet Lake Drive, Casselberry. The free event will feature cultural performances, live entertainment, kids’ activities, food trucks. For information, call Adity Gandhi at (407) 462-5161.
Gujarati Society of Central Florida will hold Diwali Celebration from 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Olympia High School, 4301 S. Apopka Vineland Blvd., Orlando. Festivities include a musical group from India and local talent. It is free for GSCF members and $125 for non-members. For information, visit www.gujaratisocietycfl.com or call Chirag at (407) 797-9407.
Asian Cultural Association and Orange County Florida, Arts and Cultural Affairs will celebrate Diwali from 5 p.m. Nov. 5 at Innovation Center, 7159 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando. For details, call (407) 333-3667.
Agrawal Samaj of Orlando will hold Diwali Milan from Nov. 14 at 1680 Hawkcrest Drive, Winter Park. There will be cultural programs, DJ, games. Tickets are $70 per person, $140 couple. For information, call (201) 850-3273.
JACKSONVILLE
Indian Cultural Society of Jacksonville will hold Grand Diwali celebrations from 1 p.m. Nov. 14 at Atlantic Coast High School, 9735 R.G. Skinner Parkway, Jacksonville. For information, email [email protected] or visit www.jaxics.org
BARTOW/WINTER HAVEN/LAKELAND
Bhartiya Samaj of Central Florida will celebrate Diwali at 6 p.m. on Nov. 15 at Bartow Civic Center, 2250 S. Floral Ave., Bartow. For information, call Subhash Patel at (863) 838-0969 or visit www.bscfl.com
Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple (ISSO), 2793 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, will celebrate New Year and Annakut from 3 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 10. For information, call (863) 687-4776 or visit www.issolakeland.org
OCALA
India Ocala Association will celebrate Diwali from 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at Cultural and Educational Center, 2030 N.E. 36th Ave. For details, call (352) 575-1111 or visit indiaocala.org
NAPLES/FORT MYERS
NAPLES: India Association of Naples will hold a Diwali Mela from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Nov. 6 at Parish Hall, St. Agnes Church, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Member cost is $50, kids between 5 to 12 years are $10; non-members are $100, kids between 5 to 12 years $40. Email [email protected] for details or call (239) 272-8259.
Manav Mandirwill hold Diwali celebrations on Nov. 8 and Annakut Utsav on Nov. 10. The temple is at 7400 Waelti Drive, Melbourne. For timing and other details, call (321) 426-0668 or visit www.mmbrevard.org
TALLAHASSEE
Hindu Temple of Tallahassee, 2526 Chaires Cross Road, will hold Diwali celebrations from Nov. 6-8. For details, call the mandir at (850) 402-4117 or email [email protected]RAMAYANA’ SET FOR RELEASE NOV. 5
By NITISH S. RELE – [email protected]
India’s biggest movie ever “Ramayana” will release in theaters across Florida and the United States on Nov. 5 with special IMAX premiere shows in select cinemas on Nov. 4.
Based on the celebrated ancient epic known to billions, Namit Malhotra's “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” tells the story of Rama, a prince bound by sacrifice; Ravana, an immortal king driven by vengeance; and the prophecy that binds their fates together. It stars Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi.
The film is produced by acclaimed filmmaker Namit Malhotra, whose Academy Award-winning visual effects company DNEG is behind films, including “The Odyssey,” “Dune,” “Interstellar” and “Inception”; directed by Nitesh Tiwari, whose film Dangal remains the highest-grossing Indian film worldwide; and scored by Academy Award winners Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. Namit Malhotra's “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” will be released globally in theaters in time for Diwali on Nov. 5.
KHAAS BAAT LAUNCHES ANNUAL SPONSOR DRIVE
Story provided by NITISH S. RELE and SHEPHALI J. RELE
After completing our 22-year anniversary last month, we launched an annual sponsor drive to secure funds to cover production costs. Since its inception, Khaas Baat has been mailed free of cost to subscribers around the state with only a handful of paid subscribers in the past few years. In fact, we haven’t missed an issue since we began in August 2004. In addition, the entire newspaper can be found online. Since ad revenues alone do not cover our monthly production costs (printing, design, mailing), we are in great need of corporate or private sponsors. Your support will allow us to continue publishing Khaas Baat as a high-quality newspaper you depend on.
Please send your contribution via Zelle to (813) 758-1786 or you can PayPal ID to: [email protected] You may also send a check addressed to KHAAS BAAT and mailed to KHAAS BAAT, 8312 WINDSOR BLUFF DRIVE, TAMPA, FL 33647.
With our festival season under way, we request community leaders and organizers to email event details to [email protected] by the 20th of the month to be included in the following month’s issue. We always welcome your story ideas and suggestions on how we can best serve our community.
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