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, 2014: INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC CONCERT; Rajib Karmakar on sitar and Shankhachur Lahiri on tabla followed by ‘East Meets West’ fusion music by ‘Wahh’; presented by Shruti A.I.M. (Association of International Music); India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; 7 to 9:30 p.m.; $25; for information, call (813) 549-9288 or visit www.shrutiaim.com
JAN. 10: “MY ART MY WAY 2014;” art exhibit presented by Shyama’s Art for all of January; Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa; art reception with artist meet and greet will be held between 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 10; recital program of Shyama’s art language students, inspirational speech by some renowned guest speakers followed by a trophy and award ceremony; for information, call Shyama Rangwala at (813) 843-6784, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.shyamshyama.com
JAN. 11: Makara Vilakku Pooja; Sri Ayyappa Temple, 6829, Maple Lane, Tampa; Kettu Nira starts at 7.30 a.m. at BAPS; Ganesha Homum, Nei-Abhishekham begins at 10:30 a.m. at Balalaya; for information, call (352) 457-5262.
JAN. 15: BUSINESS & NETWORKING EVENT: BECOMING A KEY PERSON OF INFLUENCE; organized by INDO-US Chamber of Commerce; speaker is Dr. Topher Morrison; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Homeowners Choice Insurance Building (5300 W. Cypress St., Tampa); free; dinner will be served and no RSVP required; for information, visit www.indo-us.org
JAN. 15: ICC SENIORS GET-TO-GATHER (8th ANNIVERSARY); 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.
JAN. 21: NETWORKING EVENT; organized by TiE Tampabay; venture capitalist and entrepreneur Kanwal Rekhi to speak; 6 to 9 p.m.; Patel Center for Global Solutions at USF, 4202 E. Fowler Ave.; Tampa; free for TiE Tampa charter members and general members; non-members $50 event fees include dinner and parking; to reserve a seat, visit www.tampa.tie.org
JAN. 25: 25-YEAR TEMPLE CELEBRATION; Sanatan Mandir, 311 E. Palm Ave., Tampa; festivities begin at 3 p.m.; devotional music by renowned musician Shankhachur Lahiri, Serva Devta Archna and Yagna, 25-year history of the temple and presentation of current/future activities; for information, call the temple at (813) 221-4482.
MARCH 1: MUSICAL CONCERT; Ekal Vidyalaya fundraiser; performer is Aditi Bhagwat; 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. dinner followed by concert; India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road; for information, call Jawahar Taunk at (727) 480-3829 or e-mail [email protected], or call Dr. Umesh Choudhry at (727) 507-0584.
MARCH 2: BHAGAVAD GITA CHANTING COMPETITION; presented by Chinmaya Mission Tampa; “Chinmaya Prasad” Ashram, 18708 Hanna Road, Lutz; 3 to 6 p.m.; Gita Chapter 2: Verses 26-48; for details and to register early, visit http://chinmayaprasad.org/gitachanting.html; for information, call (813) 857-0134 or e-mail [email protected]
ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY
JAN. 5: MAUJ AND MAASTI BHARI SHAAM; 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, bingo, snacks, tea/coffee; $3 per person for non-members with prior RSVP or $5 at the gate; RSVP [email protected] by Jan. 2.
JAN. 17-19: JAIN VISHWA BHARATI ORLANDO 18TH ANNUAL FAMILY CAMP; $275 per family costs cover program participation, accommodation and meals; Howard Johnson Plaza, Orlando North, 230 W. State Road 436, Altamonte Springs; for information, call Jain Vishwa Bharati at (407) 852-8694, Devang Chitalia at (352) 394-2625, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.jainvishwabharati.org
JAN. 19: “INDIA DAY”; Indian American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) partners with Orlando Magic; Amway Center, 400 W. Church St.; 6 p.m.; tickets start at $25; for information, call Rayfield Warren of the Magic at (407) 916-2679 or e-mail [email protected]
JAN. 26: 3rd ANNIVERSARY TEMPLE CELEBRATION; Maa Durga Sri Sai Baba Temple, 11414 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando; starts at 11 a.m.; for information, call (407) 437-6709 or e-mail [email protected]
GAINESVILLE
JAN. 20: “SO YOU THINK YOU CAN PITCH A BILLIONAIRE?” venture capitalist and entrepreneur Kanwal Rekhi to speak at networking event for GAIN (Gainesville Area Innovation Network); 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Santa Fe Community College, 3000 Northwest 83rd St., Room WA-108, Gainesville; to register, visit http://gainnet.org/
MARCH 29: INDIA FEST & HEALTH FAIR 2014; presented by the India Cultural & Education Center; health fair will be 9 a.m. to noon and the festival will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Santa Fe Community College, Gymnasium (Building V), 3000 N.W. 83rd St., Gainesville; $5 admission, kids younger than 5 years of age are free; Indian food, dance, art, music, jewelry, clothing, henna; for information, call (352) 275-2276, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.icec-florida.org
FORT MYERS
APRIL 12: 28th ANNUAL INDIA FEST 2014; presented by the India Association of Fort Myers; JetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway S. Drive, Fort Myers; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; for information, e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.iafortmyers.org/
MELBOURNE
MARCH 8-9: INDIAFEST 2014; presented by Manav Mandir; Wickham Pavilion, 3845 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; this year’s theme is “Handicrafts of India;” cultural shows, fashion shows, music, henna, arts and crafts, yoga demonstration, Indian cooking demo; $5 for adults, $2 for children under age 12 and kids younger than 5 are free; for more information, call Nina Gadodia at (321) 779-0110, Yasmin Majeed at (321) 720-8590, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.indiafestbrevard.org
JACKSONVILLE
FEB. 26: TURBAN DAY; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; event to kick off weeklong inter-faith activities at University of North Florida; UNF Student Union’s Osprey Plaza; organized by UNF and Sikh Society of North East Florida; free Indian snacks, Punjabi music; for information, visit http://jaxgurudwara.org/
SOUTH FLORIDA (WELLINGTON/WEST PALM BEACH/BOCA RATON/BONITA SPRINGS)
JAN. 4: “I LOVE GITA” SHRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA CHANTING COMPETITION; 2 to 6 p.m.; Wellington Shores Clubhouse, 4090 Wellington Shores Drive, Wellington; register online at www.cmmiami.org/gitachanting.html, call (561) 488-9652 or email [email protected]
JAN. 11: LOHRI 2014; presented by the Punjabi Association of South Florida; 6:30 p.m.; Live Oak Pavilion, University Center, Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road; members are $15 or $20 at gate; non-members are $20 or $25 at gate; children 6 to 12 years are $10; for information, call Renu at (954) 384-2217, Usha at (561) 523-8665 or visit www.thepunjabiassociation.org
JAN. 17-19: WINTER MEDICAL CONFERENCE; organized by American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), Medical Student, Resident and Fellows section (MSRF) and Young Physicians Section (YPS); Deauville Beach Resort, 6701 Collins Ave., Miami; $50 registration for MSRF and $100 for YPS members; to register, visit http://aapiyps.nationbuilder.com/
FEB. 22: 11th 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. 22-23: BHARATA NATYAM FOR NEW AUDIENCES; performed by Jaan R. Freeman and presented by Elements Yoga, 4450 Bonita Beach Road, #14, Bonita Springs; 6 to 7:30 p.m. performance will be on Feb. 22; advance tickets $17 and $20 at door; workshop will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Feb. 23 at same venue for $25; for information, call (239) 258-6025 or visit www.elementsyogabonita.com
MARCH 1: MIAMI MAYHEM 7; 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
MARCH 6-8: 8th EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE CANCER THERAPIES CONFERENCE; West Palm Beach Embassy Suites, 1601 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach; organized by the Annie Appleseed Project; open to people with cancer, family, advocates, caregivers, and professionals interested in these issues (CEUs/CNEs available); for information, call (561) 794-0084, email [email protected]; to register, visit www.annieappleseedproject.org
Event submissions are free of charge. E-mail [email protected]
Disclaimer: Event details are subject to change. Please check with local organizers.