SIGNIFICANT DATES
MARCH 9: HOLI
MARCH 20: NAVROZE (PARSI NEW YEAR)
MARCH 25: GUDI PADWA/UGADI/CHETI CHAND (HINDU NEW YEAR)
EVENTS
TAMPA/CLEARWATER/ST. PETERSBURG
MARCH 8: VIOLIN & TABLA; presented by Shruti Foundation; Pandit Milind Raikar on violin and Shankh Lahiri on tabla; 4 to 6 p.m.; Unitarian Universalist Church, 11400 Morris Bridge Road, Tampa; tickets are $50 VIP, $30 general, $15 students and can be purchased at www.shrutifoundationtampa.org
MARCH 10: BLUFFMASTER GUJJUBHAI; Gujarati comedy play presented by Parimal Butala; Centro Asturiano De Tampa, 1913 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa; 7:30 p.m.; tickets start at $25; for information, call Butala at (813) 892-8197.
MARCH 14: CONSULAR SERVICES CAMP; Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Community Center, 2620 Washington Road, Valrico; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; organized by Malayalee Association of Central Florida, Knanaya Catholic Congress of Central Florida and other Indian organizations; services offered include passport renewal application, PIO to OCI conversion, new OCI application, tourist/business visa; for information, call T. Unnikrishnan at (813) 334-0123 or Shaju Ouseph at (813) 765-1443.
MARCH 18: ICC SENIORS GET-TOGETHER; India Cultural Center, 5509 Lynn Road, Tampa; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; free seminar, lunch and entertainment; no age restriction; for information, call Ram Jakhotia at (813) 962-4172 or (813) 863-3048.
MARCH 21: “TRADITION OF LORD JAGANNATHA”; presented by Sanatan Mandir, TBRYA and Floriya; discourse given by Gajapati Maharaja Shri Dibyasingha Deb; 6 to 9 p.m., 311 E. Palm Ave., Tampa; for information, call the temple at (813) 221-4482 or visit www.sanatanmandirtampa.org
MARCH 21: 5K RUN & WALK; presented by Federation of Indian Associations and Telugu Association of Tampa Bay to benefit Hope Children’s Home; 9 a.m.; Lake Park, 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa; $25 entry includes T-shirt and finisher medal; to register, visit https://fia5K.racehawk.com or call (813) 347-6635 for information.
MARCH 25: CHETI CHAND (SINDHI NEW YEAR) CELEBRATIONS; organized by Sindhi Society of Central Florida; Sanatan Mandir, 211 E. Palm Ave.; Bahrano, bhajans from 7 to 8 p.m. followed by aarti and prasad; free; for information, call (321) 310-5664 or visit www.jhulelal.com
MARCH 25-APRIL 2: Chaitra NavratrI; Ambaji Mandir, 10991 58th St., Pinellas Park; garba daily after aarti at 7 p.m.; Asthami and Kanya Pujan will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. April 1 and Ram Navmi celebration will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. April 2; mahaprasad will be served on both days; call the mandir at (727) 388-6685 or visit www.ambajimandir.com
MARCH 25-APRIL 2: Chaitra NavratrI; Laxmi Narayan Mandir, 4615 George Road, Tampa; garba daily after aarti at 7 p.m.; Asthami and Kanya Pujan will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. April 1 and Ram Navmi celebration will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. April 2; mahaprasad will be served on both days; for information, call the temple at (813) 444-9786.
MARCH 27: TIECON FLORIDA 2020 – FOSTERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP; organized by TiE Tampa Bay; The Bryan Glazer Family Jewish Community Center, 522 N. Howard Ave., Tampa; several keynote speakers and networking on agenda; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; free for members, $50 non-members; register at www.tieconfl.com
APRIL 2: Bollywood Boulevard: A Live Journey Through Hindi Cinema; a visual cinema spectacle of live music, dance and multimedia covering 100 years of Bollywood; presented by MELA Arts Connect; Tonne Playhouse, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo; 7:30 p.m.; tickets start at $39.50; for information, call (727) 587-6793.
APRIL 11: SUMMERFEST TAMPA; organized by J & AI Corp to support Shriner Hospital and St. Jude Children's Hospital; dance competition, food, shopping; King High School, 6815 N. 56th St., Tampa; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; for information, visit https://summerfesttampa.com/
APRIL 12: CARNATIC VOCAL CONCERT; organized by Swaralaya; performer is Sangeetha Kalanidhi Vidushi Aruna Sairam and group; 5 p.m.; Hindu Temple of Florida cultural hall, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; for information, email [email protected]
APRIL 25: 5th ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT; organized by the Indo American Foundation of Tampa Bay (IAFTB); Lake Jovita Golf Course, 12900 Lake Jovita Blvd., Dade City; shotgun tee time starts at 9 a.m.; for information, visit www.iaftb.org
APRIL 25: “VASANT UTSAV;” presented by Academy of Odissi Dance; an evening of (Odissi), bhangra and Bollywood dances; for information, call Gopa Rautray at (813) 907-0772 or Ambika Rautray at (813) 992-5234.
MAY 3: GRAND INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT; organized by Swaralaya; Carnatic quartet by Shreya Devnath on violin, Mylari Karthikeyan on Nadaswaram, R. Jeevanantham on Thavil, Praveen Sparsh on mridangam; Hindu Temple of Florida cultural hall, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa; for information, email [email protected]
MAY 9: THE LEGENDS IN CONCERT; presented by the Pandit Jasraj School of Music Foundation, Tampa, in celebration of Panditji’s 90th birthday; Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj, tabla maestro Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri (also celebrating 75th birthday) accompanied by vocalist Pandit Rattan Mohan Sharma and vocalist/on harmonium Pandita Tripti Mukherjee; Sickles High School Auditorium, 7950 Gunn Highway, Tampa; tickets start at $30; to purchase, visit www.pjsmftampa.org/buy-tickets or email [email protected]
ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY/KISSIMMEE
MARCH 7, 14, 21, 28: HEARTFULNESS MEDITATION CLASSES; free; Hindu Society of Central Florida community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; 9 to 10 a.m.; for information, call (407) 699-5277 or visit www.hindutempleorlando.org
MARCH 4, 11, 18, 25: AAPI YOGA THERAPY; free; Hindu Society of Central Florida community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; for information, call (407) 699-5277 or visit www.hindutempleorlando.org
MARCH 7: AN EVENING OF INDIAN MUSIC; organized by Asian Cultural Association; Pandit Milind Raikar on violin and Shankh Lahiri on tabla; 7 p.m.; Orlando Repertory Theatre, 1001 E. Princeton St., Orlando; $25 tickets available on PayPal; for information, call Surabhi Adesh at (321) 695-8207, ACA at (407) 333-3667 or visit www.aca-florida.org
MARCH 8: BLUFFMASTER GUJJUBHAI; Gujarati comedy play presented by Gujarati Society of Central Florida; Olympia High School, 4301. S Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando; 6 p.m.; tickets start at $25; for information, call (407) 924-7015.
MARCH 25: CHETI CHAND (SINDHI NEW YEAR) CELEBRATIONS; organized by Sindhi Society of Central Florida; Maa Durga Sri Saibaba Mandir, 11414 S. Apopka Vineland Road. Bahrano, bhajans, from noon to 1 p.m. followed by aarti and prasad; free; for information, call (321) 310-5664 or visit www.jhulelal.com
APRIL 5: MYSHADI BRIDAL EXPO; presented by Desh-Videsh Media Group; Hilton Orlando, 6001 Destination Parkway; noon to 5 p.m.; free admission, parking; several booths to showcase latest trends and products for weddings; for information, call (954) 784-8100.
LAKELAND
MARCH 25: CHETI CHAND (SINDHI NEW YEAR) CELEBRATIONS; organized by Sindhi Society of Central Florida; Lake Parker Park, Blue Heron Pavilion, 910 Granada St., Lakeland; 1 to 5 p.m.; lunch, bahrano, bhajans, aarti, Chez (Sindhi dance); all welcome; for information, call (321) 310-5664 or visit www.jhulelal.com
THE VILLAGES/OCALA
APRIL 3: Bollywood Boulevard: A Live Journey Through Hindi Cinema; a visual Hindi cinema spectacle of live music, dance and multimedia covering 100 years of Bollywood; presented by MELA Arts Connect; Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center, 1051 Main St., The Villages; 7 p.m.; tickets start at $25; for information, call (352) 751-7799.
GAINESVILLE
MARCH 14: INDIA FEST; presented by the India Cultural & Education Center; 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Bo Didley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave.; health fair, Indian food, music/dance, fashion, jewelry; for information, email [email protected] or visit www.icec-florida.org/
FORT MYERS
MARCH 14: “LIYAYITA & HIDIMBA;” stories, expressions and rhythms of Eastern India; Odissi and Manipuri dance styles presented by RAAGA; Shreyashi Dey & group; free admission but donations are encouraged; South Fort Myers High School, 14020 Plantation Road, Fort Myers; 6:30 p.m.; for information and to reserve tickets, call Anju (239) 994-7120, email [email protected] or visit www.raagafl.org
MARCH 20: Confluence – Musical Traditions Of India; FGCU Bower School of Music (U. Tobe Recital Hall), 10501 FGCU Blvd. S., Fort Myers; 7:30 to 9 p.m.; presented by RAAGA; performers are violinist Arun Ramamurthy, tabla player Nitin Mitta and bansuri flute player/vocalist Jay Gandhi; $10 general public, $7 students; tickets can be purchased at www.fgcu.edu/concerts; for information, email [email protected] or visit www.raagafl.org
MARCH 28: 33rd ANNUAL INDIA FEST; organized by India Association of Fort Myers; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Estero Community Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero; food, clothing, jewelry, entertainment, Bollywood fashion show; for information, call Suresh Bheemanapalli at (937) 270-9596 or visit www.iafortmyers.org
NAPLES/BONITA SPRINGS
MARCH 8: INDIA FEST; organized by India Association of Naples; 2 to 7 p.m.; free; Cambier Park, 755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples; for details, email [email protected] or visit www.ianaples.org
SOUTH FLORIDA (WEST PALM BEACH/BOCA RATON)
MARCH 14-15: 27th ASIAN TRADE, FOOD FAIR AND CULTURAL SHOW; presented by Bangladesh Association of Florida; South Florida Fairgrounds (Expo Center), 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach; noon to 10 p.m. both days; $12 per person; for information, call (561) 876-2255 or visit www.asianfair.org
APRIL 4-5: Bollywood Boulevard: A Live Journey Through Hindi Cinema; a visual Hindi cinema spectacle of live music, dance and multimedia covering 100 years of Bollywood; presented by MELA Arts Connect; Wold Performing Arts Center, Lynn University, 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton; 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday; tickets start at $50; for information, call (561) 237-9000.
Event submissions are free, e-mail information to [email protected] by the 20th.
Disclaimer: Event details are subject to change. Please check with local organizers.