On Saturday, Nov. 11, if you aren�t in Tampa, particularly in the vicinity of the University of South Florida Sun Dome, you are in the wrong place. No kidding! That�s when the Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay, an association of more than 800 families, will hold its daylong 19th annual India Festival.

�We are expecting about 10,000 people to attend the festival,� says festival chairman Dr. Harish Patel. �We will have at least 80 vendor stalls selling Indian jewelry, clothing, film DVDs and CDs, arts and crafts, and of course plenty of food.� Delicacies will include samosas, bhel puri, chicken curry, dosas. To cool your palate, there also will be exotic, tropical-flavor ice cream.
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	AACSA Convention chairs Satya Shaw, left, and Chandrakant Patel, right, pose with Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist.

More than 2,000 people are expected to attend the second annual Asian American Convenience Stores Association (AACSA) convention Dec. 2-3 in Tampa. The event at India Cultural Center will feature 70 booths offering information on financial, supplies, environmental, and clothing boutiques, among other services.
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�Ekaantha Seetha,� a dance extravaganza celebrating women of extraordinary courage and character, takes to the stage Nov. 17 in Tampa and Nov. 18 in Orlando. Presented by the Cleveland Cultural Alliance, the event has been organized in Florida by the Asian Cultural Association (ACA).
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Opening a new store or restaurant? Expanding or relocating? Has your business won an award or a mention in your local newspaper? We want to hear from you as Khaas Baat kicks off yet another new column to meet the rising needs of businesses and our readers. Call Nitish S. Rele at (813) 758-1786 or e-mail us at [email protected]

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