The festival of nine nights is just around the corner. So, dig out those dandiyas, chaniya-cholis and head out to celebrate raas-garba.

Here are some of the communities in Florida that are celebrating Navratri:

TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG: The Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay will hold its Navratri Utsav Sept. 26-28 and Oct. 3-5 at the India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road in Tampa. The event is free for paid Samaj members. For more information and details, call Samaj President Dr. Harish Patel at (727) 398-4030, Vice President C. J. Patel at (813) 960-8450 or Associate Vice President Jyotsna Patel at (813) 973-9856 or visit www.gujaratisamaj.org
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The gentleman's game, as it has been known, comes to Tampa on Sept. 28. The venue is Hamilton Avenue Park, 9251 Hamilton Ave. W. Gates open at 10 a.m. and the cricket match between the West Indies of Tampa Bay and India of Tampa Bay starts at 11 a.m.

The prize is the "bragging rights" to be called the best cricket team in Tampa Bay. Admission to the event is free with a $5 charge for venue parking. Food and drinks will be on sale and it promises to be a fun-filled family affair, featuring spot prizes, raffles, and of course the best in Indian and Caribbean dishes. All proceeds will benefit the Carib Project, which is the establishment of a Caribbean American Business and Cultural Center in Tampa.
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The Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) in Fort Lauderdale will host the "Explore India Film Festival" at its AutoNation IMAX Theater from Sept. 6 through Oct. 30.

Sponsored by American Express, the festival features two films - "Mystic India" and "India: Kingdom of the Tiger" - that highlight the country's culture, customs and traditions. Opening weekend activities include classic Indian violin and singing by an 8-year-old-artist, a Tiger Talk, sitar performances and more. A special "Buy one film, get one free," film package offer is available - both films plus exhibit admission is $15 adults; $14 seniors; $12 children ages 2 to 12.
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About 1,000 people are expected to attend the Friday, Sept. 19, bhajan and ghazal samrat Anup Jalota concert at India Cultural Center (5511 Lynn Road) in Tampa to benefit Santan Mandir (311 E. Palm Ave.). Organizers hope to raise between $50,000 to $100,000 from the 8 p.m. concert. Proceeds will be used "for renovation of the current building so that the building we use at present becomes a community hall," said Dr. Pawan Rattan, founder of Sanatan Mandir.
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	Amita Patel

As we inch closer to Navratri and Diwali festivals, we reproduce our story on designer-par-excellence Amita Patel of Vulcal Boutique in Orlando . Patel is known for her ghagra-cholis, designer saris, blouses, salwar-kameezes, and traditional shararas in cotton, silk and polyester.

Amita Patel was quite young when she began painting. She focused her entire energy on her passion for colors and their medium, in the process winning several prizes. At the age of 12, she was chosen as one of 20 first-prize winners in the UNICEF-sponsored international children's drawing competition in Paris. Subsequently, her award-winning painting on the theme of a springtime festival was picked to commemorate the 25th year of UNICEF through a 1974 Indian stamp.
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More than 150 Indian jewelry objects from the 17th to the 19th centuries will be on display Sept. 13-Dec. 28 at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg. "When Gold Blossoms: Indian Jewelry" from the Susan L. Beningson Collection is one of the most dazzling exhibitions ever presented at the MFA.

The exhibition is sponsored locally in part by the AT&T Yellow Pages. The St. Petersburg Times is the media sponsor.
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The Association of Performing Arts of India (APAI) will present "The Ramayan" Friday, Sept. 26 in Fort Lauderdale.

Adapting lyrics from the popular "Tulsi Ramayan" and the original "Valmiki Ramayan," Viji Prakash, the artistic director for Shakti Dance Company in Los Angeles, unravels the epic seamlessly from the birth of Rama to his coronation as king.

"The Ramayan" features dancers and musicians, including the doyen of music Lakshmi Shankar. Elaborate stage design, sets and costuming enhance the two-hour production of Shakti Dance Company. It also features soloist, Mythili Prakash, who has won much recognition worldwide for her bold and refreshing approach to Bharata Natyam. The cast of dancers includes Viji Prakash, Ajit Bhaskaran Das, along with 16 members of the Shakti Dance Company (www.shaktidancecompany.com)
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	Maxima

Redesigned for 2009, the seventh-generation Nissan Maxima gets a boost of 35 horsepower over the 2008 model. Though the wheelbase sees a decrease of 1.9 inches, the width is up by 1.5 inches in the front-wheel-drive sports sedan.

Available in two trims (S and SV), the Maxima is equipped with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that cranks out 290 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 261 pounds-feet of torque at 4400 rpm. The revised Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) with manual-shift capabilities is flawless. Front suspension duties fall upon a subframe-mounted strut with coil springs. The multilink independent rear suspension also is subframe-mounted with a stabilizer bar.

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COLUMN: OUT & ABOUT IN FLORIDA
OUT & ABOUT IN FLORIDA
By NITISH S. RELE - [email protected]

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]

Find out about restaurant, movies and store openings

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Get more in the upcoming events sections, youth highlights, health updates and read book reviews in this edition of Khaasbaat.
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