MARCH 2024
Khaas Baat : A Publication for Indian Americans in Florida

Festival Focus

Business Strategy to be Learnt from Holi

Dr. M. P. Ravindra Nathan

By Suganth Kannan

Holi will be celebrated on March 25 around the world by Hindus, followers of Sanatana Dharma. As winter ends, the festival exults the commencement of spring as Hindus pray for a prosperous and successful harvest.

 Holi has deep religious significance for Hindus. In the Bhagavata Purana, Asura King Hiranyakashipu obtains a boon after tapas to Lord Brahma, the creator, that he cannot be killed by human beings, animals, weapons, during day or night, or in water or air. The arrogant Hiranyakashipu becomes a despot who torments his son Prahlad and other Hindus praying to Lord Narayana. Then, on Holi, Maha Vishnu, the protector, takes Narasimha avatar, part man and part lion, and places Hiranyakashipu on his lap during dusk time and kills him. This signifies the victory of good over evil.

During Holi, people light a large bonfire, since according to the Purana, Lord Narasimha came out of a fire to save Prahlad. In Hinduism, fire has a major Vedic significance, since Agni Dev takes prayers and thoughts directly through the ether to the Devtas or Gods. Friends, families and the entire community mix and throw the colorful Holi powder on one another. There is major rush at Vaishnavite and Krishna temples like Dwarkadhish in Gujarat and Puri’s Jagannath.

Hindu Rishis were knowledgeable about the seasonal changes and public health. When the season fluctuates, many people get fever since the human body’s internal physiology is adjusting to the rapid change in environment. Traditionally, Ayurvedic herbs like haldi, kum kum, mehndi and amla with medicinal properties help build up the herd immunity of the community.

What is the business approach that Holi teaches us? The first strategy is the importance of paying attention to detail when negotiating business deals and taking major decisions. When Hiranyakashipu asks Lord Brahma for the boon, he leaves out crucial details. Vishnu in the form of Narasimha takes advantage of these deficiencies in the boon and kills Hiranyakashipu. So, Vishnu is teaching business owners on Holi to read the fine print during contract negotiations. When one is developing new products and services, specific instructions should be given to the employees for precise execution.

Another important strategy that Holi teaches business owners is the significance of having positive energy in your business. Hindus light the powerful bonfire to bring positive energy after their prayers are transferred to Devtas through Agni Dev. Similarly, businesses owned by Hindus in the United States need to remember to follow Vedic astrology and perform pujas for their business to be successful.

A notable example of a businessperson who followed this strategy in recent times was Steve Jobs. In 2007, Jobs did a live test run of the iPhone. He noticed that the phone was developing scratches due to its plastic screen. He gave specific instructions to his engineers that he wanted a glass screen that would not scratch within six weeks. The engineers, with clear instruction from their boss, tackled the problem. The screen was completed in time per the specifications of Steve Jobs and within weeks, Apple had sold one million iPhones.

That is why in your business, starting from Holi, it is important to pray to Vishnu, be thorough and detail-oriented, and maintain Hindu traditions to achieve success.

Wish all the readers a Happy Holi.

Suganth Kannan of Miami runs a consulting business in healthcare and real estate management. He suggests and conducts Vedic-based prayers at those companies. Reach Kannan via email at sanatanaguru108@gmail.com or call (954) 999-3271.

Places of Worship

TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER

SRI AYYAPPA TEMPLE: 8 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; 6829 Maple Lane, Tampa, FL 33610; (813) 618-7278.  

AMBAJI MANDIR: 8:30 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; morning aarti at 9 and evening aarti at 7; Sunday Satsang bhajan and Pravachan from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. mahaprasad; 10991 58th St., Pinellas Park, FL 33782; (727) 388-6685.

SRI LAXMI NARAYAN MANDIR; 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; 4615 George Road, Tampa, FL 33634; (813) 444-9786.

HINDU TEMPLE OF FLORIDA: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; 5509 Lynn Road, Tampa, FL 33624; (813) 962-6890.

DADA BHAGWAN’S GROUP OF TAMPA BAY: Satsang every Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.; everyone is invited; call Ramesh Patel at (813) 926-1143 or Mukesh Patel at (813) 969-1740.

JAIN SOCIETY OF TAMPA BAY: Monthly bhavna from 3 to 5 p.m. every fourth Sunday; also, non-Jains can take Dev Darshan of statues made of marbles by sculpture-artist from Rajasthan; 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.; both events at Days Inn hotel at Fletcher Avenue and Interstate 75; call Kini Shah at (813) 503-0715 or Pradeep Bavishi at (727) 525-5400.

VISHNU MANDIR: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday only, discourse by Pandit Vishnu Sharma; 5303 Lynn Road, Tampa, FL 33624; (813) 654-2551.

SANATAN MANDIR: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday; 311 East Palm Ave., Tampa, FL 33602; (813) 221-4482.

SHRI SARASWATI DEVI MANDIR: 9:30 a.m. to noon Sunday only; officiating priest is Pandit Purnanan Sharma; 16220 Livingston Avenue, Lutz, FL 33559; (813) 264-1539.

SHRI RADHA-KRISHNA MANDIR: daily morning arotik at 7 followed by Srimad-Bhavatavam class; 6 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Wednesday Bhagavad-Gita class followed by prasadam; 14610 N. 17th St., Tampa; (813) 971-6474 or click on www.iskcontampa.com

BAPS SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; darshan is closed between noon and 4 p.m. but reopens at 4 p.m.; 9226 E. Fowler Ave. (between Interstate 75 and U.S. 301); (813) 986-5473.

MANAV DHARMA ASHRAM: sumiran is from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. first Thursday of every month; satsang is 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, followed by dinner; yoga classes begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday; bhajans are 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. every third Sunday; 7520 Caron Road, Tampa, FL 33615; call the ashram at (813) 889-7155, Himatlal Parekh at (813) 969-1661 or Ashok Modh at (813) 935-3439.

ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF TAMPA BAY AREA MOSQUE: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; 7326 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa, FL 33601; Tel: (813) 628-0007.

GURDWARA: 8 a.m. till 8 p.m. daily; 15302 Morris Bridge Road, Thonotosassa, FL 33592; (813) 986-6205.

CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA (CSI) CONGREGATION OF FLORIDA: Worship services at 10 a.m. every Sunday at Springhill Missionary Baptist Church, 8119 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa, FL 33619; for information, call John Philip at (813) 986-6844 or Daniel Cherian (Anand) at (813) 985-9890 or click on www.csichurchflorida.org

ORLANDO AREA

HINDU SOCIETY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA: 8:30 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry, FL 32707; (407) 699-5277.

GURDWARA, SIKH SOCIETY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA: 11:30 A.M. to 1 p.m. Sunday; 2527 W. Aloma Ave. (west State Road 426), Oviedo; (407) 805-0404.

MASJID AL-RAHIM, ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, WEST ORLANDO: five times daily prayers and pray on Friday; 4962 Old Winter Garden Road, Orlando, FL 32811; (407) 523-7882.

SARASWATI DEVI MANDIR/INDO CARIBBEAN CENTER: Sunday service is from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; all special days observed with worship; 1453 N. Pine Hills Road, Orlando, FL 32808; for information, call (407) 522-1988 or click on www.saraswatidevimandir.com

SHRI SHIVDHAM HINDU TEMPLE AND BRAHMRISHI YOGASHRAM: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily; 460 O’Berry Hoover Road, Orlando, FL 32825; (407) 380-2661 or e-mail ymcco@yahoo.com

SANTOSHI MA TEMPLE: bhajan and aarti first Friday of every month; 10900 Park Ridge Gotha Road, Windermere, FL 34786; (407) 996-2830.

SHRI DEVI BHAVAN: 9 A.M. TO 11:30 a.m. every Sunday; Pandit is Eshwar Persaud; 6206 W. Amelia St., Orlando, FL 32835; (407) 822-8057.

SHRI LAXMINARAYAN MANDIR: 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday; 269 N. Klondike Ave., Pine Hills, FL 32811; (407) 877-7916.

SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR (BAPS): 1325 W. Oak Ridge Road, Orlando, FL 32809; (407) 857-0091.

POINCIANA HINDU MANDIR INC.: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each Sunday and on special festivals; 3999 Monterey Road, Kissimmee, FL 34758; (407) 873-2679.

ARYA SAMAJ OF ORLANDO: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sunday; Santoshi Maa Building, 10900 Park Ridge Gotha Road, Windermere, FL 34786; for more information, call (321) 284-1839 or visit www.aryasamajoforlando.com

LAKELAND(POLK COUNTY)

SHRI SWAMINARAYAN TEMPLE: 2793 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, FL 33815; (863) 682-8260.

ALACHUA (ALACHUA COUNTY)

ISKCON OF ALACHUA (International Society for Krishna Consciousness): founder is A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, P.O. Box 819, Alachua, FL 32616; (386) 462-2017.

INVERNESS (CITRUS COUNTY)

SHIRDI SAI CENTER: 4707 Pleasant Grove Road, Inverness, FL 34452; for timings of the center and any other information, call (352) 860-2181 or e-mail shirdi@gowebco.com

JACKSONVILLE

HINDU SOCIETY OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA (HSNEF): 4968 Greenland Road, Jacksonville , FL 32258 ; for information, call (904)-268-7630 or click on www.jaxhindutemple.org

SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI AREA)

SOUTH FLORIDA HINDU TEMPLE: 13010 W. Griffin Road, Southwest Ranches, FL 33330; for timings and classes at the temple, call (954) 438-3675 or e-mail info@sfht.org

SHIVA VISHNU TEMPLE OF SOUTH FLORIDA: 5661 Dykes Road, Southwest Ranches, FL 33331; 9 a.m. to noon and 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays; call (954) 689-0471 or click on www.shivavishnu.org

SHIVA MANDIR: 3000 N.W. 29TH Ave., Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309; for information, call (954) 735-3560 or click on www.fhosm.com

ISLAMIC CENTER OF BOCA RATON: 3100 N.W. FIFTH AVE., Boca Raton, FL 33431; for information, call (561) 395-7221 or click on www.icbr.org

SIKH GURUDWARA: 1600 S.W. 60th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331; for information, call (954) 680-0221.


Send information on upcoming events to Nitish S. Rele, Khaas Baat, 8312 Windsor Bluff Dr., Tampa, FL 33647 or e-mail editor@khaasbaat.com. Deadline for submissions is the 18th of each month to be included in the next issue.

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