President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's recent visit to India made quite a buzz from being banded as an Indian Odyssey, G20 wars, India's quest for a permanent seat in the United Nations to dazzling dancing moves and ethnic fashion statements by the First Lady. Also, US is still the largest economy but do you know where it is in terms of growth rate?

Meet Our Sponsor - Mumbai Chopstix . [more]

Lead Features, Local Happenings, Performing Arts, People, Contributions and Lifestyle.

(This article is sponsored by Attorney Trupti Patel)
Jeyanthi Ghatraju teaches dance in Westford, MA. She has worked on several collaborative dance projects including the upcoming Navarasa Nayikas where many Indian Classical dance teachers are coming together for a MITHAS fundraiser. A software engineer by profession, Ghatraju talked to Lokvani about her passion for performing to support a cause. [more]

(This article is sponsored by Attorney Rachel C. Tadmor)
Manika Srivastava is an artist and heads the Brookline Arts Center Board of Directors. She has been a practicing artist for more than twenty years. She has also always been involved with social service, from working with street kids in Mumbai to heading the Arts Commission in Brookline. "The visual art initiative is consistent with general aim of MITHAS - which is to promote and preserve the arts of South Asia" - Manika Srivastava. [more]

(This article is sponsored by Monique Kornfeld, Esq.)
Padukone and Siddharth Mallya appear to be going to town with their relationship! [more]

Boston Sargam’s Bollywood Music and Dance Competition and Grand Mela 2010, clearly walked away with the honors in terms of presenting a pure and clean fun-filled entertainment, engaging the city’s very own local talent. And the winners are... [more]

(This article is sponsored by Mumbai Chopstix)
On Nov 7, 2010, United India Association held its Diwali celebrations at the Newton South High School in Newton, MA. The sold out event featured a dazzling display of song and dance. Kudos to the team of Ketan Dave, Dr. Seema Arora, Vinita Asija and Neela Gandhi for organizing a superb event. [more]

(This article is sponsored by Prashant H. Fadia Foundation)
Your gift should be something that adds value, is appreciated and above all brings about instant recall. Art can be such a unique gift you can give your clients or valued customers. [more]

The fundraiser, titled “Tridevi Samarpanam” was a splendorous display of live music and dance that focused on the three Devis - Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Parvathy. It was quite an extravaganza that involved three dance teachers, three senior musicians and over forty young and talented musicians and dancers who succeeded in creating a divine ambiance with their performances. [more]

Dr. Hari Haran, an accomplished Carnatic musician specializes in Music Education and Music Therapy and has achieved several distinctions with a Master’s and Ph.D. degrees both from India and United States. He will be performing on Nov 20 at 5:00 pm at the David Mindess School in Ashland, MA. Buy Tickets [more]

Noted environmental activist, community organizer and advocate of appropriate technologies in rural India, Michael Mazgaonkar delivered two talks at the MIT on Oct. 22 and 23. [more]

More than thousand devotees were present to witness the charm and splendor of festivity and spirituality that came to life during the continous ten days of 2010 Navratri Celebrations held at New England Shirdi Sai Temple located in Chelmsford, MA. [more]

On October 26th, Boston area entrepreneurs, researchers and students had the opportunity to hear Prof. Robert S. Langer of MIT speak at a Legends & Leaders event hosted by TiE-Boston. Over 120 people with standing room only packed into the Newton Marriott ballroom as Langer spoke about Creating and Implementing Breakthrough Medical Technologies and the key ingredients to building successful life science companies. [more]

ForSE 2010: Forum for Social Entrepreneurs held its fourth annual conference on social entrepreneurship at Northeastern university hosted by TIE Boston’s Social Entrepreneurs Group and Northeastern’s Social Enterprise Institute and NetImpact Undergrad programs. The lineup of speakers and keynoters highlighted the entrepreneurial energy in this sector as over 200 attendees crowded the West Village venue at Northeastern on October 30th. [more]

The Indian Americans of Lexington (IAL) hosted its 2010 Diwali Mela, and all the beauty of Diwali could be felt at the Lexington High School as if one were standing in Connaught Place in New Delhi. With a knockout crowd of about 500 people, it was sure to leave many people with wonderful Diwali memories. [more]

MIT’s graduate student association Sangam held its annual Diwali night on Oct. 31st at the Kresge Auditorium in MIT. Delightful dinner, Rangoli and Orgami competitions and a wonderful talent show made the evening quite enjoyable. [more]

On November 20th, Dr. Paul Fleischmann, MD, will speak at MIT about "Vipassana Meditation & The Scientific World-View". This talk is free and open to the public. [more]

Kumu Consulting and Cradles to Crayons are working together to encourage families this winter to provide new and gently-used children’s winter clothing items to kids-in need in Massachusetts. [more]

On September 6th,, Lasya Priya Thilagar, a student of Ms. Neha Parikh, performed her dance arangetram at Nashua High School North. Lasya is a senior at Hollis-Brookline High School and has been learning Bharatanatyam for eight years, first with Smt. Preetha Arun and recently with Ms. Neha Parikh. [more]

On October 9th, Prayuth Naduthota, a high school junior at Westford, MA, performed his flute arangetram under the tutelage of his Guru Mysore A. Chandan Kumar. [more]

Shubhro Shah (CT) and Achutha Raman (MA) were among the Semifinalists and Regional Finalists in the prestigious 2010-11 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, the nation’s premier science research competition for high school students, sponsored by The Siemens Foundation. [more]

Do you believe in service? Do you believe in grassroots change? Do you believe in developing young leaders for the future & creating a long-lasting bridge between India and the US? If so, pay attention and apply for an AIF Clinton Fellowship! [more]

Catch up, register and purchase tickets for the events and concerts during this upcoming fortnight including Navarasa Nayikas Dance Festival, AIF Annual Boston Gala, Boston Bhangra. A Tribute to Madan Mohan, Dr. Hari haran Iyer - Music for Healing Concert and Sri. Nayan Ghosh. [more]

Congratulations to Aseem Chandawarkar, Akshay Gowrishankar and Bharath Venkataraman, who were winners of the last set of puzzles. Here is one easy puzzle for students and one for adults. [more]

India is a great country!
Each president learned something new during their visit to India. [more]

(This article is sponsored by Sounds Of India)
Ashutosh Gowarikar’s latest film Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey is slated for release early December 2010. A period film like some of his earlier films – this is set in Bengal during the freedom struggle and is based on the book Do And Die by Manini Chatterjee, based on the Chittagong Uprising of 1930. [more]

During the middle of the meal, turn to mom and say, "See mom, I told you they wouldn't notice that the turkey was four months past its expiration date. You were worried for nothing." [more]

Geeta Kannan stirs up her own potpourri of Butternut squash recipes. [more]

Snake charmers, camel rides and palaces: Sarvepalli Shilpika, Mumbai. captures it all. [more]

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." — John Fitzgerald Kennedy. [more]