Happy Pongal! Happy Sankranthi! May the year 2015 be filled with great good for all. Starting this issue, Lokvani is delighted to feature successful young professionals who are accomplishing great things at a young age. We are delighted to feature our columnist, Priyanka Jain, DPT who is a resident at Brigham and Women's. [more]

(This section is sponsored by New England Shirdi Sai Temple)

Neena Kedia Mohanka is now the President of the Indian American Forum for Political Education. She talked to Lokvani about the Forum and its plan for the year 2015. [more]

(This section is sponsored by Stephen Campbell, Mortgage Master)

I have bizarre, stubborn philosophies on life. I don't like making life comfortable for new filmmakers. I want him to struggle to make his film. I'll illogically slash their budget to half the amount and ask them to do it for that. And every time they'll pull it off. I'm interested in filmmakers who break boundaries - Anurag Kashyap, Gangs of Wasseypur. [more]

(This section is sponsored by Monique Kornfeld, Esq.)

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan said he is playing the character of a 'frustrated man' in his upcoming film 'Shamitabh'. [more]

(This section is sponsored by Masala Art)

Sri Sai Chavadi temple celebrated its first New Year’s day on Jan. 1, 2015 with the participation of hundreds of devotees after its grand opening in Canton, MA. The occurrence of Vaikunta Ekadasi on the same day made this day even more special for the devotees. [more]

(This section is sponsored by New England Shirdi Sai Temple)

NESSP Celebrated “Bhogi Pandlu”, a special ritual performed on Bhogi day many devotees queued up along with their children to celebrate this event in the presence of Beloved Sadguru Sai Baba. [more]

Priyanka Jain has a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She is currently a resident at Brigham and Women's hospital. She shares insights into her field and talks about her hobbies. She is also a columnist for Lokvani. [more]

On January 30th, Mehr Kaur's play will come back to Boston again after its 25th performance. The play is about the violence that shook Delhi after the assassination of Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, almost thirty years earlier. The play has had 25 performances including one in the house of Lords in England. [more]

New England Shirdi Sai Parviaar, known as NESSP, purchased 28 acres of land in Groton, MA for constructing Shirdi Sai Temple. When completed it will be a 2-story, 40,000-square-foot temple and we believe, it will become the largest Sai temple in the United States. [more]

Melville in New York (USA) will reportedly have a majestic Hindu temple in 2016. [more]

If you like South Asian Dance and want to see some of the most competitive dance teams in North America, don’t miss South Asian Showdown 2015! The last five years have sold out and this year will be no different!!! [more]

Meghana Kancharla (3rd Grader from Hills Garrison School - Hudson, NH) was the Runner-up in the Kasparov's Scholastic Chess championships - New York 2015 in the Primary section (U-1000) held on January 10th at New York Marriott, Brooklyn, NY. [more]

Congratulations to Tejasv Arya (Philips Academy), Kavish Gandhi (Newton North High School), Ayush Kumar (Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science) and Abhinav Sai Venigalla (Phillips Academy), who were named 2015 Intel Semifinalists. [more]

IAFPE invites Indian American youth to apply for annual political Summer Fellowship Program by February 15, 2015. [more]

President Barack Obama has nominated Jonodev Osceola Chaudhuri and Deven J. Parekh to key posts of Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) and member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, respectively. [more]

Most colleges don’t have interviews anymore – there are far too many applicants. But smaller colleges (typically, liberal arts) will often have an optional interview. Should you take them up on this option? [more]

If you are a parent of a child anticipating college, the financial logistics of obtaining a college education can be summarized in two questions: How will we pay for it? And will it be worth the cost? [more]

While Microsoft has diversity in its highest ranks, including an African-American board chairman, an Indian CEO and a female CFO, overall the company is 60.6% white and 71% male, according to its EEO-1 form. [more]

The affordable care act statistics indicate very positive numbers for the enrollment. [more]

Congratulations to Prem Kapoor, RK Sambangi and Annie Shah, who were winners of the last set of puzzles. Here are two puzzles for one and all! [more]

Catch up, register and purchase tickets for the upcoming events and concerts including DAWAT 2015. [more]

(This section is sponsored by Sounds Of India)

Wedding season is just around the corner. Many of you may be in the middle of planning your friend, sister, brother, child’s wedding – or maybe this year is all about YOUR big day. No worries - I have compiled a list of song ideas for group dances, [more]

Management Humor! [more]

Color and Canal! [more]

Sankranti, Pongal, Lohri - recipes with the special ingredients. [more]

Decorative cattle during sankranti [more]

Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination. – Roy M. Goodman. [more]