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Sri Krishna Janmastami 2010 celebration at Hindu Temple of Wisconsin

Suraj KODGI — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:46:13 +0000

Sri Krishna Janmastami 2010 at Hindu Temple of Wisconsin

More than 450 community members celebrated Sri Krishna Janmastami at Hindu Temple of Wisconsin, Pewaukee. The event started with cultural programs from 6:30 PM to 7:45 PM, followed by Puja and delicious prasad (and FREE dinner). After the dinner, the program continued with the Bhajans,Sri Krishna Janma Puja and Celebrations Pravachan by Pandit Shastri and Sri Krishna Janma Puja and Celebrations.

We are currently have few video clips and photos available to you all. In next few days we will publish all other videos. Alternatively, you can signup (just email and name) to WisIndians newsletter to get the news/events and other details to your inbox. …click here to sign up for the newsletters at WisIndians.com

Following kids/adults entertained audience with various cultural programs (be sure to watch the video).

Chandana Srinivas, Akansha Rao, Mahak Oberoi, Opal Sharma, Nidhi Oberoi,Preeti Sharma, Darshita Bajoria, Divyank Sharma,Riya Ratkalkar, Mahita Kallepalli, Vibhusha Kolli, Shelly Gandhi, Rumela Dey, Shefali Vallecha Mahalakshmi Suresh and Suraksha Kodgi.

The MCs of the evening are Paras Bansal and Sonali Srivastava’ s. These teenagers

MCs Paras Bansal and Sonali Srivastava

showed a lot of courage by being MC’s in the HTW and took audience in a smooth ride all along. I really liked the way Paras advertising the FREE dinner The credit goes to Anu Bansal who is instrumental in organizing this event including the encouragement for the teenagers. It is very important to bring them front and make them aware of our culture and encourage them to participate.

The delicious (and plenty) food was prepared by a team of volunteers at Hindu Temple of Wisconsin. A big thank you for the following volunteers lead by HTW Cafeteria chairman Dinesh Sanghavi.

1. Kamala Singh

2. Neena Munshi

3. Rakesh Rehan

4. Mrs. Naveen Rehan

5. Harish Mehta

6. Rohi Dhiman

7. Raja Gupta

8. Jashree Agarwal

9. Vandana

10. Geeta

11. Sumanish Karia and many more volunteers…

Note: HTW Cafeteria is closed this Sunday, Sept. 5th 2010- Next week Sunday, Sept.12th 2010 another exciting lunch- “Pure Punjabi Khana”- Watch for mouthwatering menu!

Milwaukee celebrates India’s 63rd independence day

Suraj KODGI — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 03:13:43 +0000

Milwaukee celebrates India's 63rd independence day

On Sunday Aug 15th 2010 evening, more than 300 people from Indian community in Milwaukee celebrated India’s independence day in Oak Creek community center, Oak Creek, Milwaukee. The event was organized by Indo-American association of Wisconsin. The event was filled with various cultural programs starting from singing to dance by various community members. The program started around 7 PM and ended at 10:30 PM with dinner. The dinner was great and catered from Mayura Indian Restaurant, Milwaukee (http://mayuramilwaukee.com/).

We have captured 70+ photos and up to 30 mins of video (part 1 and part 2) from this event. Please enjoy them and hope to see more members next year.

India Calling – US Job Fair 2010

Suraj KODGI — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:30:36 +0000

India Calling - US Job Fair 2010

Shine.com is organizing a two-day Job Fair each at New Jersey and Santa Clara which will bring recruiters from India and potential NRIs across the table for hiring.

India is a moving towards a knowledge economy. Intellectually, it is one of the most stimulating environments. No wonder, as many as 60,000 Indian professionals working and settled abroad returned to India last year from the US. In the developed countries, set of challenges and opportunities are very mundane. For those in higher management, the country offers career advancement, manifold challenges and provides opportunity to gain multi faceted experience. This is obviously an attractive proposition for people who want to grow in terms of their experience.

Shine.com is organizing a two-day Job Fair each at New Jersey and Santa Clara which will bring recruiters from India and potential NRIs across the table for hiring.India is a moving towards a knowledge economy. Intellectually, it is one of the most stimulating environments. No wonder, as many as 60,000 Indian professionals working and settled abroad returned to India last year from the US. In the developed countries, set of challenges and opportunities are very mundane. For those in higher management, the country offers career advancement, manifold challenges and provides opportunity to gain multi faceted experience. This is obviously an attractive proposition for people who want to grow in terms of their experience.

Related Articles from other sources:

India’s 63rd Independence Day

Suraj KODGI — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 17:27:33 +0000

India's Independence Day

Independence Day of India is celebrated on Fifteenth of August to commemorate its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The day is a national holiday in India. All over the country, flag-hoisting ceremonies are conducted by the local administration in attendance.

Please refer to the following on the Independence Day event by a community group in Milwaukee. We sent the details via newsletter to the subscribers (we sent the flier on Aug 11 2010. Please click here to view the flier if you didn’t receive the newsletter or not yet registered for WisIndians newsletter). Want to receive up to date on the community news/event details…click here to sign up for the newsletters at WisIndians.com.

Quotes: “At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new…India discovers herself again.”

- Jawaharlal Nehru

(on Indian Independence Day, 1947)

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Independence Day speech

Speech from Hillary Rodham Clinton – Secretary of State on the occasion of Independence Day

Ananda Mela, Festival of happiness in Wisconsin

Suraj KODGI — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:26:30 +0000

Masala Dosa at Anand Mela

The Ananda Mela festival, organized by the Hindu Temple of Wisconsin (HTW), attracted approximately 1,000 visitors to the Hindu Temple of Wisconsin on Saturday Aug 07 2010. Ananda Mela, meaning “joyful festival,” was designed, “To build community amongst all people, not just only for kids or only for adults, to showcase the Indian culture, food and to share it with all members and show that it is all part of one big family,” said Mr. Venkat Kodali, Hindu Temple of Wisconsin president. Mr. Venkat told to WisIndians that, he was pleased to see such a large crowd and everyone enjoying food, cultural programs and other activities. Hindu Temple of Wisconsin is organizing many more

Kids enjoying at Anand Mela

events this year than ever including Maha Chandi Yagna, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Maharudram Celebrations and many more. Please visit WisIndians extensive community events calendar now and in future as reference for all events, from religious events at Hindu Temple, Yoga, Concerts to Indian movies in Wisconsin theaters. WisIndians.com is dedicated to bring the best and latest information for the community members… inline with our slogan “Your Community News at Your Fingertips… Always“

Hindu Temple of Wisconsin had been organizing this annual festival from past few years. The festival is a gift to the community members where one gets to meet and greet friends, relatives, taste the 10+ varieties of authentic Indian food under one roof, sugar cane juice and corn on the cob are the extra bonus.

Foods, clothing, music, dance, and henna were among the many aspects of Indian culture available for the visitor to experience.

: Opening Invocation Song on Lord Ganesha by Kids for the evening

There were two cultural programs organized for the day..one in the afternoon from 3:30-4:30 PM and second one in the evening from 6:30-7:30 PM. Both the time, the auditorium was filled with audiences to watch/listen to the dance/songs. The afternoon program was opened by Vande Mataram in violin…good timing since India’s Independence Day is coming closer (Aug 15).

Please refer to the following on the Independence Day event by a community group in Milwaukee. We sent thedetails via newsletter to the subscribers (we sent the flier on Aug 11 2010. Please click here to view the flier if you didn’t receive the newsletter or not yet registered for WisIndians newsletter). Want to receive up to date on the community news/event details…click here to sign up for the newsletters at WisIndians.com. We just need your name and email address. Why name…why not just email ID..you may ask? We want to personalize each email we send out…..you will get the email addressed to you name . We send out emails only one time per week with rich details including news, events, coupons, local money saving deals and more.

While the beautiful English song by Raunak Vyragaram (check the video clip) was the hit during the afternoon session, the dance for 3 idiots by Rishi and team was the hit show in the evening session. There were many programs (10+) by kids, adults. While we were unable to capture each and every program, we do our best to bring you as much information as we can. We will post many video clips soon.

Dance from Rishi and Team for the song from 3 Idiots Movie

Harley-Davidson opens first outlet in India

Suraj KODGI — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:47:45 +0000

Harley-Davidson, the Milwaukee, Wisconsin based bike maker opened its first dealership outlet in the country in Hyderabad this month.

Though the company has identified dealers in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Bangalore, the outlet in Hyderabad – Banjara Harley-Davidson – became the first to start operations.

The company has launched 12 variants of the bikes in 883 cc to 1800 cc range in the Indian market.

The bikes range from Rs 7 lakh for 883 cc model and goes up to Rs 35 lakh for a 1,800 cc engine powered bike. In fact, buyers of the top end models would have the choice to customise their bikes with specific options.

Judge accepts guilty plea in Koss embezzlement

Suraj KODGI — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:22:51 +0000

A federal judge has accepted a guilty plea from a former Koss Corp. executive to felony fraud in a $34 million embezzlement.

Sujata “Sue” Sachdeva signed an agreement earlier this month to plead guilty to all six felony frauds counts against her.

Sachdeva also agreed to pay an estimated $34 million restitution to Koss Corp.

The plea deal calls for at least five years in prison, although prosecutors may recommend a much longer sentence.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan – De Almaas

Suraj KODGI — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:20:25 +0000

Amjad Ali Khan, who has both continued and extended the art of Indian classical music on the sarod, will perform a concert at 8 p.m. July 30 at the Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St.

Western observers often liken the sarod, which is smaller than a sitar, to a lute or a guitar. It has a fretless metal fingerboard that produces a resonant sound and encourages sliding glissandi.

The Indian string instrument called the sarod looks a bit like a lute. Its rounded back is wooden, and its flat belly is made from goat skin. It has an unfretted, steel fingerboard and 25 steel strings, and in the hands of Amjad Ali Khan, its sound is delicate and highly expressive. He is a sixth generation sarod player from a family credited with creating the instrument, adapting it from the Afghan rabab.

Khan’s ensemble for this India Music Society concert will include his sons, Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan, the seventh generation of his family to play sarod, and tabla player Vineet Vyas.

When Mr. Khan feels like talking about his craft, you listen. During the first half of his concert at Carnegie Hall on Saturday night, he quietly explained that there are two ways of playing the sarod. One way is with fingertips pressed on the fingerboard. He demonstrated some dull-toned melodic lines. Then he did it his way — taught to him by his father — using the grooved edges of the fingernails on the first two fingers of his left hand. The tone was focused and bright and singing, closer (for American ears) to the sound of bottleneck slide on a dobro.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan – Master of Sarod-Live in Cologne

Source/Credits: JSOnline.com and Pabsttheater.org

REAL ESTATE tools are now available

Suraj KODGI — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:59:10 +0000

Moving out or relocating to Wisconsin? Need to buy a home or sell a home? Want to find a apartment to stay? Curious on schools around the area you are thinking of moving?

We have all the tools you need…. available online 24/7 for your service. At this time we included basic tools and we will be adding more tools in near future.

Check out our Real Estate Page…Click here or select from the top menu.

SRINIVASA KALYANAM at Hindu Temple of Wisconsin

Suraj KODGI — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 13:29:16 +0000

SRINIVASA KALYANAM (Sri Padmavathi Venkateswara Swamy Kalyanam) was held in Hindu Temple of Wisconsin on Saturday, July 17 2010. The celebration was attended by more than 200 devotees of Wisconsin and lasted for @ 2 hours.

The divine marriage called as Padmavathi Srinivasa Kalyanam is said to have taken place on Friday, the 10th day (Dasami) of Lunar month Vaisakha Masam (Vaisakha Suddha Dasami) in the lunar calendar year Sri Vilambi in this Kaliyuga. The marriage is said to have been performed in the night. The event is said to have happened in a place called Narayanapuram (presently called as Narayanavanam) about 33km from Tirupathi on the way to Chennai near Puttur.

Kusuma Rao and Subba Rao organized this celebration. Venkateswara Kalyanam is celebrated every month’s 3rd Saturday at Hindu Temple of Wisconsin. Other dates for Venkateswara Kalyanam for 2010 are- August 21, September 18, October 16, November 20, December 18. Grand sponsor: $101, Sponsor: $31. Please contact Kusuma Rao and Subba Rao (262-783-5143) or Temple (262-695-1200) for the details of future events or sponsorships.

The schedule for this celebration is:

Kalyanam to start 6:00 PM

Muhurtham: 6:45 PM

Reception (Light Dinner): 8:15 PM

If you are interested reading and learning about the SRI SRINIVASA KALYANAM you may read the following story. The credit goes to various Blogs (many to list) where we took the excerpts from.

SRI SRINIVASA KALYANAM–STORY

The rishis headed by Kasyapa began to perform a sacrifice on the banks of the Ganges. Sage Narada visited them and asked them why they were performing the sacrifice and who would be pleased by it.

Not being able to answer the question, the rishisapproached Sage Bhrigu. To reach a solution after a direct ascertainment of reality, Sage Bhrigu first went to Satyaloka, the abode of Lord Brahma.

At Satyaloka, he found Lord Brahma, reciting the four Vedas in praise of Lord Narayana, with each of his four heads, and attended upon by Saraswati. Lord Brahma did not take notice of Bhrigu offering obeisance. Concluding that Lord Brahma was unfit for worship, Bhrigu left Satyaloka for Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva.
4.

At Kailasa, Bhrigu found Lord Siva spending his time pleasantly with Parvati and not noticing his presence. Parvati drew the attention of Siva to the presence of the sage.

5.

Lord Siva was furious at Bhrigu’s intrusion and tried to destroy him. The sage cursed Lord Siva and left for Vaikuntam.

6.

At Vaikuntam, Lord Vishnu (also called Srimannarayana) was reposing on Adisesha with Sri Mahalakshmi in service at His feet. Finding that Srimannarayana also did not notice him, the sage was infuriated and he kicked the Lord on His chest, the place where Mahalakshmi resides.
7.

At once, Lord Vishnu hastened to apologise to the angry sage and pressed his feet to allay the pain caused to Bhrigu’s leg. In doing so the Lord removed the eye in the foot of the sage, which gave Bhrigu power as to defy the Devas. Thereupon, the sage decided that Lord Vishnu was the most supreme of thetrimurthis and told the rishis the same. Thereupon, they decided that Lord Vishnu was the fruit of theyaga.

8.

Sri Mahalakshmi was angered by the action of her Lord in apologising to Bhrigu who committed an offence. She, therefore, left Vaikuntam without heeding the entreaties of the Lord.

9.

At the commencement of the current Sveta Varaha Kalpa, the whole universe was filled with water and the Earth was immersed in it. Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a white boar (Sri Varaha) and dived into the water to lift the Earth. He slew the demon Hiranyaksha who was obstructing Him and rescued the Earth.

10.

Brahma and the other Devas praised Sri Varaha for saving the Earth by chanting the Vedas and showering flowers on Him. Lord Vishnu decided to stay on Earth in the form of Sri Varaha for some time, to punish the wicked and protect the virtuous. The place then came to be known as Varaha Kshetraand the Varaha Kalpa commenced.

11.

After the departure of Mahalakshmi, a forlorn Lord Vishnu left Vaikuntam and took abode in an ant-hill under a tamarind tree, beside a pushkarini on the Venkata Hill .

12.

Taking pity on Lord Vishnu, Brahma and Maheshwara decided to assume the forms of a cow and its calf to serve Him.

13.

Surya, the Sun God informed Mahalakshmi of this and requested her to assume the form of a cowherdess and sell the cow and calf to the king of the Chola country.
14.

The king of the Chola country bought the cow and its calf and sent them to
graze on the Venkata Hill along with his herd of cattle. Discovering Lord Vishnu
on the ant-hill, the cow provided its milk, and thus fed the Lord.

15.

Meanwhile, at the palace, the cow was not yielding any milk, for which the Chola Queen chastised the cowherd severely.

16.

To find out the cause of lack of milk, the cowherd followed the cow, hid himself behind a bush and discovered the cow emptying her udder over the ant-hill.

17.

Incensed over the conduct of the cow, the cowherd aimed a blow with his axe on the head of the cow. However, Lord Vishnu rose from the ant-hill to receive the blow and save the cow.

18.

When the cowherd saw the Lord bleed at the blow of his axe, he fell down and died of shock.

19.

On the death of the cowherd, the cow returned, bellowing in fright and with blood stains all over her body, to the Chola King. To find out the cause of the cow’s terror, the King followed her to the scene of the incident.

20.

The King found the cowherd lying dead on the ground near the ant-hill. While he stood wondering how it had happened, Lord Vishnu rose from the ant-hill and cursed the King saying that he would become an Asurabecause of the fault of his servant. The King pleaded innocence, and the Lord blessed him by saying that the curse would end when the Lord was adorned with akireetam presented by Akasa Raja at the time of His marriage with Sri Padmavati.

21.

Thereafter, Lord Vishnu or Srinivasa, decided to stay in Varaha Kshetra, and requested Sri Varahaswami to grant Him a site for His stay. His request being readily granted, Srinivasa ordained that a pilgrimage to His shrine would not be complete unless it is preceded by a bath in the Pushkarini and darshan of Sri Varahaswami, and that puja and naivedyam should be offered to Sri Varahaswami first.

22.

Yasoda brought up Sri Krishna, the son of Devaki, in his early years. However, Yasoda was not blessed to witness the marriage of Sri Krishna with Rukmini and she felt very sad. Sri Krishna promised to fulfil her desire in her next birth as Vakuladevi in his next avatara as Srinivasa. In Rukmini’s next birth as Vakuladevi, she was serving Lord Varahaswami when He sent her to serve Srinivasa.

23.

Sometime later, a King named Akasa Raja who belonged to the Lunar race was ruling over Thondamandalam. He had a brother named Thondaman. Akasa Raja had no heirs, and therefore, he wanted to perform a sacrifice. As part of the sacrifice, he was ploughing the fields when his plough turned up a lotus in the ground. On examining the lotus, the King found a female child in it.

24.

Akasa Raja was happy to find the child. He carried it to his palace and gave it to his Queen. At that time he heard a voice from above which said, “Oh! King, tend to it as your child and fortune will befall you.” As the child was found in a lotus, the king named her Padmavati.

25.

In course of time, Princess Padmavati grew up into a beautiful maiden and was attended to by a host of maids. One day, while she was spending her time in a garden picking flowers with her maids, Sage Narada approached her. Assuring her that he was her well-wisher, he asked her to show him her palm to read her future. He foretold that she was destined to be the spouse of Lord Vishnu himself.

26.

At this time, Lord Srinivasa, who was hunting, chased a wild elephant in the forests surrounding the hills. In the elephant’s pursuit, the Lord was led into a garden, where Princess Padmavati and her maids were picking flowers.The sight of the elephant frightened the Princess and her maids..

27.

But the elephant immediately turned around, saluted the Lord and disappeared into the forest. Lord Srinivasa, who was following on horse back, and saw the frightened maidens, who accosted Him with queries.

28.

Lord Srinivasa gave the maids details about his birth and parentage. He, in turn, enquired after their princess, her birth and parentage.

29.

When the maids informed Lord Srinivasa that the princess was Padmavati, foster daughter of Akasa Raja, He expressed his interest in her. However, He was repulsed with stones thrown at Him by the maids. He returned to the hills in haste, leaving His horse behind.

30.

When Lord Srinivasa returned, Vakuladevi brought him his usual dinner comprising various delicacies. However, she found him lying on his bed, pining for his love. When she enquired about the cause, the Lord informed her that unless he married Princess Padmavati, he would never be well again. Vakuladevi then asked Him to tell her all about the Princess. The Lord then narrated the story of her (Padmavati’s) previous birth and his promise to wed her.

31.

In olden times, Lakshmi, in the form of Vedavati, was staying in an ashram in the forests. At that time, Ravana, the lord of Lanka tried to tempt her. In anger, Vedavati cursed him saying that she would bring about his death.

32.

To show how true her words were, Vedavati walked into the fire, but Agni, the Fire God rescued her. He took Vedavati to his house and entrusted her to his wife’s care.

33.

When Ravana was about to carry away Sita from Panchavati, in the absence of Rama and Lakshmana, Agni appeared and offered Vedavati to Ravana as the real Sita who was kept with him by Rama to evade Ravana. Ravana was tricked into thinking that Vedavati was the real Sita.

34.

Ravana took Vedavati to Lanka thinking she was the real Sita, while Agni took Sita to his house and asked his wife Swahadevi to look after her.

35.

After the destruction of Ravana, Vedavati entered the fire when rejected by Rama. Then, Agni, offered the real Sita to Rama. Rama then questioned her as to who the other lady by her side was.

36.

Sita informed Rama that the lady was Vedavati who endured Ravana’s torture for ten months in Lanka for her sake. Sita requested Rama to accept Vedavati also as his spouse. But Rama declined her request saying that he believed in having only one wife during his life time. However, He promised to wed her in her next birth as Padmavati, born as the daughter of Akasa Raja, when Rama himself would take the form of Srinivasa.

37.

After listening to Srinivasa’s story of how he had promised to marry Vedavati in her next birth as Padmavati, Vakuladevi realised that Srinivasa would not be happy unless he married Padmavati. She offered to go to Akasa Raja and his Queen and arrange for the marriage. On the way she met the maid-servants of Padmavati returning from a Siva Temple. She learnt from them that Padmavati was also pining for Srinivasa. Vakuladevi went along with the maidservants to the Queen.

38.

Meanwhile, Akasa Raja and his queen Dharanidevi were anxious about the health of their daughter, Padmavathi. They learnt about Padmavathi’s love for Srinivasa of Venkata Hill. Akasa Raja consulted Brihaspati about the propriety of the marriage and was informed that the marriage was in the best interest of both the parties.

39.

After the departure of Vakuladevi, Srinivasa could not rest in peace. He doubted if she would succeed in her mission. He, therefore, assumed the form of a lady fortune-teller and entered the streets of the capital telling fortunes. Padmavathi’s maids saw her and invited her to the presence of their Queen.

40.

The maid-servants informed Queen Dharanidevi that the fortune-teller was hesitating to enter the palace without the Queen’s invitation.

41.

The Queen came out herself and invited the fortune-teller into the palace.The fortune- teller was taken to the presence of Princess Padmavati.

42.

The fortune-teller read the palm of the Princess and told the Queen about the cause of Padmavati’s indisposition. She advised the Queen to give Padmavati in marriage to Lord Srinivasa. She also told the Queen that a lady would approach her shortly on behalf of Lord Srinivasa, to formally request Padmavati’s hand in marriage.

43.

After the departure of the fortune-teller, Vakuladevi arrived at the palace, and was taken by the maidservants to the Queen. She informed the Queen that she had come on behalf Lord Srinivasa to request the hand of Padmavati in marriage.

44.

Having consulted Brihaspati and heard from his Queen about the prediction of the fortune-teller and the arrival of the messenger from Srinivasa, Akasa Raja decided to hand his daughter in marriage to Srinivasa. He asked the palace purohits to fix a muhurtam for the marriage.

45.

Akasa Raja informed his ministers and other officials of his plans. Immediately, a letter was drafted requesting Srinivasa to come and marry the Princess.

46.

Akasa Raja entrusted the delivery of the letter to Sukamahamunin. Suka went to the Venkata Hill with Vakuladevi. He presented the patrika to Lord Srinivasa, who was very happy. The Lord sent his garland for Padmavati through Suka.

47.

48.

Kubera lent money to Lord Srinivasa to meet the expenses of the marriage.

49.

Lord Srinivasa, along with his consorts and Lord Brahma and Lord Siva started the journey to the residence of Akasa Raja with his vehicle Garuda.

50.

At the palace entrance, Lord Srinivasa was received by Akasa Raja with full honours and taken in procession on a mounted elephant to the palace for the marriage.

51.

In the presence of all the Devas, Lord Srinivasa wed Princess Padmavati, thus blessing Akasa Raja.