Festivities and Fasting (alt truth)
Contributed By - Babu Raman
Upcoming event roundup
They say fasting once in a while is good for the body. It’s a form of detox and giving the system a break. So let’s take a break from food and focus on other important things happening around.
We just got over an osom (awesome) Okotober (October). So many things happened that I totally got overwhelmed.. but to tell you the truth, this has become a way of life for us. Our community is so vibrant here in Phoenix, the weekends are ten times busier than the weekdays. Arangetrams, community functions, preparatory meetings, events, sangeet samarohs and of course friends get-togethers. And food, food and food. Did I mention about a break from food earlier, do you think it will ever happen?
Let’s see what’s in store for October.
Weekend 1. : October 5th, 6th and 7th.
Friday Oct 5th we have a Sitar and Shehnai Concert. Presented by ‘Service Place’ at the Choudhuri Residence 6160 W Park Avenue in Chandler. The exquisite artist list includes :
Sitar - Vidushi MITA NAG (daughter of Pt Manilal Nag)
Shenai - Janab Hassan Haider Khan (Grandnephew of Ustad Bismillah Khan)
Tabla - Pt Subhen Chatterjee
Saturday Oct 6th.. Maha Ganapathy Temple is organizing Shirdi Sai Baba Centernary Year Celebration. This is to celebrate Baba’s Maha Samadhi centenary year. Let’s head over to Maricopa.
There is also a Ramayana Discourse happening at the Ekta Mandir by Swamini Gopeshwari Devi, this is a five-day event.
By the way Mahalaya Amavasya starts from 10/08/18 and Navratri begins on 10/10/18.
Weekend 2.: October 12th, 13th and 14th.
AZ Samhita is celebrating ‘Durgotsav’ the annual Durga Puja extravaganza. This is a three-day event this year. Friday Saturday and Sunday. Celebrated in the traditional way, the way it’s done back home in West Bengal and other parts of the country. In the cultural part heard that Sa Re Ga Ma Pa finalist ‘Jimut’ will be performing live.
GCA will be organizing its annual Navratri Ratotsav at the Greenway High School on the 12th, 13th and 19th, 20th at 6PM. And at the Apollo High School on the 26th, 27th. Lots of music and dance with Lalo (Hitashv Nanavati). Six melodic voices singing for you the Garba and Dandiya Raas songs.
We also understand there will be Dussehra celebrations by our local associations/organizations.
And Navratri ends on 10/17/18 which is also called Maha Navami.Weekend
3: October 19th, 20th and 21st.
19th October :
Garba Groove presents East Valley Garba and Dandiya Night at the Basha High School which is at 5990 S. Val Vista Dr, Chandler AZ 85249. Sound effects provided by Samir & Dipalee, they say you cannot not dance and groove. By the way reportedly all the proceeds go to LisAnyaa charity that is raising funds for kids who are dyslexic and do not have the resources to get help.
Sharad Purnima is on the 23rd of October. Let’s play some cards and test our good fortune.
Weekend 4 : October 26th, 27th and 28th.
Bengali Cultural Association of Arizona will be celebrating Durga Puja. It’s a three day event starting 26th. Also traditional Shashti, Saptami, Ashtami and Nabami puja and then Bijoya will be the culmination of the event on Sunday. This is being celebrated at the IACRF Hall. Visit to experience some timeless folk melodies of Dohar.
October 27th happens to be Karwa Chauth, the day all married women fast and pray for the long life of their husbands. There are lot of programs being arranged at the various temples. And after the moon is sighted fast breaking happens with some sumptuous prasad (food).
On 28th October, Mahima will be hosting the evergreen soul singer ‘Hariharan’ presented by Maha Ganapathy Temple. The event is at Higley Center for Performing Arts at 4 PM. This is a Bollywood concert which will also include Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam songs. See you there.
I am already feeling overwhelmed, so much to do and so little time. Let’s go…