World Bindi Day Hosts Inaugural Bindi Cultural Fashion Show
Houston: On a vibrant Saturday evening at the sacred grounds of ISKCON Temple Houston, colors, culture, and consciousness converged in a dazzling debut event — the Bindi Cultural Fashion Show 2025, hosted by the nonprofit organization World Bindi Day. With all tickets sold out days in advance, the event drew an enthusiastic and diverse crowd of approximately 280 attendees, surpassing expectations and marking the evening as an undeniable success. The event welcomed guests from all walks of life, representing a rich tapestry of ethnic backgrounds. Guests witnessed a celebration unlike any other — a tapestry of Indian heritage, spiritual symbolism, and empowered expression woven together through fashion and tradition.
The Mission Behind the Movement World Bindi Day, is a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a bold mission is managed by all women - Kusum Sharma the President, Dakshina Mehta Vice President & Shilpi Srivastava as General Secretary. The Mission of World Bindi Day organization is multifold: - Preserve and promote the bindi as a sacred symbol of spiritual consciousness. - Educate and inspire youth — especially across the Indian diaspora — on its rich heritage. - Celebrate the bindi as a mark of pride, power, and peace.
The primary purpose statement, “The Bindi is not just a dot on the forehead. It is a spiritual emblem, a cultural assertion, and a timeless link to our roots. Through this event, we honor that legacy and bring it forward to future generations”, was reiterated during the event and resonated well with a diverse audience.
The evening began with a warm Social Hour over tea and snacks, where attendees mingled in the serene ISKCON’s Gaurang Hall adorned with rangolis, diyas, and Indian background musics. Guests were invited to take their pictures with the backdrop of “World Bindi Day” — an interactive installation celebrating the spiritual significance of the bindi.
Ceremonial Opening
A powerful Ganesh Vandana followed by a traditional diya lighting ceremony inaugurated the night,
invoking blessings for unity and creativity. Emcee Megha Raja, a prominent voice in Houston’s Indian-American cultural scene, then led the audience into a reflective 1-minute silence in honor of the victims of the tragic Pahalgam attack in India — a solemn moment that underscored the event’s commitment to peace and remembrance.
Voices of Meaning: The Power of the Bindi
Taking the stage with poise and purpose, Megha Raja delivered a stirring address on the relevance of the bindi in modern society. She traced its origins from Vedic traditions to its symbolic resurgence in contemporary feminism and spirituality.
Shilpi Srivastava, General Secretary of World Bindi Day, followed with a speech outlining the nonprofit’s larger mission and future plans.
Runway of Diversity: The Fashion Show Highlights
The heart of the evening came alive as the Bindi Cultural Fashion Show began — a celebration of India’s state-wise ethnic wear, graced by community members, professionals, and youth models who donned intricate regional attire from across the subcontinent.
Segment 1: Kusum Sharma Bindi Fashion Show
The first sequence, choreographed and led by Kusum Sharma herself, dazzled the runway, paired with bold red and maroon bindis symbolizing shakti (energy) and dharma (righteousness).
Segment 2: Dakshina Mehta & Sachi Bhatt Group Showcase
The second sequence, curated by Dakshina Mehta, Vice President of World Bindi Day, and Sachi Bhatt turned the spotlight to represent Indian States — From sarees in Kantha and Bomkai embroidery to striking alta-painted feet, the visual impact was undeniable. Models walked with grace, their bindis varying in shape from round to crescent, showcasing regional diversity in symbolism.
Segment 3: Zakia Group Showcase
Bringing a wave of fusion and flair, the Zakia Group featured a western-Indian flair — Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra — alongside modern silhouettes with traditional motifs. The highlight of this
sequence was a group of young girls from Houston’s Indian youth collective who confidently owned the stage with traditional ghagras, mirror work, and bold expressive bindis paired with Indo-western jackets. There was also a dance performance, the audience was treated to dance by 3 dancers.
The event was graced by an esteemed lineup of local dignitaries and community leaders, many of whom expressed their admiration for the mission of World Bindi Day.
Notable Guests Included:
• Carol McCutchen – Sugar Land City Council Member District 4
• Sanjay Singhal – Candidate for Sugar Land City Council District 2
• Anju Malik – Senior Consul Officer, Consulate General of India (Houston)
• Judge Juli A. Mathew – Presiding Judge, County Court at Law #3
• Judge Manpreet Monica Singh – Judge, Harris County Civil Court at Law #4
• Judge Surendran K. Pattel –District Court Judge, Fort Bend County
In a heartfelt ceremony led by Dakshina Mehta and Shilpi Srivastava, four women were honored for their community impact and leadership:
• Dr. Namrata Sharma Goel
• Carol McCutchen
• Lalitha Mata
• Anju Malik
Each received a specially crafted award featuring a handcrafted Bindi motif in brass, made by rural Indian artisans supported by World Bindi Day’s empowerment initiative. As the event concluded, guests were treated to a curated Indian dinner - a culinary celebration that mirrored the cultural unity displayed on stage.
Attendees left the venue not only nourished by food but also enlightened by meaning. Many stopped to take photos at the “World Bindi Day” booth — a photo wall covered with affirmations about identity, culture, and self-love. The event was generously sponsored by Shri Vijay Pallod, Shri Gopal Agarwal, Shri Viral Amin, Shri Subhash Gupta, Shri Niranjan Patel, Shri Divyendu Singh, Shri Ashish Agarwal and Shri Jugal Malani
Special thanks to our volunteers – Shri Achalesh Amar, Ms. Kinjal Raja, Shri Rakesh Parikh, Shri Bud Patel, Shri Sree Teja Nutakki, Shri Sunkara Prakash, Sangeeta Dua ji & Shri Vivek Singh.
Sound and Lightning by Abhay Joshi
Photography & Video by Kranti & Paresh Shah
Food served By Govinda Restaurant
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Consulate General of India
Following the tremendous success of the 2025 debut, World Bindi Day has announced that the Bindi Cultural Fashion Show will now be an annual tradition. Future plans include:
• Cultural awareness workshops in schools and colleges
• Artisan collaboration projects connecting rural India with the diaspora
• Expansion to other U.S. cities for regional chapters of World Bindi Day
“We are planting the seeds of a cultural awakening,” said Megha Raja in her closing remarks. “Through every Bindi, we honor the past, empower the present, and enlighten the future.” In the entire process, two key players – Umang Mehta and Annant Srivastava played an important role in planning and execution of this event. About World Bindi Day
World Bindi Day is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and preserving the tradition of the Bindi — a spiritual, cultural, and artistic emblem worn by women throughout Indian history. The organization runs annual campaigns, workshops, and fashion events across the United States, promoting unity, pride, and intercultural understanding.
Office Houston.
Magnus Carlsen Slams Table after Shock Loss to Gukesh Dommaraju
stavanger, norway: World champion Gukesh Dommaraju
earned his first classical victory over Magnus Carlsen on Sunday, toppling the longtime world No 1 in dramatic fashion and prompting the Norwegian to punch the table in frustration before storming out of the venue.
The win in round six of the double round-robin Norway Chess tournament marked a milestone moment in Gukesh’s young career, not for its stakes but for who it came against. Under pressure for much of the contest, the 19-yearold Indian grandmaster turned the tables in the final phase, capitalizing on a rare Carlsen blunder in time trouble to steal the point and shake up the standings in Stavanger.
“Right now, what means the most to me is that I didn’t lose the game,” Gukesh said afterwards. “But yes, beating Magnus in any form is special.”
Carlsen had outplayed Gukesh with ease in their first-round meeting and looked poised to do so again, pressing from a superior position through the middlegame. But with both players operating on a 10-second increment, Carlsen faltered. Gukesh defended doggedly and pounced when the Norwegian miscalculated (52... Ne2+??), flipping the position with a precise counterattack.
The 34-year-old resigned shortly after then slammed his fist on the table, sending pieces rattling. It was an uncharacteristic display from the typically composed fivetime world champion, who left the hall immediately and skipped his media duties.
“Well, we could say it was lucky,” said Gukesh’s coach Grzegorz Gajewski. “But we have to give a lot of credit to Guki for his stubbornness and for his resourcefulness.”
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi was among those to congratulate Gukesh for the breakthrough, calling it “an exceptional achievement” that “showcases his brilliance and dedication”.
The result not only evened their head-tohead in this tournament but delivered a quiet rebuke to Carlsen’s recent criticism of Gukesh’s classical performances. After winning their earlier encounter, Carlsen had posted “You come at the king, you best not miss” on social media, an old Baltimore proverb that seemed to reinforce his aura as the game’s enduring alpha.
On Sunday, it was the teenager whose aim was true. Gukesh,
Over 2,000 Illegals Pushed Back
new DelHi: More than 2,000 alleged illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are estimated to have been “pushed back” across the border by Indian authorities since Operation Sindoor began in the early hours of May 7, following a nationwide verification exercise, Government sources told The Indian Express. During the same period, they said, a similar number of immigrants showed up near the IndiaBangladesh border voluntarily to cross over amid the fear generated by the crackdown.
According to the sources, the Government action is taking place along the Bangladesh border in Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam. Gujarat was among the first to begin the round-up and has accounted for nearly half of all those who have been “pushed back”, they said. Delhi and Haryana, too, have sent back immigrants in large numbers with the rest being rounded up from Assam, Maha-
rashtra and Rajasthan, the sources said. According to the source, these alleged illegal immigrants are being ferried to the borders in IAF aircraft from various locations and handed over to the BSF to be held in makeshift camps along the border. They are provided food and some Bangladeshi currency, if needed, and “pushed back” into their country after a few hours of detention, the source said. It is an ongoing process and all states which have cities with significant economic activity are rounding up such illegal immigrants after verification of their documents.
who became the youngest ever undisputed world champion in December and celebrated his 19th birthday last Thursday, has struggled for consistency since claiming the crown. He came into Sunday’s round six with just one win in the tournament. The comeback against Carlsen could prove a needed confidence jolt heading into the closing rounds.
Carlsen, who’s held the top slot in Fide’s world rankings for nearly 15 straight years, strengthened his claim as the greatest player of any era in 2021, when he crushed Ian Nepomniachtchi in Dubai in his fourth defense of the world championship. But he decided against defending the title for a fifth time in 2023, citing a lack of motivation.
The win lifted Gukesh to 8½ points, one behind joint leaders Carlsen and the American Fabiano Caruana, with four rounds still to play. It also continued a trend of Indian breakthroughs at the Norway Chess tournament. Last year, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian to beat Carlsen in classical play at this event. Now Gukesh has followed and arguably gone one better. --
The Guardian
Panjab University, Chandigarh and UH Plan a Dual-Degree Program
Houston: Alumni Leaders from North America from Chemical engineering Department gathered in Houston , 16-19th May , 2025 to help transform Panjab University and its Chemical Engineering Department towards a higher ranking premium institution in India; with a slogan of “March to The Top”.
The conference was a result of the vision and hard work of Dr. Arun Verma (and his team) who has been working tirelessly for past seven years to assist in this transformation; in addition to initiating Discussion between Panjab Univerrsity and University of Houston, TX to collaborate in Joint research & Degree programs between their respective Chemical Engg. Departments .
The conference kicked off on the morning of Friday May 16th with an introductory meeting at Univ of Houston Campus where U of H Chemical Engineering Chairman Dr. Triantafillos J Mountziaris and about 12 faculty members met the PU team visiting from India.
Both teams presented their undergraduate and graduate programs, areas of research and also highlighted potential areas of cooperation. The teams agreed to encourage direct faculty to faculty interaction and joint research between them. This meeting was followed by a Campus tour for the visiting team including all the undergraduate and graduate labs of U of H.
Following this, a separate tour was given to the PU team by the Houston Alumni Leaders of the U of H Campus shop which assists with Branding , marketing and selling branded merchandise in the physical shop and its on-line shops
to students, Alumni and general public. PU Registrar agreed to implement a similar set up back in Chandigarh as soon as possible
with a target date of no later than December 2025.
The Alumni Leader’s Conference component of the proceedings
kicked off on the evening of 16th May at the Hyatt, Houston West. An evening reception for more than 50 Alumni Leaders plus represen-
tatives from both universities welcomed the evening’s special guest Dr Renu Khator, the Chancellor of the University of Houston System and president of its flagship University of Houston campus, over the last seventeen years. Post dinner Dr Khator shared her journey in transforming UofH from a struggling school system to upper echelons of the US Research Universities. She talked about four essential components of her strategy for this transformation : A bold Vision, • Buy in from the commu- • nity, Relentless change and • Longevity for the new cul- • ture to take roots
These were highlighted by Dr. Khator as key ingredients to change the culture of any big organization. She talked about several instances from her tenure at UofH where these essential ingredients helped her focus on the intended goal, raise funds for the University and start new programs at the University that helped it break into the top tiers of US Higher education. She has been also invited by the honorable PM of India Narendra Modi to study how her experiences can help India Universities In the Q&A session members of the PU community sought out her ideas on challenging the bureaucratic mindset, breaking through administrative barriers and implementing new ideas to help improve standards of education and student experiences. The evening concluded with a Vote of Thanks from the hosts and presentation of a memento from India to Dr. Khator.
MIT Class President Barred from Graduation after Speaking Out on Gaza
CambriDge, ma: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) barred its 2025 class president from attending her graduation ceremony on Friday after she delivered a speech during a commencement event the day before condemning the war in Gaza and criticizing the university’s ties to Israel.
The student, Megha Vemuri, spoke at MIT’s OneMIT commencement on Thursday in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Wearing a keffiyeh over her graduation gown, she praised student protests against the war in Gaza and condemned MIT’s ties to Israel.
“As scientists, engineers, academics and leaders, we have a commitment to support life, support aid efforts and call for an arms embargo and keep demanding now, as alumni, that MIT cuts the ties [to Israel]” Vemuri said during her speech.
The Boston Globe reported last year that between 2020 and 2024, MIT reported receiving $2.8m in grants, gifts, and contracts from Israeli entities, based on data from
the US Department of Education. The Globe noted that the data did not clarify whether the funds came from academic, individual or public sources, or how they are spent.
On Friday, MIT issued a statement – without naming Vemuri – saying that the speech delivered on Thursday “was not the one that was provided by the speaker in advance”.
The university said that the student had been informed that they would not be permitted at Friday’s undergraduate degree ceremony, despite having a scheduled role.
“MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organizers and leading a protest from
the stage, disrupting an important Institute ceremony,” the statement read.
MIT said in a statement to the
Guardian that Vemuri would still receive her degree.
Vemuri did not immediately respond to a request from the Guardian, but told CNN that after her speech on Thursday, she was informed by university officials that she was not allowed to attend Friday’s ceremony, and that she was barred from campus until the ceremony concluded.
Vemuri said that she was not disappointed about not getting to walk across the stage, and that she was grateful for her family’s support.
“I see no need for me to walk across the stage of an institution that is complicit in this genocide,” Vemuri told CNN.
“I am, however, disappointed that MIT’s officials massively overstepped their roles to punish me without merit or due process, with no indication
of any specific policy broken,” she added.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) condemned MIT’s decision to ban Vemuri from the Friday ceremony.
“MIT must respect academic freedom and respect the voices of its students, not punish and intimidate those who speak out against genocide and in support of Palestinian humanity,” Tahirah AmatulWadud, the executive director of Cair Massachusetts, said.
MIT’s decision to bar Vemuri from the Friday ceremony comes several weeks after New York University announced that it was withholding a student’s diploma after he used a graduation ceremony speech to condemn Israel’s deadly war in Gaza.
At George Washington University, a graduating student was banned from the campus last month after she delivered a speech during a commencement ceremony criticizing the university’s ties to Israel and expressing support for Palestinians. -- Guardian
Dr. Arun Verma, introducing Doctor Renu Khator for the dinner keynote on May 16th
Panjab University team with University of Houston team at the UH campus
After 18 Years of Struggle, Kohli and RCB Seize the IPL Trophy
by KartHiK KrisHnaswamy
aHmeDabaD (esPn CriCinfo): Royal Challengers Bengaluru 190 for 9 (Kohli 43, Arshdeep 3-40, Jamieson 3-48) beat Punjab Kings 184 for 7 (Shashank 61*, Inglis 39, Krunal 2-17, Bhuvneshwar 2-38) by six runs
Eighteen years spent in the belief that ee sala cup namde (this year the cup is ours), 17 of them ending in wretched disappointment for one of the IPL’s biggest and most passionate fan bases, three of them ending with defeat at the final hurdle.
Eighteen seasons in, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are finally IPL champions. Their victory in their fourth final came at the expense of another trophy-less team that had put together a heartwarming IPL 2025 campaign; it wasn’t to be for Punjab Kings (PBKS), but their time will surely come too.
It’s a sign of how far T20 has come that 190 beating 184 was a bowler-dominated game. PBKS did brilliantly to restrict RCB to 190 after sending them in, but RCB’s bowlers did even better, with Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal - who have all won IPL titles at other teams - bringing their experience and nous to play on an unusual Ahmedabad surface.
The margin of victory was narrow - six runs - and while it showed how closely matched these two teams have been over the season, it was also deceptive. Shashank Singh, who finished on an unbeaten 30-ball 61, hit Josh Hazlewood for 6, 4, 6, 6 to end the match and the season. But those hits came just a touch too late; PBKS went into the final over needing 29, and Hazlewood had started with a pair of dots that all but ended the contest mathematically.
At the end of it, all eyes were on one man, the man with 18 on his back. Like his innings in last year’s T20 World Cup final, Virat Kohli’s 43 in this game seemed at various points like it belonged to another era, too risk-averse, and likely to set his team a below-par total. But there were clues throughout his knock that this wasn’t the sort of pitch that Ahmedabad has rolled out routinely this season, where 196 had been the smallest first-innings total in eight games. He had struggled especially to generate power with his pull shot, with the PBKS seamers generating tennis-ball bounce when they bowled into the pitch.
A target of 191, for all that, seemed too small for a PBKS line-up that had gunned down 204 with an over to spare at the same ground two days previously. But this pitch was different, and it didn’t necessarily ease up through the second innings. Between them, two of PBKS’ brightest batting talents outdid Kohli’s
struggles: where Kohli scored 43 off 35 balls, Prabhsimran Singh and Nehal Wadhera scored 41 off 40 between them.
Krunal has won three IPL titles with Mumbai Indians (MI), and was Player of the Match in one of them. That was for what he did with the bat. This time, he came in to bat in the 18th over and holed out for 4 off 5. This time, he turned the match with the ball.
The final was on a knife edge when he came on. PBKS were 52 for 1 at the end of their powerplay; RCB had been 55 for 1 at the same stage.
Krunal’s first over contained most of the ingredients that made
him so difficult to hit on this pitch, which had just enough natural variation of pace and turn to make him hard to line up. He bowled fast and into the pitch, either angling the ball into the right-handers’ leg stump and cramping them for room or firing it wide of off stump to offer a single to sweeper cover that they didn’t particularly want. Only three runs came off this over.
His next over brought in another dimension: the ability to spot the batter’s intentions and change his pace at the last moment. Seeing the struggling Prabhsimran charge at him, Krunal - whose usual pace hovers in the 98-101kph rangedangled an 80kph ball outside his
needing 112 off 62 balls. They were still in with more than a shout, though, because of their batting depth, and because Josh Inglis was playing a blinder. On this pitch where the short or shortish ball wasn’t coming onto the bat at anything like a predictable pace or height, he was playing the pull like a man in a dream. He scored 33 off 10 pulls, against pace and spin, hitting one four and four sixes.
At 39, however, he looked to step out and launch Krunal over longon, and didn’t quite find either the power or elevation to do so. At that point, with PBKS needing 93 off 47, it seemed all but over. Shashank had started his season at the same ground, and hit five fours in a now iconic final over, leaving his captain, on 97, without the strike. He ended it with another burst of brilliance, keeping PBKS hanging on by their fingernails even as the required rate kept climbing. He hit Hazlewood for two sixes in the 16th over, and kept the equation within the bounds of possibility: 55 off 24. Then, with the rest of PBKS’ batters and genuine allrounders back in the hut, he refused singles and kept the strike all through the 19th over, hitting Bhuvneshwar for a six and a four to bring it to 29 off the last six balls. It wasn’t to be, but the explosion at the finish, when the match was done, showed how much closer PBKS could have come if things had gone just a little differently. Through most of RCB’s innings, it felt difficult to pin down whether they were going a touch too slow on a flat pitch or laying a strong platform on a slow one. While Kohli did his thing at one end, his top-order colleagues kept falling just when they were looking threatening, with Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingstone scoring 66 off 43 between them. All three fell to Kyle Jamieson, who used the slower legcutter to telling effect, either getting it to die on the batter from shorter lengths or dip disconcertingly when he went full.
eyeline. Wrenched out of shape, Prabhsimran skewed a catch to point.
Go back to November 19, 2023. Shreyas Iyer had been in red-hot form through that ODI World Cup, and had played the innings of India’s semi-final win. Then, in the final, he had fallen early, caught behind off a back-of-a-length delivery.
The same script played out all over again now, more or less. Where he had poked uncertainly at Pat Cummins two years ago, he top-edged an attempted slash through point, off Romario Shepherd. It was a massive inflection point in this game, leaving PBKS
Jamieson, Azmatullah Omarzai and Vijaykumar Vyshak all hammered away on a hard length, and RCB couldn’t quite find a way to attack that length until Jitesh Sharma walked in. His 24 off 10 balls was a crucial little cameo in the end, featuring a flat-batted six over cover when he exposed all his stumps to create room, and a scooped six over his head, hit while chest-on to the bowler, Jamieson.
Jitesh’s innings threatened to take RCB past 200, but their ambitions were nipped in the bud by Vyshak, who dismissed Jitesh while conceding just five runs in the 18th over, and Arshdeep Singh, who found the reverse-swing that allowed him to go full and attack the stumps in a three-wicket final over that cost PBKS just five runs.
Virat Kohli celebrates with his RCB team mates.
Bengaluru Stampede: ‘Free Ticket’ Rumour Sparked Stadium Chaos
bengaluru: Chaos erupted at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium’s Gate No. 7 as massive crowds gathered on rumors of free tickets to celebrate RCB’s anticipated IPL victory. A stampede ensued, exacerbated by sudden rain, leading to numerous injuries. Eyewitnesses reported poor crowd management and delayed decisions regarding a victory parade contributed to the disaster.
Gate No. 7 - which gives a sweeping view of those coming into Chinnaswamy Stadium through the main entrance - turned out to be a death trap after rumours started floating that free tickets would be distributed there.In minutes, the gate turned into an epicentre of panic and disorder as fans who had gathered in massive numbers to celebrate RCB’s first ever IPL victory fell over each other in a mad scramble for tickets.
“People completely lost control. It was a disaster,” said Achimanya from Rajajinagar neighbourhood.
Sudden rain around 5.30pm made the situation worse.
The stadium has 21 stands with 13 gates. While gates 9 and 10
were reserved for state cricket association members, gates 5, 6, 7, 19 and 20 - located along the team’s main entry route - saw the highest concentration of crowds.
Maximum casualties were reported from gate 7.Poor crowd management and dilly-dallying over allowing a victory parade through the city contributed to the unfolding tragedy.
“There was an ambulance with 40 injured people. I was lucky to
get out in time. Even police were struggling to manage the crowd,” said Avinash S (31) from RR Nagar. Sinchana N (25), who got caught in the melee, said, “I could avoid the worst only because I reached late. Cops were not controlling the crowd in the real sense, and were just pushing people around.”As ambulances struggled to negotiate their way through the crowds, police resorted to lathicharge near Cubbon Park Circle around 6.30
pm to disperse the crowds.
Son of pani puri vendor, new joinee at tech firm, 14-year-old school girl among 11 killed. “I did not allow him to clean the plates at my pani puri shop because I wanted him to go to college. I brought him up with a lot of care. Now, he is gone,” an inconsolable Devaraj N T, 43, said as he waited to identify his son at the mortuary of Bengaluru’s Bowring Hospital on Wednesday evening. Manoj Kumar had gone for the RCB victory celebrations with three friends from his neighbourhood. “It was
Manoj who insisted that we should go to the stadium,” one of his friends, Satvik, said outside the mortuary as they waited for Kumar’s parents.
The friends lost Kumar in the crowd and only learned of his death from Mohammed Hussain, 24, an eyewitness who helped take Kumar to the hospital and was in custody of his mobile phone. “At around 3.35 pm, the crowd waiting outside Gate Number 20 of the Chinnaswamy Stadium for over an
hour was very restless. When the gate was opened slightly to check the online tickets for the RCB celebration, the crowd pushed through. There were only three policemen and a few stadium security guards,” said Hussain, an MBA student who helped transport Kumar to Bowring Hospital.
The crowd surged and forced open Gate 20, and a melee ensued. “Once the gate fell open, everybody outside tried to get inside and caused a stampede. All those who suffered injuries or died had entered the stadium when they were trampled after falling. This person’s leg got stuck in a police barricade, and he fell, and some 500 people trampled over him. With police support, we had to fight with the crowd for two hours to get his body out of the stadium. It took another hour to take him to the hospital,” Hussain said.
“I had come with my friends. They managed to enter the stadium. I could not enter as I paused to help the people who were being trampled,” Hussain added. -- ToI, IE
An aerial view of M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday. (PTI)
WISDOM (VHS) Year-end Program at Meenakshi Temple in Pearland
by viDya maDabusHi viDya maDabusHi & venKat PrasaD – wisDom CoorDinators
PearlanD: As the summer sun reaches its peak and the Gulf breeze drifts westward, the heart of Madurai quietly emerges in the New World. Nestled in Pearland, Texas, the Sri Meenakshi Devasthanam stands as a testament to the devotion and effort of Hindu immigrants across Greater Houston. Over decades, a barren five-acre plot has transformed into a stunning replica of Tamil Nadu’s Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Temple. Through the dedicated hands, hearts, and minds of Hindu immigrants across Greater Houston, the Sri Meenakshi Devasthanam has become an intricate work of Dravidian architecture, home to a vibrant community of devotees, volunteers, and learners.
This May marked the completion of the 25th year of WISDOM (Ways to Implement Sanatana Dharma: Our Mission), the temple’s youth education program, formerly known as VHS. Every year, hundreds of children gather at the temple on Sundays to study yoga, shloka, chess, and a structured sequence of religious classes. Each student begins their journey with learning short tales regaling the divinities and moves onto sequentially more complex
stories, including our most famous epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. They then conclude with multiple years of guided exploration of values, culture, and spirituality, culminating with the study of the Bhagavad Gita. At the end of each year, students step out of the classroom and onto the stage, unveiling the knowledge and experiences they accumulated to an audience of their peers, family, and community. Thanks to the efforts of volunteer teachers, eager children, and caring parents, a very successful 2025 Year-End-
Program (YEP) was celebrated on May 18th, 2025, with students showcasing what they had learnt over the years –Demonstration of Yoga, Sloka Recitations, and Presentation of elaborate skits from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, with creative costumes and inven-
tive props.
This year also marks a new chapter for the Gita class graduates, who launched the inaugural SEVA project—an initiative that encourages students to identify a need within the temple, plan a solution, and implement it. These projects bring to life the theoretical lessons of compassion, duty, and service. Upon completion, students receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award, as Sri Meenakshi Temple is recognized by AmeriCorps as an official Certifying Organization.
Much has changed since the temple’s founding nearly fifty years ago. Houston has grown into a vast metropolis, its population doubling, with waves of new immigrants arriving each year, bringing fresh memories of India. The Hindu community has expanded too—dynamic, diverse, and deeply rooted. As younger generations take on the responsibility of preserving these traditions, it is our hope that they view this as a joyful act of Dharma. At Meenakshi Temple, we aim to guide and nurture our youth so that even as individual memories may fade, the culture and values of our heritage will remain strong.
Fall classes begin on August 17, 2025. Registration is now open. For more information, please contact Sri Meenakshi Temple at 281489-0358.
Convert PIO Cards to OCI by Dec. 31, 2025
All PIO (Person of Indian Origin) cardholders must convert to OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cards before December 31, 2025. PIO cards will be invalid for travel after this deadline. • Apply for OCI card to avoid visa issues • Not automatic -- formal application needed. • Please visit Indian Mission/Post or the official OCI
Students reenacting Dasavatharam
Students demonstrating Yoga
Whodunit in H Town: Book Talk by Mystery Writer Nev March
by Zubeen meHta
Houston: Neither the notorious Houston traffic nor the threat of severe thunderstorms stayed the fans of Nev March (aka Nawaz Merchant) from showing up at the iconic Murder by the Book store on Bissonnet on Friday, May 30th 2025, to meet the award-winning author of historical mysteries. She was to talk about her latest novel, Book 4 in the series featuring the dynamic duo Lady Diana and Captain Jim, The Silversmith’s Puzzle.
Winner of the Minotaur Books/ Mystery Writers of America’s Award for Best First Crime Fiction for her debut novel Murder in Old Bombay, and recipient of an Honorable Mention in the Bapsi Sidhwa Literary Contest for her novel The Spanish Diplomat’s Secret, March’s visit to Houston had already created a buzz around town, both within the Zoroastrian community (March is a practicing Parsi Zoroastrian) as well as the wider public.
An early afternoon informal preevent meet and greet took place at Kasra in Rice Village. Face to face with March, it is impossible to miss her radiant smile, her downto-earth friendliness, her love of words and the infectious excitement about her craft. Needless to say, there was much laughter and a barrage of questions as the gathering indulged in kebabs and mezze
before heading to Murder by the Book for the main event.
As she waited for her audience to take their seats, March, ever the people person, went around the room asking each attendee where he or she had come from, and thanked each in turn for being present.
Nev March started her talk by describing how she draws inspiration and unleashes her creative
juices by poring over a wide selection of Pinterest photographs of places and people. Using an array of these intriguing pictures, March guided the audience through the specific historical and social contexts she creates in her novels, as well as the challenges she sets for her iconic protagonists. Will they rise or fall? A passionate storyteller with a playful sense of humor, a taste for swashbuckling adventure
and intrigue, a love for historical detail and, oh, let’s not forget, a penchant for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation Sherlock Holmes, March’s skill and delight at drawing the reader into her realm came through loud and clear in her talk.
Nev March followed the talk with a reading from her book, The Silversmith’s Puzzle, capturing a moment towards the end of the
story when the leading character is faced with a moral dilemma. When March invited questions from her audience, the response was animated. Should her books be read in the order in which they were written? How much research does she conduct to maintain geographical and historical integrity? And even more tantalizingly, are her books going to be optioned for a possible film series? The evening closed with the traditional book-signing, affording each attendee an intimate moment to engage March in further discussion about her writing.
Profound thanks are due to Nev March for giving so generously of her time, for the hours of pleasure she has provided her devoted readers, and for the delights that await new readers whose appetite she whetted this day.
No spoilers here, but Nev March does end her most recent novel with the tantalizing promise of further adventures for the intrepid pair: Lady Diana and Captain Jim. Oh, the anticipation!
Author Nev Merch (third from right in front row) with her fans at the Murder by the Book store in Houston.
Author Nev Merch
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Sister Midnight’ : In Chaos, Radhika Stands Tall
by abHisHeK srivastava
Story: Uma, a headstrong smalltown woman, moves to Mumbai after an arranged marriage but feels out of place. Restless and trapped, she undergoes a wild transformation that breaks society’s rules.
Review: ‘Sister Midnight’ is one of those films that’s hard to describe without resorting to words like “bizarre,” “surreal,” or simply “what did I just watch?” From the very first frame, it throws you into a world that’s chaotic, wild, and often confounding. On the surface, it’s about a newlywed woman battling loneliness and frustration— but any attempt to explain the plot beyond that feels futile. This Radhika Apte-led British production is less interested in telling a story and more in creating an experience—one that’s metaphor-heavy and deliberately unsettling.
There are moments in the film that really grab you—strange little scenes that linger in the mind— but trying to piece them together into a coherent whole is a losing game. It’s clearly an experimental film, packed with long, static shots and an almost maddening sense of stillness that dares you to stay with it. If you’re someone who enjoys decoding metaphor and swimming through ambiguity, there’s something here for you. If you’re after a narrative that makes sense from start to finish, you might struggle. The story follows Uma (Radhi-
ka Apte), a new bride who moves into her husband Gopal’s (Ashok Pathak) cramped home in a slum. She’s temperamental, clueless about running a household, loves smoking, and speaks to her husband mostly in commands. Her only real support is a kind neighbour. Eventually, boredom pushes her into taking a cleaning job, which is when things start to spiral. She kills a goat and dumps it in a pile of trash. Then, it’s birds. Later, during an awkward attempt at intimacy, her husband dies—and she casually keeps the corpse in the house. The events become increasingly surreal: a visit to a monastery, a train journey, and finally, a strange chase scene involving goats. It’s dreamlike, absurd, and tough to pin down.
The one thing that keeps it all from collapsing is Radhika Apte. She’s in practically every frame and is terrific—layered, unpredictable, and completely convincing as a woman gradually losing her grip. Her performance gives the film a strange sort of grounding. Ashok Pathak plays her husband with a quiet, believable helplessness and proves once again that he’s an actor to watch. Chhaya Kadam, in a brief role as the neighbour, is understated and effective.
Tonally, the film sits somewhere between black comedy and fever dream. There’s a certain reckless energy in how it moves—from one weird scene to the next—that
keeps you watching, even if you’re not always sure why. The cinematography is striking and helps build a mood that’s equal parts grimy and hypnotic. But there’s no getting around the fact that much of it is repetitive and, at times, exhausting. The use of foreign music tracks might come across as inventive, but their relevance is often hard to figure out. Ditto for a scene from ‘The Seven Samurai’ playing on TV at a chai shop—interesting, yes, but what’s the point?
At its core, ‘Sister Midnight’ doesn’t follow a traditional plot. It thrives on moments, mood, and metaphor. If you like your cinema strange and symbolic, it has something to offer. But if you’re looking for a clear beginning, middle, and end, this one might just leave you bewildered..-- ToI
‘Costao’: Lacklustre Biopic
Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
Send us the correct answer before June 10, 2025. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com. Please send us your solved Sudoku for your name to be published.
Recent Winners
Kumud Athavale, Krishna R. Vuddagiri, Sanchali Basu, Prabha Barvalia, Ramana Vadrevu, Yudhveer Bagga, Jawahar Khandheria, Arup Gupta, Mohit Mittal, Naveen Garg, Taranjit Singh, Pravina Kadakia, Tia Arora
Costao is a biographical drama that chronicles life of Costao Fernandes (Nawazuddin Siddiqui).
