Over 30 events are planned across Greater Houston; new partners and guest speakers announced. -- PAGE 10
Lutfi Hassan, Houston-based Guyana’s Ambassador to the US, meets MP Shashi Tharoor in Georgetown. -- PAGE 5
Newly formed North American Alumni association held its first Leadership conference in Houston. -- PAGE 5
Houston: Samskriti’s 30th anniversary gala, held on May 9 at the Junior League of Houston, was a resounding success -- a celebration that honored three decades of dedication to promoting Indian performing arts in the United States, and a testament to Samskriti’s enduring commitment to cultural preservation and innovation. True to its mission of bridging cultures and generations, the gala brought together a vibrant mix of mainstream Americans and Indian Americans from across the country with attendees spanning multiple generations.
The evening began on a traditional note with a serene invocation by Sruthi Srivatsan, followed by Vice President Surabi Veeraraghavan’s introduction of African American storyteller Jean Donatto, the delightful Emcee for the event. A warm welcome from Sheela Rao, President of Samskriti, set the tone for a reflective and festive evening. Hon. D.C. Manjunath, the Consul General of India in Houston, delivered a thoughtful keynote address that acknowledged Samskriti’s pioneering role in the cultural landscape of Texas and beyond. Gala Chairs Anuradha and Mani Subramanian then shared their insights and gratitude, followed by a heartfelt segment from Rathna Kumar, the visionary Founder and Artistic Director of Samskriti. Her talk, “Samskriti Then and Now,” traced the organization’s remarkable journey from its founding in 1995 to its present-day prominence. The proudest moment for Samskriti was when the beautiful Olivia Jankovska, Director of Education, City of Houston, stunned the audience by speaking in perfect Hindi before reading a Proclamation from Mayor John Whitmire, extolling Samskriti’s achievements and declaring May 9 as SAMSKRITI DAY!
ATTORNEYS
A nostalgic video segment titled Down Memory Lane further enriched the evening, showcasing landmark performances and cherished moments from Samskriti’s past. Guests then enjoyed a sumptuous dinner before being treated to the highlight of the night — To a Different Beat, a dynamic and colorful live performance conceived by Rathna Kumar and choreographed by the dancers themselves. True to Samskriti’s ethos of cultural synthesis, the show featured a unique medley of dance traditions from India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. Dancers Ekta Popat, Sandhya Raghuraman, and Venugopal Joysula represented North and South Indian classical and folk traditions, while Chloe Jarrell and Saliya Ilankoon brought Indonesian and Sri Lankan artistry to the stage, weaving together a vibrant tapestry of movement, rhythm, and sheer artistic beauty, highlighting Samskriti’s role in fostering cross-cultural understanding through its diverse programs and community outreach.
The evening concluded with a gracious Vote of Thanks by Charanya Sriram, Samskriti’s Secretary, who acknowledged the sponsors, volunteers, performers, and supporters who made the evening so memorable. In addition to Consul General D.C. Manjunath and his lovely wife Arpana Manjunath, and Director of Education Olivia Jankovska, other VIP attendees included Colleena Payne (Interim Director of Grants, Houston Arts Alliance), Stephanie Todd Wong (Vice President, Communications & External Affairs, Asia Society Texas Center), Mary Mettenbrink (CEO, Young Audiences of Houston), Tim Cisneros, (Chairperson, Miller Theatre Advisory Board), and Nicky Hill (Member, Miller Theatre Advisory Board), Adam Castaneda (Executive Director, The Pilot Dance Project), and noted Flamenco artists Irma La Paloma and Jeremy Garcia.
Unlike many other galas, Samskriti’s anniversary event stood out for its inclusivity and warmth. It was not a fundraiser nor just a celebration of artistic achievement, but a reaffirmation of community and shared heritage -- a space where tradition and innovation, past and future, East and West converged on one stage. Samskriti’s 30th anniversary gala wasn’t just and event -- it was a milestone, a memory, and a moment of pride for Houston’s cultural landscapre. The Gala not only honored the organization’s past achievements but also set the stage for future endeavors aimed at fostering cultural exchange and collaborations. May 9 was indeed a night to remember!
Samskriti leadership with performers at the gala.
Guests at the Samskriti 30th anniversary gala at the Junior League of Houston.
Alumni Host Panjab University’s First North American Leadership Conference
Houston: Newly formed North American Alumni association held its first Leadership conference at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Houston from May 16 – 18th, 2025 with the explicit aim of helping the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Panjab University Chandigarh to regain the premier status it enjoyed in the 1960’s, through Innovation, Creation, Collaboration and Association.
Specific objectives of the conference were to:
Reviewing extraordinary • examples of transformation through leadership from prominent leaders of the Houston community
Celebrating successes of • key members of Dept. of Chemical Engineering Alumni from Panjab University , and Setting an example for oth- • er Departments of Panjab University to emulate
to regain their pre eminent status in India .
Explore collaboration op-
• portunities with the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Houston in the area of research and joint degree programs
Networking and reconnect-
• ing with the Alumni based in North America
• ton Academicians
Meeting prominent Hous-
GUYANA
The opening keynote address of the conference was given through an inspiring talk by Dr. Renu Khator, Chancellor of the University of Houston system, attended by over 50 leadership delegates. She outlined how she transformed University of Houston to become a top notch University in USA and how Panjab University and its Dept. of Chemical engineering could gain insight and learn from her experience to transform itself
In addition; talks were given by several prominent people from Houston e.g. Dr. Durga Agrawal, & Dr. M.S. Kalsi ; both very successful businessmen and Alumni of University of Houston. Dr. T. J. Mountziaris, Professor and Department Chair of Chemical Engineering , several faculty members and Senior Officials from the Alumni Relations ; Corporate Relations & Sponsorship from University of Houston also inspired the audience.
The Conference was also attended by Dr. Y. P. Verma Registrar of Panjab University, representing the Vice Chancellor of Panjab University, Dr. Anupama Sharma, Department Chair of Chemical Engineering along with Dr. Gaurav Verma, a Senior Professor from the same Department.
This conference is a result of the
tireless efforts of Dr. Arun Verma ( who graduated from Panjab University in 1966) over the past seven years, first to donate a significant sum of money to Dept. of Chemical Engineering to kick start the reform program by defining a vision, followed by a comprehensive analysis of the Department’s current state, defining the strategy and cultural shift necessary to bring about the needed change not only to the Department but also to Panjab University itself. Dr. Verma displays boundless energy and is very passionate to see that the Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Panjab University achieve the premier status it enjoyed while he was a student. Dr. Verma has been helped in this effort by several of his batch mates in the U.S. , Canada and those in India especially Dr, Paramjit Singh and Sutinder Mahajan.
This level of commitment,
India’s Multi-party Delegation led by Shashi Tharoor Meets
GeorGetown: A multi-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday arrived at the original Parliament building in Guyana’s Georgetown for a meeting with Manzoor Nadir, Speaker of the National Assembly, to highlight India’s stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.The delegation, led by Tharoor, consists of Shambhavi Chaudhary (Lok Janshakti Party), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), G M Harish Balayagi (Telugu Desam Party), Shashank MTripathi, Tejaswi Surya, Bhubaneswar K Lata (all from BJP), Mallikarjun Devda (Shiv Sena) and Former Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.They arrived in Guyana on Sunday and called upon the Vice President of Guyana. They met Bharrat Jagdeo,
Vice President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, to discuss several key issues, including India’s zero-tolerance stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Speaking to media after the meeting, Tharoor hailed the discussions and noted that the talks also featured the larger issues in the relationship between Guyana and India.Speaking to ANI, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, “It was a phenomenal meeting.”Calling Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, “a good friend of the nation”, Tharoor said, “He (Vice President) showed a tremendous amount of understanding for our (India’s) position on the current events with our neighbour.” Tharoor also noted that the discussions involved talks on the bilateral ties between India and Guyana.Highlighting the deep ties
between New Delhi and Georgetown, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora, who is a part of the multi-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor, thanked Guyana’s people and government for standing with India in its fight against terrorism.”Today, after America, we have come to Guyana, under the leadership of Shashi Tharoor. There is a very deep relationship between Guyana and India. In a way, the people of Guyana have a very deep affection for India. And on the day when Guyana is celebrating its 59th Independence Day,
leadership and dedication by Dr. Verma and his colleagues from the 1966 batch: Mr. Alok Jain, Mr. Ravi Goel, Mr. Surinder Marria, Mr. Vinod Marwaha and Dr. Kamlesh Jain is inspiring Alumni from other batches to start taking interest in helping the department and Panjab University in this journey. Several Alumni based in Houston and elsewhere in North America have now joined this effort; notable amongst them being Gagan Singh, Ravinder Singh, Rakesh Rajput, Amit Goel, Dalip Soni , Puneet Sanan , Sunil Sibal and several others.
It has been a good start for what would inevitably be a long and arduous journey requiring a sustained effort on the part of the leadership of not only Department of Chemical Engineering but also Panjab University. We wish them well in this effort.
Guyanese Officials
we are celebrating this with the people of Guyana,” Deora told ANI.The delegation will visit Panama from May 27 to 29. The visit aims to convey India’s message of zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.In an official statement on Monday, the Indian Embassy in Panama said, “An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, will be visiting the Republic of Panama from 27-29 May 2025 to convey India’s strong message of zero-tolerance for terrorism.”
Lutfi Hassan (left), Houstonbased Guyana’s Ambassador to the United States, meets with India’s MP Shashi Tharoor in Georgetown.
Gifts to Keynote Speaker Dr. Renu Khator (center) from Panjab University LR: Dr. Anupama Sharma, Chairperson Chemical Engineering, Panjab University Dr. Arun Verma; Dr. Renu Khator; Dr. YP Verma, Registrar of Panjab University.
Dr. Arun Verma (far right) with other distinguished alumni and guests of Panjab University.
Bowlers, Phil Salt Shine as RCB March into First IPL Final Since 2016
By sidHartH MonGa
CHandiGarH: (ESPN Cricinfo)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 106 for 2 (Salt 56*, Mayank 19, Jamieson 1-27) beat Punjab Kings 101 (Stoinis 26, Suyash 3-17, Hazlewood 3-21, Dayal 2-26) by eight wickets.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) waltzed their way into their first IPL final since 2016 as they blew Punjab Kings (PBKS) away for 101 on a surface with seam and extra bounce. Batting didn’t get any easier in the second innings, but Phil Salt broke the back of the small chase in the powerplay that went for 61 despite a wicketmaiden in it.
The RCB fast bowlers kept bashing the hard lengths as PBKS refused to dial down the aggression on the challenging surface, taking seven wickets between them. The legspinner Suyash Sharma was the beneficiary of some reckless sweeping; the PBKS batters didn’t pick any of the wrong’uns, losing three wickets to him.
The ball bounced and moved more in the second innings than the first, just the time for Salt to unleash his quickest fifty in the IPL - off just 23 balls - to take RCB home with a whole ten overs to spare.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)’ powerpacked batting came undone on a
pitch with seam and extra bounce as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ran through them to bowl them out for 101. The only hope PBKS had was that they had defended 111 at the same venue, New Chandigarh, against Kolkata Knight Riders earlier in this IPL. However, they were left needing to break their own record of the lowest successful defense in the tournament.
RCB now have one foot in their first final since 2016 as their fast bowlers picked seven wickets be-
tween them. It was so good for the seamers that RCB introduced spin only as late as the ninth over. Under fire from pace, the PBKS batters tried to hit out against the legspin of Suyash Sharma, and ended up losing three wickets to him. PBKS, who had batting till Kyle Jamieson at No. 10, even introduced a batting Impact Player in Musheer Khan, but he only managed a three-ball duck.
Yash Dayal started PBKS’ downfall with an innocuouslooking wicket as Priyansh Arya
INDIA
India Once Again Rejects Trump’s Claim of Brokering the Ceasefire
new delHi: India on Thursday once again rejected the Trump administration’s claim that US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan by offering trade incentives.
Speaking in response to a recent filing by the Trump administration in a US court, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Regarding the court filing in the United States, I hope you have seen the court order as well. Our position on this particular issue that you mentioned has been well articulated. I would refer you to our position that was made clear on 13th of May.”
He clarified that the military situation was discussed between Indian and US leaders from the launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7 until the ceasefire on May 10, but “the issue of trade or tariff did not come up in any of those discussions.” Jaiswal added, “External affairs minister (S Jaishankar) has also made clear that the secession of firing was decided upon through direct contacts between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan.”
This follows a submission by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to the US Court of International Trade, in which he claimed, “India and Pakistan - two nuclear powers engaged in combat operations just 13 days ago - reached a tenuous ceasefire on May 10, 2025.
Lutnick argued that invalidating Trump’s use of emergency economic powers would undermine diplomacy, saying, “An adverse ruling that constrains presidential power in
this case could lead India and Pakistan to question the validity of President Trump’s offer, threatening the security of an entire region, and the lives of millions.”India has consistently maintained that no third-party involvement was part of the ceasefire decision. External affairs minister S Jaishankar had earlier dismissed the notion of US mediation.
In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Jaishankar said, “The cessation of firing was agreed between the military commanders of both sides through direct contact.” He added, “The morning before, we effectively hit and incapacitated Pakistan’s main airbases and air defence system. So who should I thank for the cessation of hostilities? I thank the Indian military because it was the Indian military action that made Pakistan say: We are ready to stop.”
Jaishankar explained that India’s response targeted terrorist infrastructure with “measured, carefully considered and non-escalating steps,” and that firing only stopped “at their request.”
Trump has repeatedly asserted that he helped resolve the conflict and said America offered to do “a lot of trade” with both nations to end the hostilities. However, New Delhi has consistently maintained that the ceasefire came solely through direct military engagement and without any USbrokered deal. -- ToI
other spell immediately, and was rewarded with the wicket of Nehal Wadhera.
With the first sight of spin, out came big sweeps, and Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis failed to watch the ball from the hand. Musheer fell to a regulation sweep against a legbreak that only just straightened.
Fast bowlers came back and still drew appreciable seam. Romario Shepherd did Harpreet Brar in with seam, and Hazlewood got Azmatullah Omarzai for the last wicket.
RCB now await the winner of the eliminator match scheduled to take place on Friday between the Gujarat Titans and the Mumbai Indians.
Sidharth Monga is a senior writer at ESPNcricinfo
neither kept a full ball down nor hit it up and over to end up getting caught at cover. PBKS were not about to dial down aggression. Prabhsimran Singh kept charging at Bhuvneshwar Kumar, hit two boundaries, and then edged an even shorter delivery.
Having had the time to recover from injury thanks to the break in the IPL, Josh Hazlewood came on to bang the hard lengths. Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis fell trying to hit out against him. They stood no chance. Dayal came back for an-
Josh Hazlewood is mobbed as RCB land one blow after another • AFP/Getty Images
DAV Schools Celebrate 25th Anniversary, Annual Day & Class of 2025 Graduation
Houston: DAV Montessori & Elementary School (DAVMES) marked a major milestone on Sunday with a grand celebration of its Annual Day, 25th anniversary, and the graduation of its 5th Grade Class of 2025. The event commenced with a Yajna (Havan) ceremony led by Acharya Surya Nanda Ji, with graduating students and their parents as Yajmaans. This was followed by prayers, a motivating bhajan by elementary students under Acharya Bramdeo Mokoonlall’s guidance, a welcome song by preschoolers, and an An-
INDIA
nual Report presented by School Director Ms. Arti Khanna. Founders Mr. Dev Mahajan and Mr. Shekhar Agrawal were honored for their vision of a school combining academic rigor with Indian cultural values. Special recognition was given to veteran educators Ms. Chetna, Ms. Madhu, Ms. Shilpa, and Ms. Aruna for their longstanding service. Students were lauded for their impressive achievements, clinching First Place at the PSIA State Academic Meet for the fourth consecutive year and excelling
in science, writing, handwriting, and art. The day also saw the announcement of a new ParentTeacher Association (PTA) to strengthen school–parent collaboration.
The graduation walk was a highlight, and students celebrated for both academic and extracurricular excellence. DAVMES expressed heartfelt thanks to its community
Kami Rita Sherpa Breaks Own Everest Record: 31
KatHMandu: Lumping his 31 feats together, Kami Rita Sherpa has climbed nearly 90,000 feet above sea level on the famous peak. He first climbed to the top of the world’s highest mountain in 1994.
Kami Rita Sherpa has broken his own record for climbing to the summit of Mount Everest, reaching the peak for the 31st time on Tuesday. Now 55, Kami Rita first climbed to the top of the world’s highest mountain in 1994, when he was 24 years old.
Kami Rita has climbed Everest nearly every year since the 1990s, sometimes completing two climbs in one climbing season. In 2019, for instance, he reached the summit twice in one week.
A legendary climber, Kami Rita has trekked to many of the world’s highest peaks. But considering only his Everest summits all together, he has climbed nearly 90,000 feet above sea level on the famous peak: 89,992 feet, using the latest assessment of Everest’s height.
That’s about 17 miles above sea level — equivalent to Earth’s stratosphere.
Right now, the closest competitor to Kami Rita’s Guinness World Record for most ascents of Everest is Pasang Dawa Sherpa, a fellow Nepali guide who recently reached the top of Everest for the 29th time. Known as Pa Dawa, he completed his first Everest summit four years after Kami Rita first
reached the height — but has finished the climb twice in a single season multiple times.
A new feat was recorded this season, when Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa, 29, reached the summit of Everest four times in just 15 days, as The Himalayan Times reports. He has now reached the peak eight times.
Another emerging rival is Nima Rinji Sherpa, who last year became the youngest person to summit the highest 14 peaks in the world, at 18 years old. Nima Rinji recently wrote on Instagram about his ambitions to fill what he called “a lot of space left in the mountaineering history books,” mentioning projects such as climbing an 8,000meter peak in winter without a fixed rope, supplementary oxygen and other aids.
Kami Rita reached Everest’s summit around 4 a.m. local time
on Tuesday, while leading a team for Seven Summit Treks, according to the expedition agency.
“He is not just a national climbing hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself,” the agency said as it announced the feat. “Wishing him a safe descent back to base camp, and looking forward to welcoming him in Kathmandu.”
New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first climbing team to summit Everest, known in Nepali as Sagarmatha. They completed their climb in May 1953.
But in recent years, Everest has sometimes seen high-altitude traffic jams as hundreds of mountaineers attempt to reach the summit on a compressed schedule after concerns such as extreme winds shortened the climbing season. --
NPR
for 25 years of support and looks forward to future growth and a potential middle school expansion. Registration Open for 2025-26 School Year. Contact details:
LETTER
Pahalgam Massacre and its Aftermath
As an Indo-American who loves Bharat dearly, I have some points for all of us to consider:
The massacre was a grave 1. intelligence failure. How can such a well organized attack take place about 120 kilometers from the border? Why there was no security detail in such a crowded tourist spot?
Reading neutral reports it 2. appears India lost at least one Raphael jet. Pakistan have advanced Chinese J10 jets with PL-15 missiles probably with a longer range than French MICA missiles used by India. Why were these jets used without neutralizing enemy countermeasures. Israel did this effectively while attacking Iran. It appears the Indian jets ran into an ambush.
Indigenous anti air attack 3. platforms and missiles like Brahmos performed very well. India showed it can hit any site in Pakistan. This may be the reason for Pakistan asking for a ceasefire.
The West will never give 4. India their most advanced weapon systems. They are also prohibitively expensive. The only answer to this, is to develop our indigenous weapon industry along with overall economic progress.
We should never have an ostrich-like approach. Truth should be faced even if it is unpleasant and corrective measures taken. This approach will definitely bring success at the end.
JAY K RAMAN
The Pahalgam Massacre: A grim reminder of lapses and the poison of terrorism. -- Insight UK
Celebrating Sacredness of Education: CMH BalaVihar Graduation Ceremony
By ujwala BHat
Houston: May 17th marked a day of great glory, happiness for the Bala Vihar Class of 2025 students, their families, and their teachers. As everyone gathered at the Chinmaya Smrti Hall, Chinmaya Choir and Orchestra students began the ceremony with melodious bhajans and soulful music.
The ceremony began as the Graduating Class of 2025 gathered at the Chinmaya Smrti foyer for a brief photo session before continuing to the Saumyakasi Sivalaya to perform a puja, seeking divine blessings. Then they walked to Smrti Hall, led by Acarya Gaurang Nanavaty and the priest Sri Ganeshji, who carried a Purnakumbha and chanted the Sikshavalli of the Taittiriya Upanishad. His resonant voice filled the air, creating a powerful atmosphere of reverence and celebration. It was a moment of immense pride for all witnessing these young graduates—who had completed 14 years of spiritual education, committed to preserving the ancient Hindu culture and its values.
Smt. Sandhya Harpavat, a Bala Vihar teacher, herself an alumna of Bala Vihar, and now a Bala Vihar parent of a new graduate, presided as the emcee of the Graduation Ceremony. Emphasizing the inspiration and guidance of Swami Chinmayananda’s teachings, she expressed gratitude to Pujya Darshana Auntie and Pujya Gaurang Nanavaty, who dedicated their lives to imparting Pujya Gurudeva’s wisdom to the Bala Vihar students at Chinmaya Mission Houston. She noted that the Bala Vihar graduation ceremony follows a structured path deeply rooted in the Guru-Shishya Parampara.
Acarya Gaurang Uncle lit the
ceremonial lamp of knowledge and delivered an inspiring address from the Taittiriya Upanishad, imparting three guiding principles: Satyam Vada—speak the truth, Dharmam Chara—abide by duty, and Swādhyāyān Mā Pramadah—do not neglect selfstudy. He emphasized Gurudev’s three key words—quiet, alert, and vigilant—in shaping the mind and urged students to excel academically while dedicating time to studying scriptures.
He also shared a powerful Vedic reminder to uphold well-being, prosperity, and lifelong learning. This wisdom reinforces the duty of caring for oneself, family, community, and country, ensuring balance and responsibility in all aspects of life.
A special message from beloved Pujya Darshana Auntie: “With Guru ājna(command), bloom like
a lotus,” inspired students to flourish in life with their Guru’s guidance, just as a lotus blossoms and flourishes above water.
Following the inspiring graduation address, Dr. Anil Sheth introduced the chief guest, Mrs. Rudite Emir, a Latvian-born Vedantic scholar, writer, and business consultant. An ardent student of Swami Chinmayananda for 27 years, she founded Mananam, a quarterly Vedanta journal, and edited several of his works for Western audiences. She has authored At Every Breath, A Teaching, sharing Swami Chinmayananda’s key teachings. She also conducts discourses on Vedanta in Latvia and the U.S., sharing timeless wisdom with global audiences.
Mrs. Rudite Emir, in her address to the graduating students, fondly recalled her experiences with Swami Chinmayananda, sharing light-
hearted stories that brought warmth and laughter to the gathering. She highlighted again the simple, yet powerful message drawn from Pujya Gurudeva’s teachings, emphasizing the three key words—quiet, alert, and vigilant—as essential for mastering the mind. Encouraging students to apply these principles, she acknowledged their simplicity yet profound difficulty in practice. Concluding her speech, she wished the graduates freedom with discipline—the discipline of the mind, embodying quietude, alertness, and vigilance.
The graduation commencement began with each student being called onto the stage, where they received a trophy inscribed with a quote from Pujya Swami Chinmayananda: “Always learn to put your mind where your hands are working.” As their names were announced, the graduates stepped
forward and lit the ceremonial lamp, symbolizing their commitment to spiritual values and lifelong learning.
A slideshow showcased heartfelt reflections, with each student sharing their best moments at Chinmaya Mission and their favorite quotes from Pujya Gurudeva. To honor their achievements, Acarya Gaurang Uncle presented trophies to the newly graduated students, marking the culmination of their years of dedication and spiritual growth
In our ancient Vedic tradition, it is a special honor and privilege for students to offer “Guru Dakshina” to a teacher on completion of studies. Four graduates expressed the collective gratitude of the Class of 2025 and thanked everyone who helped shape their character and values. The new graduates then reiterated their resolve to live by the tenets of service and respect by reciting the Chinmaya Mission Pledge.
The ceremony ended with the Graduation song, “Abhinandanam Abhinandanam Dikshanta kale Abhinandanam!”
In his concluding remarks, Acarya Gaurang Uncle remarked that it is a true testimony to the quality of education at Chinmaya Mission Houston, the institution continues to shape and graduate students year after year. He credited the success to all the dedicated teachers of Bala Vihar.
For more information about Chinmaya Mission Houston, Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya and its activities please visit www.chinmayahouston.org, www.saumyakasi. org or call temple 281 568 1690 or Jay Deshmukh 832 541 0059 or Bharati Sutaria 281-933-0233. PHoto By BHaratH rao, asHutosH KaK and rajesH tHatte
FASHION
Bollywood Top Star Alia Bhatt Stuns at Cannes in ‘First-ever’ Gucci Saree
Cannes: Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt appeared at the Cannes film festival in Gucci’s first-ever bespoke saree, bringing the closing ceremony to a glamorous end.
The 32-year-old actor wore a Gucci’s saree-inspired draped outfit in silver mesh adorned with the signature GG logo and Swarovski crystals on Saturday at the 78th Cannes film festival.
“Global brand ambassador Alia Bhatt attended the closing ceremony of the 78th Cannes Film Festival in a custom Gucci gown with embroidered crystals in a GG Monogram pattern. The actress was also pictured in a custom three-piece set,” the luxury brand said in a social media post.
The bejewelled ensemble is likely “Gucci’s first creation with the iconic Indian silhouette, marking a milestone”, said Vogue, adding
that the look is “an ode to Indian heritage”.
Bhatt’s minimalist yet stunning look included the nude-coloured attire with a blouse, a skirt mirroring the silhouette of a saree and a dupatta-like drape flowing from her left-shoulder on the red carpet.
The leading actor had minimal make-up with kohl-lined eyes and a dainty diamond tennis necklace she wore as a choker.
“There’s something absolutely special about firsts – and I’m so excited to make my Festival de Cannes debut this year, an iconic celebration of cinema and selfexpression,” Bhatt said during an interaction with media at the film festival.
Earlier in the day, Bhatt made her first appearance at the closing ceremony in custom Schiaparelli haute couture.
Greater Houston Gears Up for 11th International Day of Yoga
Houston: Over 30 events are planned across Greater Houston; new partners and guest speakers announced
This summer, Greater Houston is once again preparing to roll out its yoga mats for the 11th annual International Day of Yoga (IDY), observed on June 21, 2025. Recognized globally since 2014, when it was first proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and adopted by the United Nations, IDY is celebrated each year on the summer solstice—the longest day of the year.
This year, Houstonians, in collaboration with the Consulate General of India, Houston, can look forward to more than 30 events across the region, including over 11 outdoor gatherings and 20 indoor sessions.
Held in community centers, temples, parks, and cultural institutions, these events reflect the growing reach of yoga in everyday life. Buddhist and Nepalese organizations are joining in, highlighting yoga’s unifying power across traditions and communities.
An anticipated highlight is the first-ever three-day Ayurveda Yoga Camp, hosted at the Texas Hindu Campsite by Yoga Kulam from May 30 – Jun 1. This immersive experience will combine ancient healing traditions with yoga practice in a serene outdoor setting.
Also making headlines this year
is the participation of Dr. David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri), a Padma Bhushan awardee and globally respected Vedic scholar. Dr. Frawley will attend and speak at multiple events across the city.
The City of Houston is officially participating in IDY, with a celebration planned at Hermann Square on Saturday, June 14. This marks an important step in the city’s embrace of wellness and holistic health as a public priority.
Meena Kankani, a Katy yoga therapist, is leading a series of Chair Yoga events to make the practice more accessible to seniors and people with limited mobility.
Numerous other groups are stepping up as first-time hosts, including the Eternal Gandhi Museum,
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Leslie Briones and Spanish yoga in Katy.
SVYASA Houston, a nonprofit dedicated to yoga education, research, and service, is offering certified instructors to organizations in need of teaching support.
On the medical and mindfulness front, Dr. Nitin Ron, a renowned neonatologist and TEDx speaker, will lead a special workshop at the Hindu Temple of
The Woodlands. Titled Mindfulness & Medicine, the June 21 session will explore how pranayam (breathwork) can support healing, stress relief, and mental clarity. Dr. Ron, whose work bridges traditional yogic practices and modern healthcare, has spoken
at the NIH, NASA, and other global platforms. His latest book, Pranayam: Breathing Techniques for Health, Healing and Tranquility, has received acclaim for making ancient wisdom accessible to today’s world.
From school gyms to temple courtyards, and from quiet morning meditations to large community events, International Day of Yoga 2025 in Houston promises to be a celebration of wellness, unity, and spiritual reflection.
Whether you’re a lifelong practitioner or just starting your yoga journey, there’s a space for you in this citywide movement.
Want to know what’s happening near you? Bharat Patel with Hindus of Greater Houston has compiled all the events in one place—check out hindusofhouston.org/yoga. He can be reached at 713-459-4326 or bapatel3@ gmail.com
Coordinators for International Day Yoga events throughout the greater Houston region gathered recently at the Indian Consulate’s residence.
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’: Madness on Repeat
By renuKa VyaVaHare
Story: Both hopeless romantics, Ranjan (Rajkummar Rao) and Titli (Wamiqa Gabbi) are desperate to get married. When they pull all the strings to make it happen, Ranjan finds himself stuck in a time loop. He keeps waking up on the same day -- a day prior to his wedding day.
Review: Bhool Chuk Maaf’s release drama strangely and accidentally paid ode to its theme. From a theatrical release to OTT and back to theatrical release, it kept going in circles too. The film’s story tests your patience equally, but the outcome compensates for the scattered and meandering build-up.
Oblivious to the demands of adulting, Banaras sweethearts Ranjan (Rajkummar Rao) and Titli (Wamiqa Gabbi) are obsessed with each other. He doesn’t have a job, and she is too reckless to care. They decide to elope but abort the plan midway because she realises it’s unfair for their parents to face the repercussions. They want to be together but not at the cost of their families’ wellbeing.
Otherwise irresponsible, Ranjan
promises he will find a government job in two months. This is her father’s only condition. Having no care in the world, the couple resorts to ‘jugaad’ and succeeds until Ranjan finds himself tangled in a time loop which forbids him to proceed to his wedding day.
Rajkummar Rao has done a couple of films with similar small town settings of late. Bhool Chuk Maaf has a few elements that are strikingly different and then those that follow a template. Some nuances in writing stand out. The family dynamics and eccentric characters may have that Bareilly Ki Barfi-north Indian vibe, but it also has its own personality. Ranjan’s relationship with money for instance, is a direct impact of his father’s (Raghubir Yadav) total financial reliance on his wife Seema Pahwa. She is the sole breadwinner of the house through her pickle business and her husband doesn’t find it odd. Likewise, Ranjan happily spends Titli’s money, which she borrows from her parents and doesn’t aspire to be self-sufficient until he is forced to.
The first half takes a bit too long to get to the point with innumerable songs added for no rhyme or
reason. Humour is largely clean and safe if you excuse the occasional ‘tatti jokes’. It’s the second half that changes the game. It is here that the film addresses growing apathy, isolated existence and self-centric living. What are the consequences of our jugaad on the society at large and when did we stop caring? The social commentary through humour isn’t predictable and is well established. You just wish it didn’t take an hour to get there.
Acting heavyweights Seema Pahwa, Raghubir Yadav, Sanjay Mishra and Zakir Hussain are best at what they do, and their presence lends authenticity and meaning to the setting. Wamiqa Gabbi portrays her ditzy but daring character well. Given how fine a talent he is, Rajkummar Rao deserves characters that force him to push his boundaries. Bhool Chuk Maaf isn’t groundbreaking for him that way. He still ensures he essays Ranjan with all his flaws and heart.
BCM delivers a relevant message in a deceptive manner. The time loop can feel like you are witnessing a number of behind-the-scenes fun retakes. If you are up for it, you can give this one a watch...-- ToI
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