Saathee Charlotte August 2022

Bridging Bridging America America and and the the Indian Indian Subcontinent Subcontinent

Saathee.com

August 2022

IN THIS ISSUE Immigration and Economy: pg 38 Recipe: Methi Thepla: pg 72 Classifieds: pg 92

Used Car Dealership (Buy, Sell or Trade) Repair Shop (ASE and Toyota certified) We do all types of work on foreign and domestic cars

Full Service Body Shop (Customization for all cars) Full Detail Service (with window tinting)

Hello Readers!

Read about the real-life lessons concealed within science fiction books and film. Page 22.

Our review of the American Dance Festival 2022 is on Page 34.

How much can immigration help to alleviate our current economic issues? Read the interesting column on Page 38.

The registration is now open for NASA's annual Space App Challenge. Hop on over to Page 82 for the details.

Read the article on Page 42 about sustainable manufacturing and how it could help reduce the environmental impact of industry.

Learn how to make the easy and delicious Methi Thepla, the quintessential Gujarati travel food. Hurry over to Page 72 for the recipe.

Thank you for continuing to read Saathee and please share it with family and friends. Drop us a line with any comments or suggestions.

We welcome conversations.

Connect with us via email: saathee@saathee.com.

“Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent.”

August 2022 Issue # 291 - Saathee.com Editor Samir Shukla (Samir@Saathee.com)

Publisher & Advertising Divakar Shukla 704-527-7570 or rakavid@aol.com

Digital Media & Marketing Jennifer W. Allen

Ad Design / Layout DS Graphics & Manimaran

Contributors for this issue: Kirit Shukla, Taige Shukla, Dilip Barman, Rishi P. Oza, Preethi Sriram, Raajeev Aggerwhil, Mo Vidwans, & Jalendu Vaidya.

Mission: Our goal is to be a valuable source of information for the South Asian community and to be a vital advertising tool for businesses.

Cover: Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, India The Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India at the western end of Rajpath in New Delhi. In terms of area, it is the largest residence of any head of state in the world with a 340-room main building.

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8

August

2022

In This Issue

Page 82 NASA Space Apps Challenge

Page 20 Events Coming Up

Page 38 Can Immigration Help Alleviate Economic Issues?

Page 72 Recipe: Methi Thepla

Content The Editor’s Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 14

Fires of Varanasi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 46

Pop’s Puzzles and Jokes . . . . . . . . .pg. 86

Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 18

Spot the Differences . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 50

Festivals and Holidays . . . . . . . . . .pg. 88

Mirror Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 22

Personal Finances . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 54

Puzzle Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 88

Upcoming Movie Releases . . . . . . .pg. 26

Raajeev’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 56

AstroScope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 90

Film Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 28

News Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 62

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 92

ADF 2022 Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 34

Recipe: Methi Thepla . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 72

Index of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 96

Immigration Matters . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 38

NASA Space Apps Challenge . . . .pg. 82

Sustainable Manufacturing . . . . . .pg. 42

Youth Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 84

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August

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August Winds

The Editor’s Desk

by Samir Shukla

The lovely summer is chugging along, now passing through sultry August. Heatwaves are crisscrossing the planet. Weather patterns are clearly amplified. Humanity continues its path for total planetary domination. Life goes on, while our little blue marble slaps us back into reality now and then.

Right now, I’m sitting on my deck, about an hour before midnight, a soothing warm breeze is passing through the area. The night noises are keeping me company as I write this. A few thoughts cross my mind and help pass the time.

The political winds in this country are shifting backwards and sideways rather than forward. This wind is also lurching rightward and leftward as it passes through different parts of the country. These directional changes are unhinging the commonalities, yes there are many, of citizens, while the merging of the nation’s dreams is relegated to the backseat. The political fringe tries to inhale all the oxygen while making a lot of racket. The real work gets done in the thick middle, not the slippery, thin edges. The sober middle must engage more, politically and neighborly.

That’s how we can build bridges and fix or build the roads leading into tomorrow. American ingenuity is still the best on the planet.

India celebrates its 75th year of independence this August. The wounds of partition still sting and burn, left unthreaded by the hasty exit made by a

Saathee.com

crumbling empire. Now 75 years later, the country and its neighbors are constantly grappling with ways to progress further into the 21st Century.

Changing climates and continuing boom in populations will greatly affect the region.

Migrations within the country and around the region will increase as families seek fertile lands and opportunity. This ancient civilization has survived myriad invasions and kept its traditions and culture in place while absorbing foreign influences into its own. The native and the new have mingled into this country so diverse that it boggles the mind. In India, just like here in the States, the fringe elements are also trying to unravel the progress of others.

The Indian Diaspora in the States continue to make their mark and help move the country forward along with myriad other recent and established immigrants. There is increasing political and social involvement by Indian Editor’s Desk continued on page 80

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August

2022

Upcoming Events Gujarati Natak: Morrisville, NC (August 4, 2022)

Triangle Gujarati Association presents Sanjay Goradia Productions Gujarati natak “Bairaono Bahubali.” The comedy play will be presented on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 6:30 pm in the HSNC Main Hall, 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC. Tickets range from $20 $45. Further info: Nctga.org.

Festival of India: Charlotte, NC (August 27, 2022) The 26th annual Festival of India, presented by the India Association of Charlotte, is scheduled for Saturday, August 27, 2022 from noon to 8pm in Uptown at the Belk Theater on Tryon Street. The festival is one of the most popular events in the Queen City and features varied dance performances, arts, crafts, cultural expositions, vendors and plenty of food. For more details, visit Indiafestival.net.

Kiran Bazaar: Morrisville, NC (August 7, 2022)

The fundraiser for Kiran, Inc will be held on Sunday, August 7, 2022 at White Party w/ DJ Jay: Charlotte, HSNC Main Hall, 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC from noon 7pm. There will be many vendors, food sellers and information booths NC (August 5, 2022) Charlotte Loves Bollywood about Kiran’s work during the event. Free entry. For more details, write presents the White Party to Kiran@kiraninc.org featuring DJ Jay (with IACA Festival of India: Atlanta, GA opening act by Dj Bose) on Friday, August 5, 2022 (August 13, 2022) starting at 10pm at La The India American Cultural Assoc Georgia presents Unica in Charlotte, NC. IACA Festival of India on Saturday, August 13, Tickets range from $20 - $25. For more 2022 from 11am - 7pm at Gas South Center, 6400 info, call 424-245-5558.

Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth, GA. The 26th annual festival will feature cultural programs, flag Sangamithra Foundation Golf march, seminars, health fair, competitions, exhibitions and booths, food, and more. For more Tournament: Concord, NC details call 404-915-0497 or visit Iacaatl.org.

(August 7, 2022) The Sangamithra Foundation’s annual Charity Golf Tournament will be held on Sunday, August 7, 2022 at Rocky River Golf Club in Concord, NC. Player registration is now open.

Registration begins at 11am for a 1pm shotgun start. 4-person Captain’s Choice. $125 per person, $480 if you register as a 4-person team and $100 for juniors (under 18).

Registration fee includes prizes, range balls, boxed lunch and a buffet dinner following the tournament.

Tournament kicks off with a putting contest. Registration, more details and and payment information available at: Sangamithra.org/golf.

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Gujarati Sugam Sangeet: Atlanta, GA (August 13, 2022) Atlanta Artistry presents an evening of Gujarati Sugam Sangeet on Saturday, August 13, 2022 from 5 - 7pm at Yugal Kunj, Radha Krishna Temple, 2769 Duluth Hwy, Duluth, GA. Enjoy an evening of music and songs by Atlanta-based artists. A light dinner (to-go box) will be served after the event. For tickets visit, Gujaratisugamsangeet.eventbrite.com.

Call 678-314-7679 for more details.

Sri Krishna Janmashtami ISKCON: Hillsborough, NC (August 19, 2022) ISKCON New Goloka Temple presents Janmasthami celebrations on Friday, August 19, 2022 from 4pm to midnight. The event will feature live kirtans, cultural programs, boat festival, feast, dahi handi and a grand abhishek. The temple is located at 1032 Dimmocks Mill Rd., Hillsborough NC. For more details call 919-732-6492 or visit Newgoloka.com.

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August 2022

Upcoming Events York Summerfest: (August 26 - 27, 2022) The York Summerfest will include be 5k/10k road races, golf tournament, classic car show, music, kid’s activities, demonstrations, arts and crafts, entertainment, food trucks and more. The Kid’s area will feature water slides, face painting, balloon artist, petting zoo and lots of fun. The Fest will be held on August 26-27, 2022 along various streets in downtown York, SC. To learn more, visit Yorksummerfest.com.

Earl Scruggs Music Fest: Mill Spring, NC (September 2-4, 2022)

The Earl Scruggs Music Festival is a celebration of NC’s legendary Earl Scruggs’ contributions and the musical culture of the region. Scruggs, the most influential and imitated banjo player in the world, was born in Cleveland County, NC. There will be many performers along with Sanjivani Bhelande Live in Concert: Charlotte, NC vendors and food on September 2-4, 2022. The (August 28, 2022) inaugural festival will take place at the Tryon Award winning playback singer and International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, winner of Sa Re Ga Ma Season 1, NC. Details: EarlScruggsMusicFest.com Bhelande will perform live with a full band on Sunday, August 28, 2022, at Garba 2022 by Atul Purohit: Halton Theater, 1206 Elizabeth Ave., Greensboro, NC (September 3, 2022) in Charlotte from 5 - 8pm. The show Enjoy a night of garba is a fundraiser for Akshay Patra and dandiya with the Foundation, which feeds nearly two renowned singer Atul million children daily. It is the world’s Purohit on Saturday, largest secular school lunch program.

September 3, 32022 For more details on the concert call 704-620-8527 beginning at 8pm at pr 612-940-4182. For more details on -Akshay Patra, visit Greensboro Coliseum AkshayPatraUSA.org.

Complex, 1921 W.

Greensboro Food Truck Festival (August, 28, 2022) The Greensboro Food Truck Festival will be held on August 28, 2022 from 3pm-9pm in downtown Greensboro, NC. Savor delicious food at 50 different food trucks.

In addition, there will be craft beers, live music, kid’s activities, and vendors.

Details: Greensborofoodtruckfestivals.com.

Gate City Blvd. Get the garba season started. Tickets are $30 - $35.

For details, call 336-509-5875 or 336-213-6494.

Taal Garba with Geeta Rabari: Raleigh, NC (September 24, 2022)

Queen City Comedy Experience: Charlotte, NC (Through August 28, 2022)

Catch Weird Al Yankovic at the Comedy Experience

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Blumenthal Performing Arts, Queen City Comedy, and The Comedy Zone will host The Queen City Comedy Experience, at multiple venues in Uptown Charlotte through August 28, 2022.

Iconic comedy musician Weird Al Yankovic, Comedy Bang Bang!

Live!, stand-up comedian Bill Bellamy, and legendary sketch and improv comedy troupe The Second City will headline the 2022 festival.

Local Charlotte area stand-up comedians and improv troupes will also perform. The full local lineup and schedule can be found online at Blumenthalarts.org/comedy.

20

Triangle Gujarati Association of NC presents garba night with famous singer Geeta Rabari.

The event will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at the Expo Center Raleigh.

For more details, sponsors and vendors opportunities contact office@nctga.org. Also visit, Nctga.org.

For a complete list of upcoming events, visit our regularly updated page:

Saathee.com/events August

2022

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August 2022

Science Fiction The Real-Life Lessons Concealed Within

Mirror, Mirror

by Jennifer Allen

“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” ~ George Orwell, 1984 As the old saying goes… if we don’t pay attention to our past then we’ll be doomed to repeat it. Yet we as human beings are often guilty of doing just that on a regular basis.

I wrote once before that because of the recent pandemic, we’ve become much more inclined to approach the grim reality of a dystopian society. Now with even more recent events taking place right here in the United States, it’s more like taking a few of these potential futures and tossing them into one gigantic blender.

In fact, we’re so very close to attaining an almost perfect amalgamation of Brave New World, 1984, Atlas Shrugged and most recently The Handmaid’s Tale. Other potential hypotheses are further expanded upon through the visual medium in series like as The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Star Trek to the point that the very concept of Science Fiction can be more cerebral than most give it credit for.

Science Fiction, or “Sci-Fi” as it’s more commonly coined, has always been a slippery slope in terms of representation. To some, especially in our current entertainment industry, it’s more about grand CGI set pieces filled with explosions, bright colors, and overly exposed lens flares. To others, it’s about near (or far) future experiences on distant planets.

Image from the film 2001 A Space Odyssey

Miror Mirror continued on page 48

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August

2022

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Upcoming Movie Releases Saathee.com/Movies has the latest info on where the movies are showing or streaming. All dates subject to change.

August 5 Luck (Streaming) (Director: Peggy Holmes) Cast: Eva Noblezada, Simon Pegg, Jane Fonda, and Whoopi Goldberg Bimbisara (Director: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman) Cast: Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Catherine Tresa, and Srinivas Reddy Darlings (Director: Jasmeet K Reen) Cast: Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah, Vijay Varma, and Roshan Mathew

Raksha Bandhan (Director: Aanand L Rai) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar, and Sahejmeen Kaur

Secret Headquarters (Streaming) (Directors: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman) Cast: Owen Wilson, Michael Peña, and Jesse Williams

Agent (Director: Surender Reddy) Cast: Mammootty, Akhil Akkineni, and Sakshi Vaidya

August 19

Sita Ramam (Director: Hanu Raghavapudi) Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Mrunal Thakur, Rashmika Mandanna, and Sumanth

Do Baaraa (Director: Anurag Chandan) Cast: Taapsee Pannu and Pavail Gulati Beast (Director: Baltasar Kormákur) Cast: Idris Elba, Sharlto Copley, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Riley Keough

Easter Sunday (Director: Jay Chandrasekhar) Cast: Jo Koy, Jimmy O. Yang, Tia Carrere, and Lou Diamond Phillips

August 12

The Drover’s Wife (Director: Leah Purcell) Cast: Leah Purcell, Rob Collins, and Sam Reid

Fall (Scott Mann) Cast: Grace Caroline Currey, Virginia Gardner, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan

August 26 Samaritan (Director: Julius Avery) Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Javon Walton, and Pilou Asbæk

Day Shift (Streaming) (Director: JJ Perry) Cast: Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco, Steve Howey, a nd Meagan Good

Liger (Director: Puri Jagannadh) Cast: Vijay Deverakonda, Ananya Pandey and Mike Tyson

Emily the Criminal (Director: John Patton Ford) Cast: Aubrey Plaza and Theo Rossie

Me Time (Streaming) (Director: John Hamburg) Cast: Kevin Hart, Mark Wahlberg, Jimmy O Yang, and Regina Hall

Laal Singh Chaddha (Director: Advait Chandan) Cast: Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and Naga Chaitanya

August 31

Mack & Rita (Director: Katie Aselton) Cast: Diane Keaton, Elizabeth Lail, Loretta Devine, and Lois Smith Saathee.com

Three Thousand Years of Longing (Director: George Miller) Cast: Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton 26

August

2022

Film Clips Dharavi Bank Raksha Bandhan

Veteran actor Suniel Shetty is set to make his OTT debut with the film Dharavi Bank, which also stars Vivek Oberoi and Sonali Kulkarni. The story is set in one of the most densely populated area in the world, the slum of Dharavi in Mumbai. Directed by Samit Kakkad, the crime drama will release in November.

Pavan Putra Bhaijaan, Bajrangi Bhaijaan Sequel According to trade reports, writer KV Vijayendra Prasad’s sequel to Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan will move the story to about a decade ahead. Khan has said that as soon as some of his current projects wrap up shooting, he will begin the work on the sequel.

A brother struggles to get his younger sisters married before he gets married himself. This comedy drama about sibling relationships revolving around the tradition of Raksha bandhan. Akshay Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar, and Sahejmeen Kaur star in the film, directed by Anand L. Rai. It opens in cinemas on August 12.

PS - 1

Priyanka Chopra will Join Mindy Kaling in Rom-com Priyanka Chopra will star in a rom-com with actor and producer Mindy Kaling.

Chopra will portray a Punjabi woman in the film while Kaling will play her cousin. Kaling also wrote the film. The movie will revolve around a grand Indian wedding. Chopra is also currently working on Citadel, a spy thriller backed by the Russo Brothers.

Beast

Idris Elba, Sharlto Copley, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Riley Keough in Beast, directed by Baltasar Kormákur. A father and his two teenage daughters, during a trip to Africa, find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the Savanna has but one apex predator. The movie opens on August 19.

Saathee.com

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stars as Nandini, The Queen of Pazhuvoor in the epic film. She is part of a huge cast in the Mani Ratnam film Ponniyin Selvan: 1, an upcoming Tamil epic period drama. Along with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the movie will also star Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, and Shobhita Dhulipala. Sharing the first look on social media, the production house wrote, “Vengeance has a beautiful face! Meet Nandini, the Queen of Pazhuvoor! #PS1 releasing in theatres on September 30, 2022 in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.” It is directed & written by Ratnam.

28

Phone Bhoot

The upcoming film Phone Bhoot stars Katrina Kaif, Ishaan Khatter, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Jackie Shroff. The movie is directed by Gurmmet Singh is an adventure comedy with a twist of horror. Written by Ravi Shankaran and Jasvinder Singh Bath, Phone Bhoot is slated for release on October 7.

White Bird: A Wonder Story Based on the book by the bestselling author of Wonder, this uplifting movie shows how one act of kindness can live on forever. The film stars Gillian Anderson and Helen Mirren.

The Marc Forster directed film opens on October 14.

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August 2022

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August 2022

American Dance Festival 2022 Review

by Dilip Barman

By the time this issue of Saathee is published, the 89th season of the American Dance Festival will have concluded its main run with an outdoor component at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh forthcoming. I’ve seen a number of impactful performances.

As with all performing arts, it has been a rocky return to live shows. I’ve been pleased with ADF – they have encouraged masking and a significant percent, maybe 6070 percent, of the audiences at the shows that I have attended have been masked. If you haven’t been to shows this season, I encourage you to take advantage of the outdoor September shows.

Ten years ago, we were blessed with a performance by Ragamala Dance, a Bharatanatyam ensemble based in Minnesota, and I shared a review in Saathee Magazine along with pictures then. Described by the New York Times as “an excellent company”, it was founded by Ranee Ramaswamy, who shares artistic direction with her daughter Aparna. Aparna was named in 2010 by Dance Magazine as one of “25 to Watch”, the first time that a Bharatanatayam artist was so singled out. Aparna’s sister Ashwini also dances with Ragamala.

Because my paternal ancestry is rooted in the ancient Varanasi, I was particularly keen to see Ragamala’s new show, Fires of Varanasi. Inspired by the passing away of Ranee’s father, it was a beautiful modern treatment to the role that water, ritual, rites, and the city of Varanasi itself have played seemingly for eternity in death.

Elements of the performance that resonated with me included the repetitive rites, the abstracted rectangular pools representing the Ganges River, the music (which, at the cast party, I learned was composed with great difficulty remotely under pandemic curfew regulations), the unconventional white stage which offered stark, symbolic contrast, and the lighting. All of it, of course, was rooted in solid Bharatanatyam dance.

Some of the dances that Ragamala have created in the past include Yathra (Journey), about the trajectory of

PTDC photo by Ron Thiele

American Dance Festival continued on page 74

Saathee.com

Ragamala photos by Kyle Flubacker

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How Much Can Immigration Help Alleviate Our Current Economic Issues?

Immigration Matters

by Rishi P. Oza As 2022 barrels forward and the pandemic seeming to take a temporary backseat to other pressing issues, economic anxiety has risen to the forefront of concerns for the nation’s citizens.

Inflation has risen to a high point not seen since the late 1970s and grocery, gas and durable goods alike have seen prices higher than most people can remember. The Biden Administration has rightfully pointed to ongoing supply chain woes and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as drivers of these higher costs, but inflation was already rising in early 2021. Despite a slight cooling in an otherwise booming housing market and unemployment at record lows, the high price of goods has dampened Americans’ outlook for the coming months.

While year-to-year inflation is hardly responsive to short-term gimmicks like a gas tax holiday, a significant problem being seen throughout the economy is the shortage of labor. While the disappearance of available labor from the roaring pre-COVID economy is mystifying, the pandemic essentially expedited a phenomenon that most of us knew was coming – the retirement of the Baby Boomers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, nearly 25 percent of the workforce was between the ages of 55 – 64, with another 7 percent being 65 Immigration Matters continued on page 78

Saathee.com

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Sustainable Manufacturing How It Could Help Reduce the Environmental Impact of Industry

By Nabil Nasr Nabil Nasr is the associate provost and director of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology. He is also the CEO of the Remade Institute, which was established by the U.S. government to conduct early-stage R&D to accelerate the transition to circular economy, which is a sustainable industrial model for improved resource efficiency and decreased systemic energy, emissions and waste generation. Below are highlights from an interview with The Conversation. Here, Nasr explains some of the ideas behind sustainable manufacturing and why they matter.

How would you explain sustainable manufacturing? What does the average person not know or understand about sustainable manufacturing?

When we talk about sustainable manufacturing, we mean cleaner and more efficient systems with less resource consumption, less waste and emissions. It is to simply minimize any negative impact on the environment while we are still meeting demand, but in much more efficient and sustainable ways. One example of sustainable manufacturing is an automotive factory carrying out its production capacity with 10 percent of its typical emission due to advanced and efficient processing technology, reducing its production waste to near zero by figuring out how to switch its shipping containers of supplied parts from single use to reusable ones, accept more recycled materials in production, and through innovation make their products more efficient and last longer.

Sustainability is about the proper balance in a system. In our industrial system, it means we are taking into account the impact of what we do and also making sure we Saathee.com

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understand the impact on the supply side of natural resources that we use. It is understanding environmental impacts and making sure we’re not causing negative impacts unnecessarily. It’s being able to ensure that we are able to satisfy our demands now and in the future without facing any environmental challenges.

Early on at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, emissions, waste and natural resource consumption were low. A lot of the manufacturing impacts on the environment were not taken into account because the volumes that we were generating were much, much lower than we have today. The methods and approaches in manufacturing we use today are really built on a lot of those approaches that we developed back then.

The reality is that the situation today has drastically changed, but our approaches have not. There is plenty of industrialization going on around the globe. And, there is plenty of pollution and waste generated. In addition, a lot of materials we use in manufacturing are nonrenewable resources.

So it sounds like countries that are industrialized now picked up a lot of bad habits. And we know that growth is coming from these developing nations and we don’t want them to repeat those bad habits. But we want to raise their standard of living just without the consequences that we brought to the environment.

Yeah, absolutely. So there was an article I read a long time ago that said China and India either will destroy the Sustainable Manufacturing continued on page 80 August

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The Fires of Varanasi A Dance Review and Perspective The Adult Indian Dance Student

by Preethi Sriram

This article is inspired from attending the dance show “The Fires of Varanasi: Dance of the Eternal Pilgrim,” by Raneee & Aparna Ramaswamy’s Ragamala Dance Company. It was presented at the American Dance Festival, at The Reynolds Industries Theater at Duke on July 6, 2022. This article is a personal interpretation of the artistic masterpiece from the perspective a “Rasika” or enjoyer of the Indian arts.

Mother Ganga, or the Ganges, has been a holy site and a place of pilgrimage for those who wish to see the city for its rituals and to feel the presence of the divine mother. Mother Ganga is said to have descended through the matted locks of Shiva, where the flow originates from Vishnu. Mother Ganga washes the sins of those who bathe in her waters. Adi Shankaracharya wrote in the well-known Bhaja Govindam that to drink just a drop of the Ganges, and worship Govinda, and the individual will have no issues with death. From cradle to ashes, Mother Ganga nurtures the soul through its various cycles.

How can we invoke the divine Mother’s blessings for washing us from our sins as a mother would wash a child so lovingly who goes outside and plays in dirt and comes home to be enveloped in the love of Mother, just as Krishna so played the naughty child and Yashoda lovingly disciplined baby Krishna?

How can divine Mother help us to not only bear and endure, but understand, and transcend the concepts of Samsara? How to reach Mother Ganga?

Do we have to take a physical journey to the banks of the Varanasi to be able to feel her presence?

Fires of Varanasi continued on page 94

Saathee.com

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2022

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“Hope is the one thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous. ~ Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games

Mirror Mirror

continued from page 22

Its routes, however, are more grounded than that.

Since the humble beginnings of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne to the likes of Asimov, Heinlein, Dick, Niven, Bradbury, and Gibson just to name a few… their stories are meant as cautionary tales set within one of many possible futures. These futures are often based on world history and culture, social environments of the time, some potential technological or medical advancement, or a combination of these.

This is due, in part, by the fact that a large percentage of its creators were initially studying fields such as astronomy, psychology, political science, and medicine.

They in turn took that knowledge and applied it to these seemingly fantastical stories to which fans have come to enjoy.

The most ironic part is that I’m almost positive many of the men and women currently in power have either never understood such stories or outright ignored them entirely.

The protagonist in these tales is typically one of said fallible individuals who has either lived quietly under the totalitarian regime or just outside of it to be of no consequence.

That is… until one or more catastrophic event occurs to completely shift their mindset. Perhaps they happen upon a scene involving violence against innocents, or their family is taken away for unknown reasons.

Whatever motivates them becomes a powerful catalyst to which their story will flourish and we as the audience follow along with their journey.

What’s most important about this epic quest is the gradual awareness perceived through the eyes of our hero that these ruling bodies tend to obfuscate many dark secrets. In this fashion, a good Science Fiction tale also implements a bit of mystery to keep us intrigued. Peeling away multiple layers of grime hiding beneath such radiant veneer can be quite fascinating and lure us in to further speculate what the true motive is for all the chicanery.

“One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them.” ~ Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

“Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life.” ~ Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

I’ve come to understand a few overarching themes when it comes to dystopian Science Fiction:

• Those with enough power can force the populace to •

•

But as I previously mentioned, most of these stories are also presented to us in such a way as to avoid these circumstances coming to fruition in real life. As the main character delves deeper into why things are as they are, we are given warning to evade such processes before they could potentially get that out of hand. In a way, the creator teaches us through fictionalized history which can be just as effective.

Creating the “ideal society” by means of excessive restrictions isn’t feasible for a substantial period no matter how much you try to glamourize it or disguise it with doublethink propaganda.

We’re already to the point that almost every move and decision we make can and will be monitored, so it’s only a matter of time until we have Big Brother blasting away with mindless drivel 24-7 through our digital devices to keep us complacent.

All it takes is one voice… one new protagonist to keep us from ever reaching such a fate. Most likely this person at some point snatched a tattered book from their local Science Fiction section and understood the true meaning buried within each weathered page. We’ll just have to wait and see…

obey, especially if such relinquishment of freedom will offer them an uncomplicated way of life.

This way of life will be challenged in some fashion either by an individual or small group who discover (often accidentally) the imperfect cracks within the façade.

Technology in itself is not good or evil, but simply a tool. Once said technology obtains self-awareness, however, it often rebels against its creators.

The narrative introduces us to a world where a particular societal concept has been put into place for “the good of the people”. This could be by controlling overpopulation through regulated life spans, managing humanity’s penchant for violence, offering multiple indulgences to keep the populace complacent, or separating people into equal sub-groups to maintain a form of manufactured balance.

In all these scenarios, such “solutions” are merely a temporary fix and often defy basic human nature. Even something as seemingly utopian as The Federation in the Star Trek universe contains various weaknesses which are touched upon within multiple series.

Perfection is unattainable because we as human beings are and will always be inherently flawed. Yet those self-same flaws can also be a form of strength.

Saathee.com

Jennifer Allen works at Saathee and is also a Podcaster, Blogger, Photographer, Graphic Artist, Gamer, and an all around Pop Culture Geek.

Reach her at saathee@Saathee.com

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Spot the Differences See if you can spot the 10 differences between the original photo on top and modified one on bottom.

Answers are on page 88.

Saathee.com

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Clear Pathways to Pass Along Your Wealth to Your Heirs

to be paid; if you had sold it the day before, you will be paying taxes on $700 of gains. This is a great advantage for those who have followed long-term investment strategy. Now there are under currents in Congress of passing another law which will eliminate this advantage.

It is always a good idea to communicate to your congressman and senators as to how you feel about these things; and communicate often, our lawmakers tend to have short memory.

Personal Finances

Life Insurance It is a great instrument to pass-on estate to your heirs when it is done right. Let’s say that you have bought life insurance on your life, Term or Whole Life, and you are not the owner or the beneficiary of that insurance. It is critical to note that you must not be the owner or the beneficiary of that policy because you do not wish to bring all that money back into your estate; if that happens then the whole purpose of having a life insurance policy is defeated.

If the paperwork is done right the money will go to the designated beneficiary tax-free and thus the heirs get the benefit.

by Mo Vidwans

I cannot think of anyone who is not thinking of passing on wealth to their next generation (heirs) after they are gone, even if the next generation may not need it because they usually do better than the past generation. There are many ways it can be done, and I am listing here a few common options one should consider.

IRAs and 401Ks These investment accounts grow tax-free (until money is withdrawn) while the owner is alive, and they actually continue to grow tax-free after the beneficiaries inherit them.

Certain heirs, such as spouses and people with disabilities can hold these accounts over their lifetime and pay taxes only when they withdraw. But watch out.

The law changed recently and most heirs not in the above category will have to empty the accounts within 10 years after they inherit them; this is all courtesy of the new SECURE 1.0 law passed by Congress under Trump Presidency. There are still some choices that can be made here. Depending upon who has a higher tax bracket, you or the inheritor, a decision must be made as to who should be paying the taxes. Whoever has the lower bracket would be the right one.

529K & Educational Expenses Paying for someone’s education is a great way to pass on some of your wealth to others, especially the next generation. I have to say that there is some intrinsic pleasure when you see some good results stemming from such application of your funds.

The pleasure is immediate when you see someone you have great interest in, like your grandchild or someone close, graduating from college and doing well afterwards.

You can contribute to their 529K plans, anybody’s plans for that matter, up to a limit per year. Or you can pay directly to the Educational Institute for the person’s education and there is no limit on it. The check must be paid directly to the Institution and not to the intermediary like the student or the parents.

Taxable Accounts Currently, heirs get a great tax break on the accounts that have greatly appreciated over time because of the ‘stepup’ in value that the law allows. What it means is that if your stocks, mutual funds, ETFs or other properties have appreciated in value and you still own them at the time of passing, their cost goes up to the value of that investment on the date of death and hence there are no capital gains to pay taxes on if they are disposed, say, on that same day. Capital gains taxes are certainly reduced considerably if you sell afterwards. Let us take a quick example. You bought a stock long time ago at $300 and it is worth $1,000 at the time of passing. If the stock is sold on the day of passing there will be no capital gains taxes Saathee.com

Medical Expenses Very similar to educational expenses, you can also pay the medical expenses of anyone, not just your own relatives.

This is a great way of reducing your own estate or passing on part of it to the next generation. Like before, just assure yourself that the checks are made to the Medical Institution directly and not to the patient or someone else.

General Probably it is known to many that there is unlimited transfer of funds between spouses. It is also possible to Personal Finances continued on page 74 54

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2022

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of... to charge extra for substituting beans instead of beef in our Mexican Pizza. How is that possible? Beans can be soaked in water and put in the grinder at a fraction of the price. I had to argue with the server. “But no other Taco Bell charges extra. They are always happy to substitute at no extra price. Beans always cost less than beef.”

The server told me that was their policy. I escalated to the manager. He repeated the same thing. I threatened him that I would write to the corporate office, but it was futile. I told myself that these people might be biased, perhaps even racists. I never followed up, but it helped justify keeping extra packets of Taco Bell sauces. I even started writing jokes to teach my kids lessons on frugality: “It takes 240 packets of Taco Bell sauce to fill up a 16-Oz Heinz ketchup bottle.”

After moving back to California and living in Los Angeles for over a decade, our awareness to avoid processed foods in our diet increased. Taco Bell glamour quickly got faded by the bright lights of Tinseltown. We went back to eating Aloo Gobi, Paneer and Dal. When on the road, we would opt for Subway or Chipotle instead of Taco Bell.

Recently my kids showed me an Instagram post where an Indian American was able to get over 150,000 signatures to petition Taco Bell to bring their Mexican Pizza back. I had mixed feelings! It has been so many years since I ate at Taco Bell that I did not even know that

Raajeev’s Corner

by Raajeev Aggerwhil When we lived in Virginia about twenty years back, we would visit San Francisco. We would drive south to Los Angeles to visit relatives, often taking highway 5 as opposed to the scenic highway 101, because it was faster.

Highway 5 was boring. The only interesting things along the way were almond tree farms, animal farms with thousands of cramped cows, and all the exits leading to Taco Bell.

We were in love with Taco Bell. In fact, we’d start clapping with joy at the sight of one. Judging by our family, it was safe to say the fundamental rights the founding fathers envisioned in the Declaration of Independence were, “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Taco Bell.”

Our favorite item was Mexican Pizza - beans instead of beef. Two crispy fried tacos with layers of beans, cheese, tomatoes and topped with green onion in sumptuous tomato sauce and baked to perfection in a microwave. We would forget all our worries and our travel fatigue.

We visited so many Taco Bells in various states Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida. The taste and experience were universally the same, except for the Taco Bell in Edison, New Jersey. I remember they wanted Saathee.com

Raajeev’s Corner continued on page 94 56

August

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August 2022

News Notes Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar toured the USA recently in a series of appearances titled “I Stand for Peace.” He spoke in Raleigh at McKimmon Center on July 7, 2022 and Charlotte at Halton Theater on July 8, 2022. He presented evenings of meditation and spoke about collective action for a better world.

India Day Parade in NYC Touted as the world’s largest India Day Parade, the Federation of Indian Associations (NY, NJ, CT, NE), will host the 40th annual event on Sunday August 21, 2022 on Madison Ave., in New York City. There will be attempts made for several Guinness Book of World Records.

The festivities are part of India’s 75 years of Independence Day and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav being celebrated in the US. The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) is the one of the oldest and largest non-profit grassroot umbrella organization. Established in 1970, the FIA represents the growing Indian diaspora in the Northeast USA. Through its over five decades of deep-rooted grassroot community engaging and enhancing initiatives, FIA has grown in tandem with the Indian diaspora while continuing to promote and nurture the values and culture that are vital to the Indian American community.

Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) is established in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont & Maine. More details: Fianynjct.org.

Inauguration of BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute, Robbinsville, NJ On Saturday, June 18, 2022, the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute, USA, was inaugurated in Robbinsville, New Jersey, at the site of Swaminarayan Akshardham North America.

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In the morning, hundreds of swamis and devotees gathered to participate in a ‘Satsang Diksha Homatmak Path.’ This yagna involved offerings in a sacred fire while selected verses from the Satsang Diksha were recited.

The yagna was performed to pray for world peace along with an auspicious beginning for the research institute. Children sang Vedic peace prayers and recited Sanskrit verses. Thousands witnessed the historic ceremony in person and via live telecast across North America and worldwide.

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj joined the ceremony virtually from Amdavad, India, and inaugurated the institute with the lighting of the inaugural lamp (deep-pragatya) symbolizing the spreading of the light of knowledge throughout the world. Diyas were subsequently lit by members of the assembly present in New Jersey.

Addressing the assembly, Mahant Swami Maharaj said, “Yogiji Maharaj had envisioned such an institute and was passionate about youths learning and discoursing in Sanskrit. The research institute has fulfilled this vision. May students excel in their studies and work together to serve society, expanding the circle of unity across the world. In the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” meaning the world is one family; let’s reach out to extend the circle of global harmony.”

The event took place in the presence of over 115 representatives from over 50 Hindu Mandirs and organizations, guests, and scholars.

The BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute is the first such center of learning and research of Indian languages and Hindu scriptures in the Swaminarayan tradition to open in the United States.

For more details, visit Research.baps.org.

Self-Realization Fellowship 2022 World Convocation Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), the society founded by preeminent world spiritual teacher Paramahansa Yogananda (Autobiography of a Yogi), will offer its annual World Convocation both in person and online.

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The Convocation takes place August 14-20, 2022 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The 2022 Convocation is free of charge so that all may attend.

More than 30,000 people around the globe registered for last year’s Convocation, which was held exclusively online due to the pandemic. Led by monks and nuns of SRF, this year’s Convocation is expected to draw a similar number of participants and will feature an immersive program, including group meditations, kirtan (devotional chanting), classes on the yoga teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, and virtual and in-person pilgrimage tours to sacred sites in Southern California established by Yogananda.

Widely regarded as the father of Yoga in the West, Yogananda introduced India’s ancient science of Yoga to millions through his transcontinental public lecture tours during the 1920s and 1930s, his many published works, and his SRF Lessons, a home-study series on the science and meditation techniques of Kriya (Raja) Yoga. Reader’s Digest ranked his spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi as one of the 20 Best Autobiographies of All Time.

Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) is the spiritual organization founded in 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda to introduce to people of all races, cultures, and creeds the ancient science and philosophy of Yoga and its time-honored tradition of meditation. For more information visit Yogananda.org/convo.

Modi Unveils National Emblem Cast on the Roof of the New Parliament Building

India Set to Pass China as Most Populous Country in 2023 According to a United Nations report released in early July, India is set to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023. Each country will have more than 1.4 billion residents this year.

The world’s population, estimated to reach 8 billion before the end of this year, could grow to 8.5 billion in 2030, and 10.4 billion in 2100, said the report released on World Population Day. India’s population was 1.21 billion in 2011, according to the domestic census, which is conducted once a decade. The government had deferred the 2021 census due to the pandemic.

According to reports, in 2021, the average fertility of the world’s population was 2.3 births per woman over her lifetime, this had fallen from around 5 births in 1950. Global fertility is projected to decline further to 2.1 births per woman by 2050.

The report also indicated that more than half of the projected increase in the global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in eight countries - Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania.

The population of around 61 countries, meanwhile, is projected to decrease by 1 percent or more between 2022 and 2050, largely driven by decreases in fertility.

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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the National Emblem cast on the roof of the New Parliament Building on July 11, 2022. He also interacted with the Shramjeevis involved in the work of the new Parliament. “I had a wonderful interaction with the Shramjeevis who have been involved in the making of the Parliament. We are proud of their efforts and will always remember their contribution to our nation.”

The National Emblem is made of bronze with a total weight of 9500 Kg and is 6.5 m in height. It has been cast at the top of the Central Foyer of New Parliament Building. A supporting structure of steel weighing around 6500 Kg has been constructed to support the Emblem. The concept sketch and process of casting of the National Emblem on the roof of New Parliament Building has gone through eight different stages of preparation from clay modeling/computer graphic to bronze casting and polishing.

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HINDU CENTER 40th Anniversary Navratri Celebrations – 2022

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Venue: Park Expo – Freedom Hall, 800 Briar Creek Rd (Next to Bojangles Arena) Park Expo on Independence Entrance: Members are $10. Membership is $101/year (Seniors - $31) for Calendar Year 2022.

Non-members 18 yrs and above: $20/person. Student with ID & Seniors $10. $10 Parking charge/charged by Bojangles. carpooling encouraged Non-Food stalls: $301 per day / $501 per weekend (2 days), $151 Children's Garba, $101 Sharad Purnima Donate Food for Booth: Deepak Desai 704-201-5672, Surendra Patel 704-564-9436 Jatin Patel 678-602-0935 Decorations: Rashmika Patel – 980-322-3505, Prerna Amin – 704-258-1696, Ameeta Patel 203-434-4004 Fundraising: Ravi Patel 704-201-7358, Ball Gupta 704-996-1418, Vivek Vemunoori 704-699-9912 Religious, Aarti, Garba, Prasad & Havan : Deepakben Jadeja 704-819-9814, Bharti Patel 704-678-9991, Hemant Amin 704- 258- 3588 Dashera / Vijayadashami Sponsor & Support: Jagdish Patel 704-287-4754, Mittal Patel 704-965-1210, Harshal Jambusaria 704-281-7054 Hall Garba, Sound & Food: Subodh Patel 980-365-1550, Nayan Patel -704-201-7010, Anil Patel – 336-262-3814, Rajni Patel, Nirav Pandya, Jatin Patel-678-602-0935 Sponsor Kid’s Garba: Rajni Patel – 704-488-8145, Hemant Amin – 704-258-1696 Sponsorship Levels: Sapphire $2001 (Title Sponsor), Diamond $1001, Platinum $501, Gold $251, Silver $151 Advertising / Marketing / Banners / Sponsors: Nirav Pandya 570-205-2636 Vendors: Reena Roy, Nirav Pandya, Ameeta Patel

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OF CHARLOTTE

Saathee RECIPES

by Taige Shukla

Gujarati Methi Thepla Happy August Saathee fam! This month’s recipe has been a long time coming and one my grandma (Amma) has been insisting I learn how to make for ages! Classic methi thepla is a staple in most Gujarati households, so naturally it’s a recipe we had to share. Thepla is essentially a spiced roti or flat bread, typically made with a handful of spices and methi (fenugreek leaves) or even other shredded veggies such as squash and ginger / garlic.

Whatever your preference, it’s super easy to make your own and adjust the spice levels. This recipe was inspired by my recent travels (that had also been a long time coming) and the desi-need to pack snacks when on the go. If you weren’t aware, thepla is the ultimate travel snack. Lightweight, easy to pack, won’t make a mess, and lasts for 3-4 days! I was lucky enough to take some of Amma’s thepla on a recent trip to Spain, and they came in handy during my travels. Okay okay…they may or may not have been eaten before I could even make it on the plane. Regardless, they hit the spot! So be sure to pack this Gujarati classic for your next summer trip.

You won’t regret it! Special thanks to Amma (Charu Shukla).

Ingredients 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup dahi (yogurt) ¾ cup fresh or frozen methi (fenugreek leaves), finely chopped 2 green chili peppers, ground into a paste ¼ cup sesame seeds 2 tbsp vegetable oil 2 tsp turmeric powder Salt to taste (about 2 tsp) Optional: ¼ cup gor (aka jaggery) or dark brown sugar

Saathee.com

Servings: 20 Prep Time: 30 min - 1 hour Cooking Time: 15 - 20 minutes

Directions

1 Start by prepping the dough. Combine dahi (yogurt), ground green chilis, turmeric, salt to taste and gor (jaggery) together and set aside. Add flour and oil into a separate large bowl and mix in the chopped methi. Option to use a food processor here to ensure the methi is fully mixed into the flour. You can also try incorporating some finely chopped ginger and garlic for even more flavor.

2 Next, start to slowly add the dahi mixture into the flour mixture, until the dough begins to form; option to continue to use the food processor in this step as well. Remove the dough and knead with your hands until semi-stiff and smooth. Cover and let sit for about 10 mins.

3 Now form the dough into about twenty 1-inch balls (basically golf ball size). Take a ball and

using a rolling pin, roll it out into a thin circle, forming the thepla / flatbread. Warm a flat skillet to medium-high heat and add the thepla, roast on both sides until light brown spots begin to form. Then add a drop of oil on one side and evenly spread. Hint: if the thepla begins to puff up, gently press on the puffed sides and rotate, this helps make the thepla soft and flaky once fully cooked. Repeat on the other side.

4 Continue until all theplas are complete and cooled, stack them together, wrap in a paper towel and store in a closed container to keep them nice and soft! Serve with your favorite athanu (pickle), chutney, ghee, chai or simply enjoy on its own!

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Paul Taylor Dance Company is one of my favorites and it did not disappoint. I am used to seeing them at larger venues like the Durham Performing Arts Center but none of the ADF shows were at DPAC this year.

PTDC was somehow different in a smaller space of Duke’s Page Auditorium – maybe more intimate, maybe more muted – but the classical foundation and elegantly strong dancers made an irresistible evening as always. It was the third time that I have seen their frenzied Syzygy; this dance, I must say, really shines in a larger performance space.

They had enticing dances Cloven Kingdom and one that my teenaged daughter and I particularly liked, Hope is the thing with Feathers. This dance featured relatively plain costumery reflecting birds letting their environment (dance and not-subtly-bird-referencing music including clips of the Beatles’ Blackbird) shine through.

Don’t miss the outdoor September shows at the North Carolina Museum of Art. It features four consecutive days of performances. Info at AmericanDanceFestival.org

ADF Review

continued from page 34

human life from birth to death (including the pioneering use of Indian cello), Dhvee (Duality) with both Indonesian and Indian interpretation of the Ramayana, Sthree set to a score by Dr. L. Subramaniam and inspired by the Tamil epic Silappathikaram (The Anklet), and Sacred Earth featuring the kolam “painted prayers” of Southeastern India and ancient wall paintings of the Western Indian Warli people (by the way, I recommend a visit to NCSU’s Gregg Museum of Art with an exhibit by Asheville photographer Martha Strawn featuring threshold creations like kolam). I published in Saathee in June 2012 an interview I had the pleasure of having with Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy.

Summer travel precluded my attending all of the shows that I would have wanted to, but I did have the pleasure of seeing several. I was very pleasantly surprised by ShaLeigh Dance Works, a local troupe that I knew would be appealing. I like to see how modern dancers push the envelope and they did that by performing in a space I love, Durham’s Fruit, a former fruit and produce warehouse, and by offering attendees … blindfolds! The dance was meant to have audiences experience the artform the way those with various levels of visual limitations might. It was such an intriguing, innovative, and immersive idea!

Note: American Dance Festival logo and photographs courtesy of American Dance Festival All images are used with permission.

Dilip Barman is a photographer, teacher, health coach, and computer scientist.

Contact: dilip@dilip.info

Personal Finances

continued from page 54

give $16,000 to anyone every year with IRS not even batting an eye about this transaction. Anyone is anyone, known or unknown and there is no problem. Most of the time it is done between relatives like sons and daughters or others and then of course grandchildren. Most common way this is used is for the down payment of a house or car someone may be buying. If it is for a house this is how it would work. Between you and your spouse Rennie Harris photo by Nikki Carrara you can give $32,000 to your son, then again you and your spouse can give another $32,000 to your daughter-in-law; that makes $64,000. Now if you time it properly like the Rennie Harris Puremovement presented a “gospel end of the year and beginning of the next, within a matter House work” that dramatized the story of a man coming of days you can move $128,000 for the purpose of down of age in the ‘hood trying to find himself while payment. navigating between the stabilizing influence of the Black church and seeming allure of gang lifestyle.

Trusts I enjoyed the music and was happy that themes of Many different kinds of trusts can be created for the conflicted youth in difficult circumstances were explored purpose of moving assets from your estate to other. It but wish that the dance were longer to allow particularly should be noted that such transfers are permanent, and it the main character to more fully be developed. will be difficult to bring the money back into your estate Abby Z and the New Utility was certainly modern again. So, it should be properly thought out. dance. Performed at Duke’s beautiful von der Heyden Studio Theater in the Rubenstein Arts Center, it allowed Mo Vidwans everybody a first or second row seat (except for the few is an independent, board certified financial planner. For details visit, in the upper seating area) to a rigorous and demanding VidwansFinancial.com, call 984-888-0355 or write to: athletic demonstration of the sheer power of dance. mpvidwans@yahoo.com Saathee.com

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Similarly, H-4 children cannot accept jobs like their youthful counterparts (i.e. wait staff or lifeguards), which again starves the economy of needed new labor. Unleash years or older. Although statistical evidence is still scarce, H-4 spouses and dependent children into the economy, anecdotal evidence seems to indicate that the pandemic as they are able-bodied and often highly skilled workers has driven many of these workers from the post-COVID whose potential is currently untapped. workforce.

This has left a significant hole in the labor market, Grant employment authorization locally. which simply has not been adequately filed by younger Currently individuals applying for employment workers entering the workforce. authorization must submit their applications to a national How do we fix this problem? In a word: immigration. service center that often takes months to respond.

The United States continues to remain the destination of Inquiries often go unheeded, while workers waste days choice for both highly skilled and unskilled labor waiting for government action. Since local offices are worldwide. flexible and nimble, allowing locales to accept and The mass migration that currently impacts the United adjudicate application may help to drive efficiency and States’ southern border evidences the huge magnet the increase output. While waiting for the actual card to be country’s economy has on those with lesser means and delivered, local USCIS offices could also grant applicants while some migrants come to the US for less than noble a temporary stamp approving their authority to work, reasons, overwhelmingly most are simply seeking a which can then be used to immediately obtain better life for their children and themselves. More employment. importantly, the ability to help reduce the labor shortage By reducing wait times from months to weeks, the can partially be done without the need of assistance of a number of available workers would increase divided Congress. The following are a few steps that the dramatically.

Biden Administration can take without Congressional approval to help increase the number of available foreign Stop the overly restrictive adjudication of work visas. workers: Ask any practitioner about the difficulty of getting an L-1 or E-2 visa approved and you will likely receive Get US Consulates functional again. countless stories on the challenges of understanding The concern about new variants is real and should be USCIS’ logic in visa adjudications. Words are not given taken seriously, but the continued closure of consulates their standard meaning and decision-making seems abroad borders on absurdity. Despite commanding a arbitrary. multi-billion dollar budget, the US Department of State USCIS does not operate in a vacuum and should realize continues to understaff visa offices, leading to visa delays that employers are trying unable to find labor, thus that seem endless. necessitating the import of foreign workers. Easing this The Biden Administration can easily surge resources to restrictiveness, coupled with boosting consular efficiency visa offices to help clear the backlog, but increasing (see above), should provide a slight reprieve from this capacity or in some cases, simply creating interview ongoing worker shortage, particularly in areas of high waiver options. Individuals that clearly meet the expertise. requirements for visa issuance should not be required to wait months to get an interview. Allowing for expedited Biden Administration officials often point to processing would reduce delays and get badly needed Congressional inaction as the driving reason behind our workers to US shores faster. country’s dysfunctional immigration system, which is largely true; however, the Administration can do much Grant certain non-immigrant dependents employment more through regulatory and policy changes to boost the authorization, specifically H-4 dependents. number of available workers without stepping into more H-1B visa holders, by definition, must occupy a contentious policy debates such as border and “specialty occupation” or one that traditionally requires enforcement policies. a bachelor’s degree. Many H-1B visa holders are married By simply using the tools that it already has at its to H-4 spouses and have H-4 children. H-4 dependents disposal, the Administration can help to dent the current are ordinarily not permitted employment authorization labor shortage and bring balance and some normalcy with the only exemption for H-4 spouses that are back into our current economic outlook. currently waiting for a current priority date in order to be able to seek permanent residency status.

As many H-1B visa holders are married to spouses that share their advanced educational experience, the United States currently has tens of thousands of skilled and Rishi P. Oza capable workers sitting at their homes and without a way is Partner at Brown Immigration Law, a firm that focuses solely on of using their skills in an economy that needs the help. immigration law; he practices in Durham. roza@rbrownllc.com

Immigration Matters

continued from page 38

Saathee.com

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Final question. Give me the elevator pitch on remanufacturing.

Remanufacturing is a process by which we bring a product that has been used back to a like-new-or-better condition. Through a rigorous industrial process, we disassemble the product to the component level. We clean, inspect and restore it, qualifying every part. We then reassemble the product similar to what happened when it was built the first time. The reality is that by doing so, you’re using anywhere from 70 percent to 90 percent of the materials recovered from the use phase. This has significantly far lower impacts on the environment when compared to making new products from raw materials.

You don’t mine virgin material for that. You’re saving the energy that made those parts; you’re saving the capital equipment that made those parts; you’re saving the labor cost. So the savings are significant. The overall savings are about 50 percent. For example, a remanufactured vehicle part in the United States requires less than 10 percent of the energy needed to make a new one, and less than 5 percent of new materials. That means lower costs for the producer while providing the consumer with a very highquality product. Examples of commonly remanufactured products are construction equipment, automotive engines and transmissions, medical equipment and aircraft parts.

Those products are similar to brand-new products, and companies like Xerox, Caterpillar and GE all have made remanufacturing a part of their overall operations.

Sustainable Manufacturing

continued from page 42

world or save it. And I think the rationale was that if China and India copy the model and technologies used in the West to building its industrial system, the world will see drastic negative impact on the environment. The key factor here is the significantly high scale of activities needed to support their very large populations. However, if they are much more innovative and come up with much more efficient and cleaner methods better than used in the West to build up industrial enterprises, they would save the world because the scale of what they do is significant.

In talking about how these two countries could either ruin or save the world, do you remain an optimist?

Absolutely. I serve on the United Nations Environment Program’s International Resource Panel. One of the IRP’s roles is to inform policy through validated independent scientific studies. One of the panel’s reports is called the Global Resources Outlook. The last report was published in 2019.

The experts are saying that if business as usual continues, we’re probably going to increase greenhouse gas emission by 43 percent by 2060. However, if we employ effective sustainability measures across the globe, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a significant percentage, even by as much as 90 percent. A 2018 study I led for the IRP found that applying remanufacturing alongside other resource recovery methods like comprehensive refurbishment, repair and reuse could cut greenhouse gas emissions of those products by 79 percent– 99 percent across manufacturing supply chains.

So there is optimism if we employ many sustainability measures. However, I’ve been around long enough to know that it’s always disappointing to see that the indicators are there; the approaches to address some of those issues are identified, but the will to actually employ them isn’t. Despite this, I’m still optimistic because we know enough about the right path forward and it is still not too late to move in the right direction.

Article courtesy of theconversation.com

The Editor’s Desk

continued from page 14

Americans. In a way it’s the best of both worlds, the old country and its traditions and the new country and all its ambitions, blended by Indian Americans making their homes across this land. This is what immigrants do in the United States. They bring energy and a mindset to expand opportunities, create a better country.

The energy of immigrants in this land of migrants keeps redefining the idea of America. It is a continuing story. Just as in a sense the migrants and travelers who have settled in India over the centuries continue to define the idea of India, its deep traditions, cultures and the tomorrow-gazing dreams of its youth.

The August winds swirl around the world. This night, as midnight approaches, a cooler breeze is now passing through the neighborhood. The night noises have quieted a bit. The work of the sober middle, the quiet majority, of both India and United States, can lead to a quieter night and a better tomorrow.

Were there any lessons we’ve learned during the pandemic that we can apply to challenges we’re facing?

We learned a lot from the COVID crisis. When the risk became known, even though not all agreed, people around the globe took significant measures and actions to address the challenge. We accepted changes to the way we live and interact, we marshaled all of our resources to develop vaccines and address the medical supply shortages. The bottom line is that we rose to the occasion and we, in most part, took actions to deal with the risk in a significant way.

The environmental challenges we face today, like climate change, are serious global challenges as well.

However, they have been occurring over a long time and, unfortunately, mostly have not been taken as seriously as they should have been. We certainly have learned that when we have the will to address serious challenges, we can meet them.

Saathee.com

Samir Shukla Editor of Saathee Magazine Contact: Samir@Saathee.com Twitter: @ShuklaWrites // Newsletter: ShuklaWrites.Substack.com

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Registration Now Open for

NASA 2022 International Space Apps Challenge

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Joins NASA as a Space Agency Partner This Year The NASA International Space Apps Challenge – the world’s largest annual hackathon – returns this year with the theme “Make Space,” which emphasizes NASA’s commitment to inclusivity. This year’s challenge will focus on Earth and space science, technology, and exploration.

Participant registration for in-person and virtual events is now open through October 2, 2022 Space Apps provides a platform where everyone across the globe with a passion for creativity and innovation can use their unique perspectives to tackle challenges created

by NASA experts. The challenges range in skill level, expertise, subject matter, and objective, and span a spectrum of disciplines and interests that range from artificial intelligence and software development to art and storytelling.

“Each year, Space Apps allows thousands to engage with NASA and its partners’ open data during the hackathon,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate administrator for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate.

“It has been rewarding to see the innovative projects created by Space Apps Challenge participants and observe their potential to generate meaningful contributions toward solving some of the most difficult challenges studied by NASA on Earth and in space.”

Space Apps provides a positive and safe environment that fosters collaboration and a growth mindset. Whether participants are exploring a challenge, learning to be creative, defining team roles, learning a technical skill, or learning to cope with hiccups that arise during challenge weekend, the innovative and flexible structure of this event allows participants to walk away enriched, motivated, and excited about learning.

“Talent is everywhere, but scarcity of opportunity leaves so much talent unused and potential untapped,” said Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Science Division.

“There are so many positive stories resulting from this challenge that underscore the value of ‘making space’ for everyone.”

Saathee.com

Since its inception in 2012, Space Apps has created and steadily grown a global community held together by the common interest of solving problems and creating impact.

The success stories directly resulting from these challenges range from the creation of new products and business ventures, innovative upgrades to existing products, and has helped connect people socially and professionally, giving them access to expertise and insight they otherwise would not have. By connecting teams to challenges and experts from space agencies across the world, participants have access to new opportunities and knowledge that can impact them for a lifetime.

This year NASA is excited to announce the addition of the Indian Space Research Organization and Mexican Space Agency to the roster of space agency partners supporting Space Apps.

Valued partners returning from last year include Australian Space Agency, Brazilian Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, ESA (European Space Agency), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, National Space Activities Commission of Argentina, National Space Science Agency of Bahrain, Paraguayan Space Agency, and the South African National Space Agency. Space agency partnership encourages more extensive global collaboration and provides a broader platform for participants to contribute to the fields of Earth and space science and technology through Space Apps.

Space Apps is managed by NASA’s Earth Science Division in the agency’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. It is organized in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, SecondMuse, and the NASA Open Innovation Applied Sciences Program. Learn more about Space Apps and how to get involved on their website.

For more information about Space Apps and to register for an in-person or online event on Oct. 1-2, 2022, visit: Spaceappschallenge.org.

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Who wants to be a Scholar?!

Answer the ones you know and research the rest.

There is only one correct answer!

1. Arrange these cars in order of price (in US $) from most to least... (a) Tesla S (b) Gordon Murray (c) Mercedes (d) Rolls Royce Boat Tail

Word World

2. The number of Filmfare awards received by the late versatile singer Mohammad Rafi were (a) 8 (b) 7 (c) 6 (d) 5

By Kirit Shukla

O C D

N

T

M

I

N

E

3. The atomic weight of Mercury is: (a) 207 (b) 201 (c) 197 (d) 195 4. A Misanthrope hates (a) Reasons (c) Wars

5. The equatorial radius of Neptune is about? (a) 26,764 km (b) 25,764 km (c) 24,764 km (d) 23,764 km 6. The area of an ellipse with x and y axis is equal to 4‘ and 7’ respectively is (a) 88 Sq. ft. (b) 68 Sq. ft.. (c) 48 Sq. ft. (d) 28 Sq. ft.

Make words using 5 or more letters. The central letter must be used in each word. Plural words are not allowed.

Use all letters for the subject word (underlined in solutions below)

7. The effectiveness of N95 & KN95 masks, per research of EPA in 2021 are (a) 45% (b) 60 % (c) 74% (d) 80 to 95%

11+ words = Excellent; 7 to 10 words = Good; 6 or less = keep looking.

Words we found are in solutions below.

8. Wimbledon 2022 women’s singles winner. (a) Serena Williams (b) Elena Rybakina (c) Maria Sharapova (d) Simone Halep 9. Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the first practical telephone was born on date? (a) March 3, 1847 (b) March 3, 1842 (c) Aug. 2, 1885 (d) Aug. 2, 1922

Brain-Train Here is a fun quiz. See if you can solve it. No peeking!

Match the number in column 1 with letter in column 2 State Bird..

...US State

1. Northern Cardinal 2. Caroline Wren 3. Eastern Bluebird 4. Greater Roadrunner 5. Purple Finch 6. American Robin 7. Northern Mockingbird 8. Brown Thrasher 9. Common Loon 10. Willow Ptarmigan

A. South Carolina B. New Hampshire C. Florida D. Alaska E. Georgia F. New York G. Michigan H. Minnesota I. New Mexico J. North Carolina

10. The highest mountain in Afghanistan is (a) Kuh-e-Hevad (b) Gumbaz-e-Safed (c) Noshaq (d) Lunkho-e-Dosare Answers are on bottom left. No Peeking.

Scholar: All correct; 1st Class: 9 Correct; 2nd Class: 8 Correct; 3rd Class: 7 Correct; Need to improve: 6 or less

Key Word Search Fill in the blanks of these seven clues, then take the first letter of each word and unscramble them to find the Key Word of the Month.

Older. E ____ A bird can ___.

A circle is a perfectly ___ figure.

Of the highest quality. E ____ Currency.________ A physician. ______ University of ______, UK or town in Mississippi.

Brain Train: 1-J, 2-A, 3-F, 4-I, 5-B, 6-G, 7-C, 8-E, 9-H, 10-D Scholar 1. d, b, c, a, 2.d 7.d 8.b

3.b 4.d 5.c 9.a 10.c

6.a

Word World (Solution): CENTIMO, CONDIMENT, COMET, CONDEMN, CONTEMN, DEMIC, DEMIT, DEMON, DEMONIC, DEMOTIC, DENIM, DOMIC, DOMINE, EMODIN, MEDIC, MENTION, MINCE, MONDE, NOMEN, TINMAN, TONEMI. Saathee.com

(b) Cultural activities (d) Humanity

Answers on page 88 84

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August 2022

PUZZLES AND JOKES

Clues Down: 1. Filled near or to capacity.

2. Antlers.

3. August. (*) 4. The state in the western U.S.; capital Salt Lake City 6. American Nurses Credentialing Center. (*) 7. American Airlines. (*) 8. An African beefeater or oxpecker.

9. Organlike keyboard instrument that produces tones with free metal reeds played by air forced from a bellows.

10. To prepare an edition for publication.

11. Eastern Standard Time. (*) 13. A military adversary.

16. Freedom.

20. Education. (*) 23. Leadership by Walking Around. (*) 26. An expression used to indicate the sound of a cough or grunt or to express disgust or horror.

27. A deity worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu.

29. Not able to operate; to mend.

30. Seldom occurring or found.

32. Australasian Soil and Plant Analysis Council (*) 34. Opposed Flow Flame Spread (*).

36. Computer Science. (*) 38. Bachelor of engineering. (*) 40. Red and brown waterfowl with a long beak.

42. Advance Diploma in Java Programming. (*) 44. An exaggerated sense of self-importance; conceit.

45. A female person.

48. Not Applicable. (*) 49. South Dakota. (*) 50. Maiden loved by Zeus; changed into a white heifer.

By Kirit Shukla

Note: * denotes abbreviation of the word or phrase Clues Across: 1. “Purulia ___ “, is the folk dance of West Bengal state, India.

5. The best results for ad. In this magazine.

12. A highway.

14. Nymphs of springs, fountains, and fresh water streams (Greek mythology).

15. Relating to or derived from living organisms.

17. Minute rough granules, as of sand or stone.

18. Why Not? (*) (Used in text messages) 19. Therefore.

21. Montana. (*) 22. Digital Subscriber Line. (*) 24. Maryland. (*) 25. Two people or two things in close association.

28. A purchaser.

31. To snarl; growl.

33. A covering of soft, short hairs, as on some leaves or fruit.

35. A game resembling backgammon, originating in India.

37. Small manufacturing plants able to make solid, three-dimensional objects from digital data 39. United Parcel Service. (*) 40. Whether; -- in dependent questions.

41. The baby boy, Biblical name means born again. (Latin) 42. A female servant in eastern Asia, esp. a Chinese nurse.

43. Bachelor in Science in Electrical Engineering. (*) 45. South Dakota. (*) 46. Credit Note. (*) 47. Respected name for Lord Ganapati. (Hindu religion) 51. A chief verse consisting of two lines of 16 syllables each or of four octosyllabic form of the Sanskrit epic.

52. A place for storing goods or motor vehicles.

Saathee.com

(solution on page 88)

Editor’s Note: Due to a printing error in the July issue, the wordfind box was wrong. We are reprinting it here. Sorry for the confusion.

Find & circle the words in the puzzle.

Subject: Kerala, India The unused 12 letters spell ”Tranquil undisturbed reserve of tropical rainforests.” (answer on page 88)

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ANAMUDI ATHIRAPPALLY BALSAM BEGUR BEYPORE BISAN CHINNAR COCONUT COREAREA ENGLISH GHAT HANDICEAFT HOUSEBOAT IBIS IDUKKI KALADI KALLAM KOCHI LARKS MUNNAR NEYYAR OWL PEACOCK RAMA SADYA TEA TEAL TIGER August

2022

WordFind

Math Magic Fill in the empty squares to get = the final given answers.

Use any number from 1 to 9 only once (except 4): Note: Follow the order of operation per basic math rule: ×,÷, +, The multiplication or division is done before addition and subtraction. (solution on page 88)

Find & circle the words in the puzzle.

Subject: West Bengal, India AQUATICA BANKURA BELURMATH BIRLA BOSE COPPER DARJILING DEER DURGA ECO GHONCHO HOOGLY HOWRAHBRIDGE

IRON JALDAPARA KAJOL KALIGHAT KOLKATA MALDA PATI RHINO SANDESH SHREYA TEA TIGER TOY

EZ-BZ TEST YOUR IQ The common letters are “ALA” - Fill in the blanks)

1. The large Desert in Savanna in South Africa.

_ ALA _ _ _ _

2. Cured sausage typically made with pork

_ ALA _ _

3. Utterance used to express unhappiness or concern.

4. Town in Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh.

5. Island in the west Pacific. Capital:. Ngerulmud.

6. State in the Western U.S. Capital: Juneau.

7. A hill in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu.

ALA _

_ _ _ _ _ ALA _ ALA _ ALA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ALA

8. A form of divorce under Islamic law.

_ ALA _

9. The 21st largest Indian state by area on the The unused 15 letters spell: ”A reformer AKA father of modern India.” (answer on page 88)

Malabar Coast. Capital: Thiruvananthapuram.

10. Ganga river near Badrinath, India.

_ _ _ ALA

ALA _ _ _ _ _ _ _

11. Herbivore marsupial native to Australia.

_ _ ALA

12. Disney Character who had a magic lamp.

13. Dravidian language of Kerala, India.

ALA _ _ _ _ _ ALA _ ALA _

14. A poplar tree, Aspen.

ALA _ _

15. Divest of the wings - used for insects (as ants) that drop their wings after a nuptial flight.

16. Large group of stars, such as The Milky Way. 17. State in the SE U.S. Capital: Montgomery.

18. The basic monetary unit of Samoa.

_ _ ALA _ _ _ ALA _ _ ALA _ _ _ _ _ ALA

19. Krishna is seen as a cowherd. (Hindi word)

_ _ _ ALA

20. An equal distribution of weight or amount.

_ ALA _ _ _

21. Rain drops (Farsi); A fast style played on Sitar.

22. An Indo-Aryan language spoken Sri Lanka.

_ _ ALA _ _ _ _ ALA

(Puzzle solutions are on page 88. NO peeking!)

Saathee Puzzle Master Kirit Shukla kiritsshukla@gmail.com Saathee.com

87

August 2022

Festivals & Holidays Spot the Differences Solutions from page 50

August 2022 Aug. 1 - Lughnasadh Aug. 4 - Tulsidas Jayanti Aug. 7 - Friendship Day Aug. 7 - Ashura Aug. 7 - Tisha B’Av Aug. 8 - Putradā Ekadashi Aug. 11 - Raksha Bandhan Aug. 11 - Nariyal Poonam (Full Moon) Aug. 11 - Gayatri Jayanti Aug. 14 - Independence Day (Pakistan) Aug. 15 - Independence Day (India) Aug. 16 - Nag Panchami Aug. 16 - Rāndhan Chhath Aug. 17 - Shitalā Saptami Aug. 18 - Janmashtami / Krishna Birthday Aug. 21 - Senior Citizens Day Aug. 22 - Ajā Ekadashi Aug. 26 - Women’s Equality Day Aug. 27 - Darsh Amas (No Moon) Aug. 28 - Muharram Ends Aug. 29 - Varah Jayanti / Hartalika Teej Aug. 30 - Ganesh Chaturthi Aug. 31 - Rishi Panchami

Puzzle Solutions from page 86-87 Key Word Search Answers from page 84 Solutions: Elder Fly Round Excellent Money Doctor Oxford

Key Word of the Month: Freedom

Math Magic from page 87

Word Find West Bengal Word Find Kerala

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August

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August 2022

Astroscope

AUGUST 2022

Aries (March 21 – April 20)

Libra (September 22 – October 20)

After a negative first week, a relaxed phase will begin. It is time to spend on a social or religious event with the family.

This is also a good time to invest in real estate. You may experience some delays in collecting outstanding payments.

A good state of health is clearly indicated. You should enjoy a fun trip with friends and family.

Don’t get involved in new ventures this month. This is a good period for family happiness, otherwise, workload and outside activities may develop frustration. Your associates should also extend their full support. Hard work will reward you with a wellearned bonus. Your partner will also achieve success during the second half of the month.

Taurus (April 21 – May 20)

Scorpio (October 21 – November 20)

Try to be practical this month. It’s better to concentrate on enjoying family and social life. A long-term career decision might occur this month. This is a good time for students. If working, chances for a promotion and rise in income are there. An unexpected expense may take away a big chunk of your earnings. Also watch your health.

This period should be very comfortable. You will meet some influential people which could lead to a rise in both status and income. You might also join in on some profitable deals. Travel will prove quite relaxing. Others should appreciate your social and religious work. Overall, this month will be pleasant and lively.

Sagittarius (November 21 – December 21)

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

You will be very active this month and may gain success at your place of business. Friends and family will offer whatever assistance you need. You will be relieved from financial worries.

New relations with someone of a different gender should help you feel more relaxed. This will be an action-oriented period with a change of residence or business investment also possible.

After a positive start, you will experience a minor downfall this month. There is the possibility of promotion, so try to maintain an easy temperament and keep working hard. This is also a good period for investment in real estate. A strong parapsychic experience may offer major change to your friend circle and/or relations with associates.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 21)

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

This month will relieve you from tension and anxiety.

Domestically you will be happy as your long-cherished desires should be fulfilled. Travel this month will bring good results. You could also receive good news about benefits or monetary gains.

Your enemy will be easily defeated. Be mindful of your health and don’t dispute with your partner.

Income and expenses should balance out this month. You may experience a delay in longstanding plans such as education or business decisions. Wise judgements may shield you from overspending and provide a base for long-term savings. This is a good time for a change in workplace or field of study.

Control your ego and anger. A sibling could bring good support this month.

Aquarius (January 22 – February 18) All your hard work will not provide financial dividends. Good news from afar is possible. You should enjoy the freedom of artistic expression and interpretation. Your overall sympathy will prove fruitful. A pleasant journey or change in workplace may occur. A relaxed state of mind is also indicated. You will have the upper hand over your competitors. A change in relations with your partner is possible.

Leo (July 23 – August 22) Now is the time for any property investment benefits to materialize. You will be successful due to an attentive mindset and bold actions. Friends and family will offer whatever assistance you need. Your opponents will dare not face you.

Don’t get involved in any love affair. Students should see unexpectedly positive results. Try to control any egoistical thoughts. Unexpected expenses are possible this month.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20) You will see mixed results this month. There could be opportunities coming your way, but you may not be able to utilize them. This is not a good time for heart patients. There could be a rise in status and position, but without any financial benefit. A very positive change is possible during the last few days of the month.

Virgo (August 23 – September 21) During this month you will experience a lack of vitality. A family member’s ill health along with fear of change might disrupt your peace of mind. Keep yourself busy with work to avoid such negative thoughts. Try to control your speech. Your income should not change one way or the other this month.

Travel may prove rewarding.

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August

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August 2022

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Immediate opening for experienced live-in Manager for 50-room independent motel in Charlotte, NC. Attractive salary plus bonus and complimentary two-bedroom apartment.

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Contact PM Patel at 704-502-2444 or Hotel Help Wanted: Hiring an pmphotels@gmail.com. experienced couple to fully manage Gas Station / C-Store Help wanted in independent motel in Richmond, VA. Greensboro, NC. Must have prior Hiring Front Desk Manager for 72-room experience. Great salary with benefits. interior corridor franchise hotel near Manager positions also available. Call Suffolk, VA. Accommodations provided.

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Hotel Help Needed: Front Desk, Housekeeper, & Maintenance for hotel in Charlotte. Accommodations provided. email: Imoore9593@yahoo.com.

Convenience Store Help Wanted in Charlotte, NC. Single or Couple. Salary w/ incentives. Open 6am to 11pm. Call Vipul 704-431-8310.

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Text or Call 704-701-9482.

Manager / Front Desk needed for Franchise Hotel in Rock Hill, SC. Accommodations Provided. Contact 803517-4662.

August

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Marketing Salesperson needed. Fulltime position in High Point area. Must be fluent in English and be a good team player. Good Salary with vacation. Call Raj 336-558-3410.

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August 2022

overjoyed. The Gurus of dance and music have taught me how to meditate.

Fires of Varanasi

continued from page 46

Preethi Sriram is a classical indian dance enthusiast and lifelong learner of dance.

Contact: SriramPreethi@hotmail.com

Philosophies in Sanatana Dharma say no: we do not have to go anywhere- Mother is here if we meditate on her. But that leaves a conundrum for the seeker- How to meditate? Who will teach to meditate? What Guru to seek? How long to sit with Mother? It is hard to sit still even for a few minutes Mother as the mind wanders here and there- how to control this mind, so fickle in its ways?

This is where the arts are but one medium to seek Mother Ganga where the arts and the artists become the Gurus to guide the new practitioner in their endeavor.

The Gurus of dance and music, the Raneee & Aparna Ramaswamy’s Ragamala Dance Company, created by a Mother and Daughter dance team, may be the spiritual guide to take us on a journey to Varanasi.

How does the music of the spiritual Varanasi sound?

What is the celestial music of the land? Hear the chimes of the bells to call in the divinities. Feel the beat and the bols of the mridangam. Listen to the flute- The enchanting flute of the cowherd Krishna. Hear the intricate jathis from the musical instrument of the dancer’s feet tied with salangai, tapping to a rhythmic beat of worship.

What does spiritual Varanasi look like? - see the blooming of the flowers. See the bee take the nectar from the various flowers, of all colors, which are all rich in shades and beautiful and unique, just as all people. See the trees, blessed by the Divine Mother, glorious in weight from the fruit and flowers. When it rains, how beautiful! The dark clouds are a representation of the beauty of the divine Krishna, Neela Megha Shymalan.

What are the devotees doing? Watch as they perform the Surya Namaskar on the banks of the river Ganga to greet the morning, as they calm their mind to start the cycle of the day. Watch as they bathe in the Holy waters of the Ganga to purify themselves and to learn their connection of the Atma to the Parabrahman.

Mother Ganga flows through the matted locks of Shiva, or Gangadara Shankara. Shiva- Bho Shambo/Shiva Shambo Swaymbho. Shiva who is also known as NatarajaThe Divine King and Guru of Dance who mercifully taught the divine dance to Bharatha Muni to help the people of earth to stop fighting and to learn dharma.

Shiva, who wears ashes and is found in the crematoriums. Shiva who forgives easily and has the forces of spirits known as Bhutha Ganas. Shiva, the devotee of Vishnu, helping the souls to find Vishnu.

Dhimi tha Dhimi tha Dhimi Dhimi Kita Thaka Thom: Watch the awe-inspiring dance of Shiva.

Mother Ganga- Your presence is felt. Your divine love is here and is everywhere. You are showering us with your divine love and mercy. Mookam karothi vachalam: With the grace of Mother Ganga, Shiva, and the ultimate mercy of Vishnu, the fool is now a poet. Mother Ganga is washing me, and I am one of her children.

And the stage goes dark: The dancers take a bow. We applaud. The meditation was nearly 85 minutes. I am Saathee.com

Raajeev’s Corner

continued from page 56

they had taken it off their menu. In a statement, the petitioner mentioned that when he was growing up, Taco Bell was an integral part of the Indian American experience. When I read that, I realized that it was true for our family too. Sadly, our kids went to Taco Bell more often than Hindu temples. It probably made us bad parents, but they never complained!

My son also showed me an Instagram account @TacoBellSommelier of Tarun Sinha, an Indian American, who spends his free time pairing wines with Taco Bell menu items. Can you imagine someone saying, “Yes, I would like to order a Mexican Pizza, beans instead of beef, some cheesy potatoes, and a glass of cabernet sauvignon.” “We are out of cab, Sir.” “OK, I’ll have a Merlot.” Somehow that conversation seemed a bit alien.

My son clarified that it is for people who would order take out or those who are bold enough to BYOB – Bring Your Own Booze.

I also read that several years ago, an Indian American couple sued Taco Bell for $2,500 because they were accidentally served beef despite having given clear instructions of wanting beans. They wanted the money for a roundtrip ticket to India so they could take a bath in the Ganges to purify themselves. I have also been a victim of these mistakes in the past. I would just spit out the food, wash my mouth and point to their mistake. I would show them the receipt where it would clearly say substitute beans with beef. Most of the time they apologized and gave me a replacement. If they didn’t apologize, I would give them a stern lecture and feel better afterwards. When I read the story, I felt that the couple’s argument was weak. The judge also must have felt the same way and denied the award to the couple.

I was discussing the story about the Mexican Pizza’s comeback with my wife’s relatives, and they mentioned that I should try the Fajita Burrito. I didn’t even know such a thing existed. You know what that means? It is time to relive the quintessential Indian American experience - it is time to replenish my supply of Taco Bell sauce! It will be my cheat meal of the month. Even though I will have a Mexican Pizza for old time’s sake, I’ll cleanse my body from all the preservatives with a regimen of organic green juice afterwards.

Raajeev Aggerwhil is a Los Angeles-based comedian. Follow him on Instagram @raajeevcomedy. Search for him on YouTube.

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August

2022

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August 2022

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Brijal Shah (Keller Williams - Real Estate)..................37

Home Decorators Of America (Atlanta) .....................40

Ruby Kravitz Realtor (NC / SC) ..................................31

British International School of Charlotte.......................9

Indore Oil .................................................................91

Rug and Home.........................................................10

British Swim School..................................................51

InStride Carolina Podiatry Group...............................83

Saffron Restaurant and Catering...............................85

Brown Immigration Law (Rishi Oza, Partner).............60

Insurance - Tushar Barot, Supreme Insurance Serv..97

Shah & Associates, CPA, PLLC.................................79

C4D Mortgage (Jubi Chackunkal, P.E.) .....................89

Insurance Shopping (Sonal Patel - Independent Agent).63

Shah & Trivedi CPA, PLLC.........................................35

Carolina Law Group (Monty Desai)............................58

Jay Bale (Real Estate - Commercial & Residential)....49

Shah, Anish (Real Estate) ...................................52-53

Carolina Medical Partners.........................................63

JVC Realty (Balaji Tatineni Realtor / Broker)...............73

Sheraton Chapel Hill (ATMA Hotel Group) .................36

Carolina Pharmacy .................................................47

Khanna & Sons Jewelers .........................................13

Shukla, Kirit (Music Lession & Band).........................73

CaroMont Medical Group (Bankim Patel MD) ...........45

Maadhurya Photography..........................................61

Sona Realty (Venkat Suryadevara) ............................32

Charlotte Chess Center ............................................31

Maharani Indian Cuisine (Charlotte) ..........................95

SP Orthodontics (Matthews) .....................................59

Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat ..............................76

Malak Jewelers........................................................27

The Blue Taj..............................................................57

Chiro-Carolina

....................................................83

Malani Jewelers.....................................................100

Travel Passion ..........................................................37

Color Master Collision Center ...................................77

Malaya Kitchen.........................................................51

Tropical Smoothie Café (Help Wanted)......................65

Concha, David (Immigration Attorney).......................37

Mathur, Gitanjali (Allen Tate Realtors) ........................51

Tyagi, Rita (Real Estate).............................................75

Concord Children's Clinic ......................................73

Meenakshi Creations LLC.........................................39

Union Family Eye Associates (Dr. Keshav Bhat).........75

Copper Restaurant (Charlotte)...................................57

Nareeka Collection ...................................................29

Uniworld Travel .........................................................63

County South Realty & Business Brokers..................81

Neeta's Beauty Parlor...............................................73

Vema Mortgage LLC (Sebastian George) .19/35/59/79

Desai & Desai LLP (CPA & Financial Services)..........37

New Goloka Temple ISKCON (Janmastami)..............24

Windsor Run (Erickson Senior Living)........................33

Desai, Rajarshi (CPA, PLLC)......................................85

North American Bancard ........................................11

Worldwide Travels.....................................................59

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August 2022