Tuesday, March 2, 2021 Issue: 30

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Last week, FIA NY NJ CT hosted its annual Dance Pe Chance competition to find the best dancer in America. The response was overwhelming, but the talent showcased was beyond words. At the end of the competition, held over two weekends, three best dancers were named as winners in each of the four categories. Junior category winner Ria Jain named ‘America’s Best Bollywood Dancer’ RIA JAIN SENIOR CATEGORY Full coverage on Pg 2, 3

US inoculates 50 M in 37 Ode to Shiva, the Destroyer 4 days of Biden swearing-in Relief for H1-B visa holders: Hindu temples in Tri-State region are gearing up to celebrate Maha Green Card ban revoked Shivratri on March 11, in strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocol NASA’s Perseverance on aha Shivratri falls on March 11 this Shiva temples with milk, fruits and the sacred Mars to look for ancient life year. The day is celebrated to honor bilva (or bili) patra for the Lord. MLord Shiva, the Destroyer among the Temples reverberate with sacred Indian-American scientist Holy Trinity, alongside Brahma the Creator and chants. Those who fast on the occasion stay up plays key role Vishnu the Protector. all night, praying to the Lord and meditating. One popular and much-loved name of ‘Bhaang’, an intoxicating preparation from Lord Shiva is ‘Bhole Nath’, the lord who cannabis, is offered as ‘prasad’ (both, in Filmi rain after months personifies simplicity and innocence. Yet, his granular form and as a drink) to devotees on 6 of drought: Several movies fury can reduce the world to ashes. Shivatri. lined up for release in 2021 According to Hindu mythology, Shiva is In , there are 12 ‘jyotirling’, piers of also described as ‘anaadi, anant’ the one radiance that represent Lord Shiva, located at without an origin or end. 12 pilgrim spots. These are Somnath (Gujarat), Big B ‘just Shivratri falls on the 14th day of every Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga in Srisailam, Andhra sitting there in month of Hindu lunar calendar. However, the Pradesh, Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain, oblivion’ after Madhya Pradesh, Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, one in the month of Maha (Magh) is celebrated eye surgery as Maha Shivratri. Madhya Pradesh, Baidyanath Jyotirlinga in The element of revelry is central to most Deoghar, Jharkhand, Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Hindu festivals, but Maha Shivratri stands in Pune, Maharashtra, Rameshwaram, Tamil apart because of its introspective focus. There Nadu, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga in Dwarka, is full day (and night) fasting. Devotees throng Gujarat, Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga in Nasik, Maharashtra, FIA NY NJ CT wishes all its readers a very Jyotirlinga in, and Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga in Aurangabad, Maharashtra Hay Wen’s Day In the Tri-State region, Mahashivratri is celebrated at many temples—Gayatri Chetna Center-Piscataway, Sanatan Mandir Parsippany, Hindu Temple at Garfield and Kearny Ved Mandir, Durga Mandir, among others. This year due to Covid-19 pandemic, certain restrictions may be applied. May Lord Shiva end the darkness in our lives! Om Namah Shivaay! At Somnath Temple, Gujarat (Courtesy: Somnath Trust)

www.fianynjct.org Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT (FIA) info@fianynjct.org Tuesday, March 2, 2021 THE DIASPORA BI-WEEKLY Page: 2

A glimpse from Dance Pe Chance 2020

“The response to DPC 2021 despite the Covid-19 pandemic has been Lights, camera, action… overwhelming. We are proud of our It’s curtains on FIA NY NJ CT’s ‘Dance Pe Chance solo dance competition 2021’. team and participants for putting together such a wonderful program” Three best dancers were named as winners in each of the four categories. Anil Bansal, President of FIA NY NJ CT Junior category winner Ria Jain named ‘America’s Best Bollywood Dancer’ “It was a privilege to see the sincere, nstoppable! That’s how we describe February 20 and 21. and 100% voluntary, effort placed to the immensely talented dancers who The contest started out with 200 showcase our community’s talent. set the stage of Dance Pe Chance 2021 participants in the auditions, of which 26 were U Congratulations to all the participants on fire, virtually. Neither the pandemic, nor the selected for the finale. Celebrity judges for the absence of a physical stage could dampen their final round were well-known Indian actress and kudos to the team.” enthusiasm as they grooved to Bollywood and dancer Sudha Chandran, South Indian Ankur Vaidya, Chairman of FIA NY NJ CT tunes. ‘It’s a tough task’, said our judges as they actress and Kuchipudi dancer Laya Gorty and wondered whom to name the best. But the Bollywood choreographer . Expert “The performances were above par. task had to be done. judges included choreographers and dancers All the participants are winners for Winners of the final round of the 37th Swati Vaishnav, Prashasti Majmundar and Anil coming out of their comfort zone and edition of the annual Dance Pe Chance solo Diwakar. performing so well despite the dance competition 2021, organized by the This time, the event was organized Federation of Indian Associations NY NJ CT as virtually due to the pandemic, but the limitations caused by the pandemic.” part of the 72nd Indian excitement within the community was intact. Saurin Parikh, VP of FIA NY NJ CT and DPC celebration, were announced on February 23. Thanks to the efforts of the entire team and the chair 2021 They were selected from across four enthusiasm of the participants, DPC 2021, also categories of participants—minor, junior, America’s Best Bollywood Dancer, became the “We are happy that we could uphold senior and adult. Unlike previous years, there biggest online reality show in the country in our 37-year-old tradition despite the were no group performances this year due to Covid times. pandemic. In these challenging times, Covid-19 concerns. This is the 37th edition of the DPC we needed to be innovative and The event was organized over two contests. So far, approximately 20,000 improve our plans every day.” weekends. The auditions were held on participants have showcased their Bollywood Parveen Bansal, Secretary, FIA NY NJ CT February 13 and 14, while the finals were on dancing skills on this platform.

www.fianynjct.org Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT (FIA) info@fianynjct.org Tuesday, March 2, 2021 THE DIASPORA BI-WEEKLY Page: 3 Winners all the way FIA announces winners of DPC 2021. The event, held over two weekends, was organized entirely online. inners of the finale of the 37th participants in the auditions, of which 26 were the same category. edition of the annual Dance Pe selected for the finale. Celebrity judges for the Among the adult participants, Shreya WChance solo dance competition final round were well-known Indian actress Baral got the first prize, with Kiran Kumar 2021, organized by the Federation of Indian and dancer Sudha Chandran, South Indian Jandhyala at the second and Carol Chettiar at Associations NY NJ CT, were announced on actress and Kuchipudi dancer Laya Gorty and the third place. February 23. They were selected from across Bollywood choreographer Feroz Khan. Expert four categories of participants—minor, junior, judges included choreographers and dancers Wait begins for next edition senior and adult. The event, part of the 72nd Swati Vaishnav, Prashasti Majmundar and Anil Applications for the next edition of DPC will Indian Republic Day celebration, was Diwakar. begin on October 1 this year, FIA NY NJ CT organized over a span of two weekends. The president Anil Bansal announced. auditions were held on February 13 and 14, The Winners FIA is celebrating its golden jubilee this while the finals were on February 20 and 21. Rayan Siddamsettiwar was adjudged the best year. “As part of the celebration, we will have $ Started nearly four decades ago, DPC in the minor category, followed by Nayan 5,000 as the first prize for DPC 2022,” Mr Bansal has had approximately 20,000 participants till Nampally and Dhilan Shetty at the second and added. He urged the participants now, who have showcased their Bollywood third positions as well as those who missed out dancing skills. This time, the event was In the junior category, Ria Jain bagged this year to sign up for next organized virtually due to the pandemic, but the first prize, while Arya Prasad and Simone year. the excitement within the community was Shah took home the second and third intact. Thanks to the efforts of the entire team prizes respectively. Ria was also adjudged Junior category winner and the enthusiasm of the participants, DPC America’s Best Bollywood Dancer. 2021, also America’s Best Bollywood Dancer, Keshav Agiwal was ranked RIA JAIN of New Jersey became the biggest online reality show in first in the senior category. Diya was adjudged America in Covid times. Bhatt was at the second and Riya the Best Bollywood The contest started out with 200 Chaturvedi at the third place in Dancer at DPC 2021

1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST MINOR CATEGORY AWARD 2021 JUNIOR CATEGORY AWARD 2021 SENIOR CATEGORY AWARD 2021 ADULT CATEGORY AWARD 2021 RAYAN SIDDAMSETTIWAR RIA JAIN KESHAV AGIWAL SHREYA BARAL New Jersey New Jersey New Jersey New Jersey

2ND 2ND 2ND 2ND MINOR CATEGORY AWARD 2021 JUNIOR CATEGORY AWARD 2021 SENIOR CATEGORY AWARD 2021 ADULT CATEGORY AWARD 2021 NAYAN NAMPALLY ARYA PRASAD DIYA BHATT KIRAN KUMAR JANDHYALA Texas New York North Corolina Florida

3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD MINOR CATEGORY AWARD 2021 JUNIOR CATEGORY AWARD 2021 SENIOR CATEGORY AWARD 2021 ADULT CATEGORY AWARD 2021 DHILAN SHETTY SIMONE SHAH RIYA CHATURVEDI CAROL CHETTIAR New York Virginia New Jersey Pennisylavania

www.fianynjct.org Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT (FIA) info@fianynjct.org Tuesday, March 2, 2021 THE DIASPORA BI-WEEKLY Page: 4 Silver lining in Covid times US inoculates 50 M in 37 days President Joe Biden’s announcement comes days after the country crossed the mark of half-a-million deaths due to Covid-19 infection ast week, President Joe Biden Relief for H1-B visa holders: announced the administration of 50 Green Card ban revoked Lmillionth dose of Covid-19 vaccine since his swearing-in in January. That’s 50 million President Joe Biden has revoked a policy shots in 37 days. issued by his predecessor Donald Trump The announcement came just days during the pandemic that had blocked many after a grim one—the number of deaths due to Green Card applicants from entering the US. “In five weeks, America has administered the most the infection had crossed 500,000. shots of any country in the world,” - President Biden The latest move will benefit many Indians “The more people get vaccinated, the working in America on the H-1B visa. faster we're going to beat this pandemic,” “We’ll have the vaccine waiting,” Biden said, Indian IT professionals, most of Biden had said at a White House ceremony, predicting it could happen in 60 to 90 days. whom are highly skilled and come to the US noting that his administration is on course to mainly on the H-1B work visas, are the worst exceed his promise to deliver 100 million shots $1.9 T pandemic relief Bill gets House nod sufferers of the current immigration system in his first 100 days in office. “We're halfway The House of Representatives cleared a $1.9 which imposes a seven per cent per country there: 50 million shots in 37 days,” Biden said. trillion pandemic relief Bill, proposed by the quota on allotment of the coveted Green “That's weeks ahead of schedule.” Biden administration to revive the economy Card or permanent legal residency. More than 45 million Americans have that has been hit hard by the virus. The Bill was The H-1B visa, the most sought after been administered at least one dose of the passed on a near party-line 219-212 vote. among Indian IT professionals, is a non- approved vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called a minimum immigrant visa that allows US companies to since they received approval from the Food wage increase “a financial necessity for our employ foreign workers in specialty and Drug Administration in December, with families, a great stimulus for our economy and occupations that require theoretical or more than 20 million receiving both required a moral imperative for our country." She said technical expertise. The technology doses.The President added that there would the House would "absolutely" approve a final companies depend on it to hire tens of be enough vaccine for everyone who wants it. version of the relief bill because of its thousands of employees each year from However, he pointed out that hesitance could widespread benefits, even if it lacked countries like India and China. limit the number of people who would want it. progressives' treasured goal. NASA’s Perseverance on Mars to look for ancient life The space agency’s rover landed 1 lander touched down in chryse planitia. Perseverance is moving at about a on the Red Planet on February 18, speed of 1 km per second at an altitude of the fifth so far; it will look for signs around 16 km from the surface of Mars. It is carrying seven primary payload instruments, of earlier life, collect samples of 19 cameras, and two microphones. It is also rock and soil to be brought back carrying the mini helicopter Ingenuity, an experimental air craft that will attempt the first ebruary 18 was a big day for NASA. Its Raw images of the Martian surface transmitted by powered flight on another planet. Perseverance (Courtesy: NASA) fifth rover Perseverance successfully Flanded on the surface of Mars after “seven minutes of terror”. Launched on July 30, 2020, through Rocket Atlas V (AV-088), it took Indian-American scientist plays key role nearly seven months to reach its destination. he moment Indian-American scientist Swati Mohan During its primary mission, confirmed that Perseverance had touched the Martian Perseverance will read the geological history of Tsurface successfully, the mood turned jubilant. The Jezero, the crater where it has landed, and look seven minutes before that had been nail-biting for them. The for any clues of life earlier. It will also select and event marked a personal and professional high for her. She is cache rock samples that a future rover will heading the guidance, navigation, control operations of the fetch and return to Earth sometime within the rover. next decade. So far, NASA has sent five rovers The Indian Space Research Organization’s Mars (robotic vehicles) to Mars, namely Sojourner, Orbiter Mission - Mangalyaan entered the orbit successfully Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity and on September 24. India became the first nation to reach Mars Perseverance. The first successful landing on on its maiden attempt.

Mars came on July 20, 1976 when NASA's Viking Dr. Swati Mohan at work

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THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA NY & THE FEDERATION OF INDIAN ASSOCIATIONS NY-NJ-CT Celebrates INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY HONOREES OF 2021

Ms. Tejal Amin Dr. Abha Jaiswal Ms. Rashaana Shah Ms. Sabina Dhillon, Esq. Honoree of 2021 Honoree of 2021 Honoree of 2021 Honoree of 2021

Ms. Rashmi Aggarwal Dr. Uma Rani Madhsudana MASK SQUAD Honoree of 2021 Honoree of 2021 Honoree of 2021 MON. MARCH 8th, 2021 | 3:00 PM. Venue: Brooklyn Borough Hall - 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA. info@fianynjct.org | www.fianynjct.org

www.fianynjct.org Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT (FIA) info@fianynjct.org Tuesday, March 2, 2021 THE DIASPORA BI-WEEKLY Page: 6 Filmi rain after months of drought Several movies lined up for release in 2021, starting with Jhanvi Kapoor and Rajkumar Rao-starrer Roohi next week; 'Gangubai Kathiawadi', '83', 'Satyameva Jayate 2', Brahmastra among others awaited this year

ike many other sectors, even the Rao-starrer Roohi is set to hit the theatres on Mukherjee from the original cast, , entertainment industry took a major hit March 11. Siddhant Chaturvedi and new comer Sharvari Lin 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 's tri-lingual film will Wagh. The lockdown put locks on the doors of release on March 26. It is titled 'Haathi mere Akshay Kumar's Bell Bottom is theatres, and when they were finally allowed to Saathi' in , 'Kaadan' in Tamil and 'Aranya' scheduled for April 2 release. open, they were staring at numerous other in Telugu. Later in the year, Bollywood lovers will issues. Despite cinema halls assuring total Another multi-lingual film Salaar, be treated to -starrer 'Gangubai compliance with the Covid protocol, people starring Prabas, will be released on April 14. Kathiawadi', which is likely to be released were reluctant to enter the closed spaces over Shot simultaneously in Telugu and Kannada, it during Diwali. 's 'Jersey' is set to fears of coronavirus transmission. When they will also be released in Hindi, Tamil and be released on November 5. did start trickling in, there was nothing new to Malayalam. Aamir Khan's Lal Singh Chaddha has show. No new films were coming in. Kangana Ranaut's 'Thalaivi', a biopic on been tentatively slotted for December 24. 2021 promises to be different. late actress-turned-politician J Jayalalitha, will The much-awaited Brahmastra, There are several promising releases be released on April 23. It will share the date starring and Alia Bhatt, is lined up this year. Jhanvi Kapoor and Rajkumar with ' 2', a sequel starring Rani expected to be out this year.

Big B ‘just sitting there in oblivion’ Voluntary Content Compilation In latest blog, Bollywood megastar opens up about his eye FIA NY-NJ-CT and surgery; news of his deteriorating health had triggered concern among fans Community Volunteers

here are few celebrities who can not in a very good position and looked to loose Contributors transcend the boundaries of fame and the game.. Gary Sobers sitting in the dressing Chandrakant Trivedi, Treach out to people on the other side room and seeing the eventual, opened up his Amit Yadav who adore them, even worship them. One bottle of rum and had a few.. when his turn to such person is Bollywood megastar, bat came he went out and scored his fastest Voluntary Graphics ‘Shehenshah’ Amitabh Bachchan. Recently, hundred .. when asked how did he do it .. he Compilation there was news of his health deteriorating. said when I went out I was seeing three balls .. I Gracia Marcom Turns out he had to undergo laser eye surgery was hitting the middle one .. !!!!” for removal of cataract. “My eye condition is somewhat similar .. Recuperating from the surgery of one I am seeing three letters for each word and of the eyes, Senior Bachchan decided to hitting the middle button ..” he added. Write to us! reassure his fans, while also narrating his state Got feedback for us? We would love to hear of mind. about it. Have an event you want others “… eye surgeries at this age are delicate to know about? Tell us. Clicked a pic worth and need precision handling .. the best is being sharing? Send it across. Your inputs are done and one hopes all shall be well .. the sight invaluable. You can mail your comments to and the recovery is slow and difficult so if there editor@fianynjct.org are typing errors they are to be excused,” he wrote on his blog on Monday. “The day passes with nothing to do You can also follow us on

..cannot read cannot write .. cannot see .. so @fianynjct.org just sitting there in oblivion ...” However, his sense of humor was federationofindianassocations intact. Comparing his situation with West Indian cricketer Gary Sobers, he wrote, “… at a @FIANYNJCTorg cricket match with a strong opponent WI was

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