Tuesday, March 2, 2021 Issue: 30 An initiative by FIA | 100% VOLUNTEER RUN ORGANIZATION EST. 1970 Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT. 501(C)3 The Largest Non-Proit Grassroot Umbrella Organization in the Tri-state of NY-NJ-CT Last week, FIA NY NJ CT hosted its annual Dance Pe Chance competition to find the best Bollywood 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 India, 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, Kedarnath FIA NY NJ CT wishes all its readers a very Jyotirlinga in, Uttarakhand 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 Feroz Khan. 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 Republic Day 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