Asia Today, LLC, 1050 E Ray Road, Suite 5 #318, Chandler, AZ 85225 SIA • November 2017 ATODAY 1 Phoenix, AZ PERMIT NO.1714 Uniting all South Asians in the Valley Monthly Newspaper • Vol-X • Issue-11 • Phone : 480-250-2519 • [email protected] • November 2017 IACRF Chai with Actor’s film choices Seniors Management celebrates of New reflect political, Diwali The Real Joy of Indian Jersey social beliefs: Classical Music at with Music Bridgewater Sangeetshri Music Festival 3 Dhamaka ! 8 Gurudwara 30 Naseeruddin Shah 25 Deepavali celebration at Amitabh’s 75th birthday Celebrations the SVK Temple Malavika Muralidharan 20th. The SVK Temple established by Mrs.Santoshi Maduri change the challenges – Amitabh eepavali (or Diwali) festival this His Holiness Sri SriSugunendraTheer- hange is the nature of life, but Bachchan Dyear was celebrated at the Sri Ven- thaSwamijiof the Sri PuthigeMatha, Cchallenge is the aim of life. So This year on the 21st Nov 2017, always challenge the changes not The Amitabh kataKrishna Temple between Oct 18- Udupi caters to the • More on P6 • More on Page 16 .99 www.facebook.com/asiatodayaz www.asiatodayaz.com SIA ATODAY 2 • November 2017 www.asiatodayaz.com www.facebook.com/asiatodayaz Local Coverage SIA • November 2017 ATODAY 3 The Real Joy of Indian Classical Music at Sangeetshri Music Festival angeetshri Music SFestival held in fall every year has become an annual treat for the Indian Classical music appreciators in Arizona. This year the festival was held on Saturday, October 7th at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Sangeetshri students rendered classical, semi-classical, vocal and instrumental performances par excellence. www.facebook.com/asiatodayaz www.asiatodayaz.com SIA From the Desk of Asia Today ATODAY 4 • November 2017 Transitioning from the South is slowly driving us away from the success Uniting all South Asians in the Valley Asian Festival Season to American we have always seen in the global world. Festival Season While it is not required that you agree Monthly Newspaper • Vol-X • Issue-11 • November 2017 •[email protected] with another’s beliefs, what keeps us he advantages of being immigrants civilized as a society is respecting those Asia Today Team Tis the ability to celebrate traditional beliefs and not forcing your beliefs on to festivals from our countries of origin and the others. And we are slowly moving away Marketing Director: Manju festivals of our home country as Americans. from that and moving towards a world (Manjeet K Walia) As we leave the South Asian festival season Editor’s where one party is either right or wrong behind, Asia Today is once again proud to NOTE and it is not okay to agree to disagree and Editor: Deepa Walia (MS CIS) present coverage from the various colorful have different beliefs. Many immigrants (Sandeep Kaur) happenings around town celebrating the that moved to this country not only respected the diversity of our culture. As I watch social media feeds beliefs, traditions, and history of this country but Publisher & Designer: change from colorful attires at traditional celebrations started practicing them; they celebrated America’s Raja (BA) to costumes from Halloween, I am reminded of our dual Independence Day regardless of whether their families (Gagandeep Singh Walia) identities as immigrants and Americans. were here during those trying times or not, celebrated In the coming months, we will celebrate Thanksgiving the traditions associated with Christmas regardless Patron: Mini from California and Christmas holidays with just as much affection as of whether they practiced Christianity or not, and so (Damanjot Kaur Walia) we celebrated Diwali, Eid, KarvaChauth, Durga Pooja on. In addition to that, they also practiced the beliefs, and many more other festivals. We are the immigrants traditions, and history that they grew up with; they Jyoti from New Jersey that continue to respect and pay tribute to our diverse celebrated the Independence Day of the country they (Navjot Kaur Singh) backgrounds but also assimilate wholeheartedly into are from and the religious festivals for the religion to the country that is now home. And having done that, which they align. I personally feel blessed to be an Surinder Singh Pall I continue to be saddened by the constant news of immigrant American and have the opportunity to double (Reporter from New Jersey) division in a country which once prided itself as a melting up on the celebrations and be a part of a diverse set pot that accepted and provided equal opportunity for of festival seasons. everyone. Amit Mitter I encourage our readers to continue to embrace all We fight for diversity and equality in the workplace; (Reporter from Punjab, India) opportunities for celebration from various cultures and there is study after study that shows that diversity drives religions and pray for a future where all of us can respect innovation and success for an organization and is the the diversity in this country. It is actions like these that key to staying competitive. The same can be said will eliminate the division in this country and continue of a country but we continue to turn our backs to this to strengthen our position I a world that continues to harsh reality. Our diversity and ability to respect our get smaller due to globalization! differences was what kept us competitive and on top -Deepa Kaur Walia Disclaimer globally. The continued division in America and our Editor, Asia Today Asia Today, LLC is not responsible inability to get along and respect each other’s beliefs [email protected] for any claims made by advertisers nor does it endorse any product or services advertised in the paper. Dear Friends, For concerns or questions related t’s hard to believe that we’re close to December and the end of the year to these advertisements, please I It seems like only yesterday that we contact the business directly. were still in the hot days of summer and were surviving through the dog Asia Today, LLC also does not days of August. We’ve passed through endorse any views presented by a relatively volunteer writers. Those views are orderly fall and solely of the author and bear no as we come to December, indication to the views of Asia Today. It feels like I blinked my eyes Please contact us at in January and Marketing Director we’re looking Asia Today, LLC NOTE at the Holidays PO Box 749 being upon us As you start looking over this past year and looking Chandler, AZ 85244 now. It’s nuts really, but a fact of life I suppose. towards what you want to accomplish next year my As people, I think we like to have closure and then 480/ 250-2519 encouragement is to start looking to take action now. Start follow that up with new beginnings. It becomes second dealing with your fears. Start dealing with the excuses nature I believe. This, not surprisingly, is part of why we’ll you’ve used in the past. Start thinking about the “why” For sale inquiries: see a slew of new year resolutions posts come the New behind the goal. I know that isn’t easy by any means, but [email protected] Year. I love having goals, I really do but as I get older I the more you do those things the stronger the bond is come to see the need to have a purpose or a drive behind towards attacking that goal and thus you are more inclined For additional those goals. Otherwise, they’re just not going to happen. to see some level of relative success with it. inquires/comments: However, if I have a singular focus behind the goal then -Manju Walia [email protected] my chances of success increase exponentially. Of course, Marketing Director Asia Today, this is just in theory as I have no scientific data behind it. [email protected] www.asiatodayaz.com www.facebook.com/asiatodayaz SIA • November 2017 ATODAY 5 November 1 to November 30 8.30pm Only dine in November 1 to November 30 www.facebook.com/asiatodayaz www.asiatodayaz.com SIA Continued from page 1 ATODAY 6 • November 2017 Deepavali celebration at the SVK Temple needs of the Hindu Community in the Valley. • The second day of the festival, Naraka This year the Mayor of Phoenix, Greg Stanton Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demon and ASU’s Executive Vice-President Professor Pan- Naraka by Lard Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. chanathanSethuraman participated in the celebra- Naraka king of Pradyoshapuram imprisoned the tion by lighting the lamp at the temple. wives of 16,000 kings that he defeated. He had a Prof Panch spoke about the significance of Deep- boon that only Bhudevi could kill him. In a fight he avali as a celebration of light over darkness and said shot an arrow and wounded Krishna. Satyabhama that this was the biggest festival celebrated through- (Bhudevi) took over and killed Naraka Asura. Krishna out India by various communities in diverse ways. He freed and married all the 16,000 women. spoke about the humble beginnings of the temple in • Amavasya, the third day of Deepawali, marks the 90’s and how it has grown in leaps and bounds to the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her serve the Arizona community. He introduced, Mayor most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her Stanton,the 59th Mayor of Phoenix, and invited him devotees. Most Indian business communities begin to light the lamp. their financial year by open new account books. Mayor Stanton in his address to the gathering of • The fourth day is celebrated as Bali-Pratipa- over 400 devotees said he considered it anhonor to da or Bali Padyami, it tells the story of Lord Vishnu, be invited for the “celebration of light over darkness, who in his dwarf incarnation – VamanaAvatara van- hope over despair…”.