# 1 Indian American Weekly: Since 2006 VOL 7 ISSUE 02 ● DALLAS ● JANUARY 11 - 17, 2019 ● ENQUIRIES: 646-247-9458 www.theindianpanorama.news Trump threatens to declare national REPUBLIC DAY OF INDIA SPECIAL EDITION Articles and advertisements are invited for the emergency over border wall Republic Day of India special edition by January 21, 2019. Please email to [email protected]. Eyes unused Army Corps money to fund the wall For any question, please call 646-247-9458 WASHINGTON (TIP): A determined US President Donald Trump on Thursday, Trump Mocked India's PM January 10, threatened to declare a national emergency that would pave the way for him Modi: India responded to to construct a wall along the US-Mexico Trump's 'Afghan library' dig border without necessary funding approval from the Congress, as negotiations on the WASHINGTON (TIP): US issue between the administration and President Donald Trump, on opposition Democrats to end a partial January 2,mocked the Indian government shutdown collapsed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "If we don't make a deal, I would say 100 funding a library in Afghanistan. per cent, but I don't know what is a 100 per contd on Page 20 cent," Trump said at the White House when US President Trump took a dig at asked about the chances of declaring a India's Prime Minister Modi for national emergency if there is no deal with making no significant contribution the Democrats on funding for a border wall. in Afghanistan in funding a library Trump has asked for USD 5.6 billion from the . India promptly responded . In contd on Page 20 President Donald Trump is adamant on funding for wall. Indications are he will picture, Modi and Trump at the declare emergency and use the unused Army Corps money Photo / CNN Screenshot White House. (File photo ) New Indian Ambassador to US 10% EWS reservation Former Trump Lawyer Michael Harsh Vardhan Shringla Bill challenged in Cohen to Testify to Congress: Assumes Charge: Will present Supreme Court New York Times NEW DELHI (TIP): It was expected. A credentials on Jan 11 plea challenging the Bill to provide 10 per NEW YORK (TIP): Michael WASHINGTON (TIP): Ambassador Harsh Vardhan cent reservation to the general category poor Cohen, President Donald Shringla has assumed charge as Ambassador-designate in jobs and education was on Thursday, Trump's former lawyer who has to the United States on January 9, 2019. He will present January 4 filed in the Supreme Court. implicated the president in his credentials on January 11, 2019. The petition, filed by Youth For Equality campaign finance crimes, will Ambassador Shringla succeeds Ambassador Navtej organization and Kaushal Kant Mishra, testify before the House Sarna who has retired. The 1984-batch Indian Foreign sought the quashing of the Bill, saying that Oversight and Reform Service diplomat was given a rousing welcome on the economic criterion cannot be the sole Michael Cohen who Committee on Feb. 7, setting the arrival by the Indian embassy staff who he addressed basis for reservation. The plea said the Bill once claimed he will stage for a blockbuster public and exchanged views with. contd on Page 4 violates basic feature of the Constitution as take a bullet for Trump, hearing, the Times reports. Mr. reservation on economic grounds cannot be is ready to go against Cohen's decision threatens to limited to the general categories and the 50 him before US Congress Harsh Vardhan Shringla assumedcharge as Ambassador- in an open testimony. further damage the president's designate to the United States on January 9, 2019 per cent ceiling limit cannot be breached. Photo / CNN Screenshot contd on Page 20 Photo /Courtesy Indian Embassy contd on Page 20 22 of DFW's Film Festivals join Texas Restaurant has a forces to bring the Community Deepika Padukone Dosa, and a Film Festival to remember Ranveer Singh is Loving it! NEW YORK- DALLAS DALLAS (TIP): DFW DALLAS (TIP): South Asian Film Festival Ranveer Singh and is partnering with 21 Deepika Padukone MARKETING other North Texas film discovered a dosa festivals to give a gift to named after the STAFF REQUIRED the community: a actress at an Indian celebration of ALL restaurant in Austin, We are looking for marketing persons for The Indian festivals, as ONE festival. Texas. Panorama print editions and the web portal at a couple of Taking place at various Ranveer Singh and locations which include Long Island, Queens, Manhattan and Buffalo in New York,Jersey City and Edison in New locations around Dallas Deepika Padukone Jersey, Stamford in Connecticut, Atlanta in Georgia, from January 10th to the have been spending Deepika -Ranveer went ga-ga over Houston and Dallas in Texas, and Chicago in Illinois. 13th, this combined New Yearin the US, Deepika Dosa festival will comprise a and the newly-weds Persons with experience in newspaper reporting will be short, feature or came across a happy surprise while dining out . They were at an preferred. documentary from EACH Indian restaurant in Austin, Texas, where they found a Deepika The individual must be a person with experience in festival that best Padukone dosa on the menu. marketing and public relations, confident, independent represents who they are. The actress took to her Instagram account to share a photo of the and able to handle marketing on his/her own with DFW SAFF will present its award-winning menu that describes the dosa as one which is "topped with fiery hot minimum support from the management. documentary from the 2017 festival, THE JOURNEY ghost chilli and stuffed with our potato mix." She captioned it, WITHIN, directed by Mian Adnan Ahmad (who attended "hungry anyone?!" We're sure a lot of Deepika fans would love to try Compensation will be based on experience with up to the festival in Dallas), about the 'Coke Studio' Origin it, and so does her husband Ranveer. Sharing a photo of the menu 40% revenue created by the individual. Story on Sunday, January 13th at 1 p.m. at the Cinepolis on his Instagram stories, the Simmba actor wrote, "I'd eat that." The in Victory Park (2635 Victory Park Lane, Dallas, TX dosa dedicated to Deepika adds a filmi touch to the menu of the Anyone who would like to work with us part time and 75219). restaurant, called Dosa Labs, which has a lot of other quirky dishes on the basis of revenue sharing may email to contd on Page 20 on offer, like Airy Fairy Keema and Mast Cheez. [email protected] or contact at 646-247-9458. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 2 FEATURE FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019 LOHRI: THE BONFIRE FESTIVAL ike most other festivals in India, Lohri money for the bonfire that is scheduled on the is also related to the agricultural night of Lohri. On the special day, offerings of Lactivities of the farmers. It marks the phulley (popcorn), moongphali (peanuts) and harvesting season in Punjab and the end of rewri (a sweet delicacy made out of jaggery the winter season. Lohri usually falls on the and sesame seed) are offered to the fire. last day of the month of Paush, a day known The men and women go round the fire and as Makar Sankranti in most parts of the bow before it in reverence. Lohri holds special country. According to the English calendar, importance when there is a special occasion Lohri falls on 13th January every year. in the family like marriage or childbirth. Lohri 2019 is just around the corner and it's time to indulge in all the festive foods of this Lohri Legends harvest festival. Lohri is the festival that Like all Indian festivals, Lohri also has marks the beginning of the harvest season, some legends and lore attached to it. which calls for a celebration in many states of One of the many interesting legends has it north India, including Punjab, Haryana and that in a place that lies between Gujaranwala Himachal Pradesh. The festival is mainly and Sialkot, there was a thick forest known as celebrated by the Hindu and the Sikh Rakh. communities, wherein they light a holy The forest was the home of Dulla Bhatti, a bonfire, which signifies passing of the winter dacoit who was considered as the Robin Hood solstice. There are a number of traditions of Punjab. related to this Punjabi festival other than This brave and generous man was always lighting of the holy bonfire like offering helpful to the needy. ceremonial prayers and even preparing During the reign of Mughal Emperor delicious food. Moreover, before harvesting Jahangir, a jealous Hindu spread a rumour the crops, people offer their thanks to the God. that his niece was very beautiful and would do credit to the Muslim harem. HOW IS IT CELEBRATED? On hearing this, the Mughal officers Lohri traditions and festivities are quite wanted to carry her off forcibly. The girl’s vibrant and soulful. The festival is father was extremely worried and sought the characterised by a tradition of lighting of a protection of Dulla Bhatti. holy bonfire, which signifies 'Agni', the God of Dulla at once got her married to a young Fire. People in the community gather around Hindu boy at a simple ceremony in the forest. the bonfire, warm up to the sparkling flames, He lit the sacred fire in keeping with the offer prayers, sing songs, dance and throw in Hindu custom. Since there was no priest to foods like gajak, chikki, jaggery, popcorn, chant the holy mantras, he broke into a sesame seeds (til), rewari and peanuts to pay hilarious song composed extempore to add homage to their roots, in a matter of speaking.