Bollywood Fiesta Presented Dandia event where over 200 people participated to enjoy Bollywood Fiesta music and traditional Ras Garba and Dandi.

The one hour prelude event, Bollywood Fiesta, have performances donated by:

• Bandish Group
  
• Siva Rai - A Bhutanese refugee Nepali singer
• Naga Valli
  

Jhankar Beats, a new discovery from within Austin, did a fantastic job with traditional Ras Garba music.

Prizes were awarded for both female and male best dressed person and also best dancers!

People really enjoyed the music.

Click here for Pictures.

Bollywood Fiesta!

TODO Austin presented Bollywood Extravaganza, charity event for Hindu Charities For America, featuring Dhwani, an upcoming musical ensemble in Austin and Preya Patel, a dancer, teacher, choreographer of Bollywood repute.

The concert was held on Friday June 29, 2012 at 7:00pm at Mexitas 1107 North I35, Austin, TX.

All donation are used toward procuring school supplies for 600 Manor ISD homeless children.

We thank the artists, audience and AustIndia.com for making this a successful event. The event achieved the goal to complete donation drive for the 600 Manor ISD kids.

Thanks to Ravi Pothukuchy  for taking pictures. Please click here to see the pictures of the event.

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• Web site maintenance
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Hindu-Jewish Service Project - Success!

On Sunday, August 19^th, more than one hundred Jews and Hindus of all ages gathered at the Dell Jewish Community Center to assemble back-to-school kits for children in Manor.  Six hundred kits were put together for homeless children. This was the first group community service project jointly put together by Hindu Charities for America and the Jewish Community Association of Austin.

The school supplies were funded by donation drives by Hindu Charities For America, a charity with the mission of promoting collaboration between Indian and other communities, to work together to help with the education of homeless and impoverished children in the US.  As founder Harish Kotecha said, "Education is important to us and is a passion for us, and we will continue to support students in our local communities.  We are extremely appreciative that the Jewish community has stepped forward to partner with us in this mission."

Jay Rubin, CEO of the Jewish Community Association of Austin was thrilled to be involved with this project.  He said, “We’re deeply grateful to Harish Kotecha and Hindu Charities of America for reaching out in partnership to the Jewish community and enabling us to participate in this wonderful ‘mitzvah’ project for children in need in the Manor Independent School District. Jews and Hindus in America have a great deal in common, especially a commitment to building community, maintaining our heritage and traditions and serving humanity. We look forward to sharing many celebrations and collaborations with the Hindu community in the future.”

To expand collaborative efforts and raise funds to provide more school kits to students next year, a “Bollywood meets Borscht Belt” event is planned for 2013.  At this event, Hindus and Jews will come together to share a vegetarian meal with dishes from their various cultures and learn to dance a little in the Bollywood and Jewish folk styles.  Proceeds from the event will help fund the 2013 school kit project.

Please click here for pictures! and here for TV coverage.

SOLD OUT!

Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt - Sunday May 19th from 5:00pm to 8:00pm

Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt – A Family Event
Sunday May 19^th, 2013, 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Dell Jewish Community Campus
7300 Hart Lane, Austin, TX 78731
Tickets/Sponsorship/Donations at:     https://www.shalomaustin.org/namaste OR Sulekha.com

View on Face Book by clicking here.

Join the Hindu and Jewish communities for a night of multi-cultural entertainment, food and fun! Enjoy a veggie/dairy Indian food dinner sponsored by area Indian restaurants followed by Jewish dessert, along with traditional Hindu music and Jewish folk dancing. Indian attendees are encouraged to wear colorful festive attire! We will also feature Indian Jewelry by Praveen Kale &  Clothing, Hena and face painting artists will also be present!
 
Proceeds will benefit the education of homeless children in Austin and Manor Schools. One adult ticket helps provide school supplies for one child for one year. A single sponsorship provides support for 6 children, and commitment by May 1 includes name or business listing and 2 event tickets.

The Hindu and Jewish communities will come back together in August to pack backpacks full of school supplies.
 
Below is more information on the event:
1.     People to buy tickets - online at: https://www.shalomaustin.org/namaste, or Sulekha
2.     Give sponsorship of minimum $108 using the same link (two tickets if requested)
3.     Donate any amount the heart desires.

The sponsors will have the following benefits:
1.     In emails, we will include the names with links - we will have at least two 3k emails to Austin Indian community.
2.     Post event, we will have an article where the sponsors will be recognized in an email (3K)
3.     Will be listed in the program
4.     Will have a poster with sponsor names

List of Performers:
Mayur Dance Co. (Monsoon Dance), Preya Patel, Yesh Rikud - Austin Israeli Folk Dancing, Naga Valli, Anuradha Naimpally, Mazel Tov Kocktail Hour and Rabbi Neil Blumofe, Srishti, Bollywood Shake
 
Special Thanks to our Food Sponsors:
Bombay Bistro, Chole Indian Restaurant, Curry In Hurry, Inchins Bamboo Garden, Madras Pavilion (Kosher), Persis Indian Grill, Sarovar Indian Cuisine, Shirdi Sai BabaTemple, Star of India, Teji’s Food, Whip In Convenience Store,  ... and more
 
Special Thanks to our Sponsors/Donors:

• Bollywood Sake – we teach Indian Bollywood Dance for a cultural experience full of fun and excitement.  Our approach includes teaching choreographed routines to popular Indian movie songs.  In addition to learning some cool moves, our classes will also give you a great workout! Bollywood Sake is also a  supporter of non-profits, particularly relating to children. Please also check out their event on Apr 27^th in support of Miracle Foundation https://www.facebook.com/events/486094304789868/
• Kirit Mehta, G & H Financial Insurance Services, Inc - Insurance Specialists who maximize discounts and reduce overall cost by combing auto and home insurance with one agency
• Indus Realty - a multi-faceted Real Estate Service company which caters to clients for all of their residential, commercial and investment needs in Austin Texas and surrounding areas
• Dhoom Production - Dhoom Decorations provides full service event decorations service that offers one stop solution for all types of events including wedding, engagement, anniversary, birthday, corporate meetings and baby shower etc.
• Omkara Music Band - a group of musicians who volunteer their music talent in producing Bollywood and semi classical Indian shows to support global charities.
• AustinIndia.com - Austin Indian's central online platform to get full details on upcoming community events, vendor coupons, yellow page directory, classifieds, and much more.
• Saxena Foundation – Its mission is to advance inventive and effective ways of promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education in the United States and empowering young women so that they have equal rights later in life.
• Ethnic Dezines - Indian Fashions by Praveen Kale
• Annonymous Individual Sponsors: $1,000, $500.
• Individual Sponsors: Jignesh & Rashmika Patel, Keya Chowdhury, Rambhai Patel
• Austin South Asian – The only community paper in Austin! for local community news!