Author: Bhakti Narayanan

A significant day was May 14, 2023, when the Bhoomi Pooja (groundbreaking ceremony) for the much-anticipated temple featuring a 25-foot-tall statue of Lord Hanuman was held at the Monroe, New Jersey-based Om Sri Sai Balaji Temple & Cultural Center. The ceremony attracted a sizable crowd of devotees, locals, and visitors, “symbolizing the unity and devotion of the community,” said a news statement. The Indian consul general in New York, Randhir Jaiswal, was present. According to the temple’s press release, the 11.2-acre property, which will contain an authentic Hindu temple and cultural center, strives to meet the community’s spiritual requirements while…

The renowned filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma’s 1990 Manipuri film “Ishanou” has undergone restoration and is set to make its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, taking place from May 16-27. This restored version of the movie, which explores the Maibi culture of Manipur and stars Anoubam Kiranmala and Kangjam Tomba, has been recognized as a World Classic and will be showcased in the Cannes Classic section. Originally, in 1991, the 91-minute film was an official entry in the Un Certain Regard category at Cannes. The Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) collaborated with the Film Heritage Foundation in Mumbai and…

On Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar engaged in discussions with UK Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad, addressing various topics including the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). EAM also raised concerns about the vandalism of the Indian High Commission by Khalistani elements in March and emphasized the UK’s responsibility to ensure the security of Indian diplomatic missions. In a tweet, EAM expressed, “Had a meeting with UK MOS Lord @tariqahmadbt today in New Delhi. We discussed a wide range of issues, from FTA and South Asia to Indo-Pacific and G20. Emphasized the need to safeguard the security of our diplomatic missions…

In collaboration with the Jain International Trade Organization – USA (JITO USA) and the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA), the Indian Consulate General in New York recently sponsored celebrations for Mahavir Jayanti, the 2621st anniversary of Lord Mahavir’s birth. About 200 people showed out for the event, which was held as part of India’s year-long celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (75 years of India’s independence). The ceremony was attended by representatives from the government, including former congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, NYS assemblyman David Weprin, chief of staff David Sprea, deputy commissioner of external affairs Miosotis Munoz,…

Aditi Rao Hydari, an Indian actress, will play the title role in “Lioness,” an official Indo-UK co-production developed in accordance with the bilateral agreement from 2008. The idea was unveiled at the Cannes India Pavilion, which is run by FICCI under the direction of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. According to media reports, Paige Sandhu, a British actress, will co-star with Hydari in the film. It was influenced by Peter Bance’s historical studies, in which he learned about the life of British Indian royal Sophia Duleep, who is credited with inspiring the suffragette movement in the UK. Famous director…

On Sunday, May 21, 2023, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), Sao Paulo, the Indian Consulate General, and the City of Guarujá joined forces to host the “Mega Beach Clean Up” cleanup initiative. The campaign was a worldwide initiative of India’s G-20 presidency, and Brazil was its main target because it will succeed India as the G-20 Presidency in September 2023. Around 9:30 in the morning, SVCC director Dr. Jyoti Shukla, City Hall secretary, and other staff members arrived at the beach under the direction of Indian Consul General (CG) Manisha Swami. Also present were Indian consulate diplomats and their…

According to Ashwini Vaishnaw, the minister of electronics and information technology, India would overtake other countries as the primary location for semiconductor manufacture in the next five years if the proper environment is developed and prices are kept low there. The Center revealed a $10 billion plan to manufacture semiconductors in December 2021, and a fabrication factory is anticipated to receive clearance soon. “We know for sure that in the coming 4-5 years, India will become the biggest semiconductor manufacturing destination in the world if you have the ecosystem in place. Our focus is making sure that the right ecosystem…

On May 16, 2023, Indian chef Prateek Sadhu gave a presentation titled “The Journey of India” during the opening supper of the 76th Cannes Film Festival. The Indian Ministry of Information and Technology organized the event, which included French and Indian fusion food. Manushi Chhillar, Guneet Monga, Urvashi Rautela, and Indian director Madhur Bhandarkar were among the guests at the event. Sadhu focused on the regional variations of Indian foods and tastes when creating a cuisine. By combining Tungrymbai from the Northeast area with Millet Thoran, he created a discussion about India’s variety with the menu in order to support…

Global consulting company EPG held India Week in the UK from May 7–14 in an effort to promote discussion about India’s rising importance in the global economy. Over 900 people from all over the world attended the event, including 100 powerful corporate and policy leaders from India and 800 people from the UK, Europe, and the US. The week-long event began with a CEO’s Golf Weekend in Leicestershire, then moved to Oxford for an educational conference and award presentation. Meghalaya’s education minister, Rakkam Sangma, gave the conference’s opening remarks. The Ideas for India conference, a special luncheon in the House…

According to CII research published in Toronto, Indian businesses have spent more than CAD 6.6 billion in Canada, generating thousands of jobs, and all of them want to increase their investments in the future.  The first known attempt to document the Indian industry’s expanding presence in Canada was the study “From India to Canada: Economic Impact and Engagement,” which was released by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal during his visit to the city.  After sampling as many as 30 Canadian businesses, the surveyor collected data. In the following five years, all corporations who responded claimed they would boost…