Lokvani wishes all its readers a very Happy Varalakshmi Vratham! 

Acrossw more than 25,000 respondents, Singapore (86%), Malaysia (74%), and India (69%) have the highest ratings among the countries surveyed which are thought to be on the right tract.

The India Association of Greater Boston (IAGB), one of New England’s oldest and largest Indian-American civic organizations, proudly announces the tremendous success of its India Day 2026 celebrations marking India’s 80th Independence Day. This year’s programming brought together thousands across Greater Boston through flag-raising ceremonies, cultural showcases, youth recognition, sports, and community partnerships.

by Geetha Patil 
While many families wish to personally care for their aging parents and grandparents, today's busy lifestyles often make it challenging to provide the constant attention seniors need. Adult Day Health Centers bridge this gap by offering professional healthcare, meaningful social interaction, and enriching daily activities—all while allowing seniors to continue living at home with their families. Nestled in Woburn, Massachusetts, Evergreen Adult Day Health Center has become a trusted destination where seniors receive not only medical supervision but also friendship, laughter, and opportunities to remain active and engaged.

The sacred month of Shravan Maas was observed with deep devotion and spiritual fervor at the Shivalaya Temple of Greater Boston, where hundreds of devotees gathered for a series of religious events dedicated to Lord Shiva. The celebrations reflected not only the rich traditions of Sanatan Dharma but also the strong sense of community that binds the Indian diaspora in New England.

by Dr. Indrajeet Tyagi and Dr. Iranna Hirapur 
The lungs work continuously, bringing oxygen into the body and removing carbon dioxide. Every breath depends on the health of millions of tiny air sacs called alveoli, the airways that carry air into the lungs, and the delicate tissue surrounding them. When these structures are repeatedly injured by smoke, pollution, infections, harmful occupational exposures or certain diseases, lung tissue can become inflamed, weakened or scarred.

Shravana Masa is one of the most sacred months in the Hindu calendar, filled with prayers, fasting, temple visits and devotional celebrations. Among its many observances, Mangala Gauri Puja, traditionally performed on Tuesdays, holds a special place among married women. Dedicated to Goddess Gauri, the loving and powerful form of Goddess Parvati, the puja is traditionally performed for the well-being and longevity of the husband, marital happiness, family harmony and prosperity.

by Pandit Bharani 
While Mondays during Shravan are dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Fridays—known as Shravan Shukravaram—hold a special place for the worship of Goddess Mahalakshmi, the embodiment of wealth, prosperity, compassion, and auspiciousness. Among these Fridays, Varalakshmi Vratam stands as one of the most sacred and widely observed festivals, especially among Hindu women, who pray for the well-being of their families and the welfare of society.

Music lovers in the New England area are in for a rare acoustic treat. An upcoming evening of North Indian classical music on August 22nd will feature the vibrant, soulful sounds of Indian ragas performed on an unexpected pair of instruments: the soprano and alto saxophones, accompanied by the intricate rhythms of the tabla.

Shri Radha Krishna Mandir in Northborough came alive with devotion, music and spiritual fervor as devotees gathered for a seven-day Shrimad Bhagwat Katha, held from August 9 through August 15. The special five-year continuous celebration brought renowned Kathakar and spiritual speaker Shri Devkinandan Thakur Ji Maharaj to New England for the first time.

In an inspiring gathering that beautifully bridged ancient wisdom with modern academic life, the Harvard University community welcomed Shri Devkinandan Thakur Ji Maharaj for an interactive dialogue on August 13, 2026 afternoon, centered on the thought-provoking theme, "Wisdom, Values, and Life."

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin–Connecticut Chapter (GOPIO-CT) commemorated India’s Independence Day on August 15 with a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Stamford Government Center, celebrating India’s 79th Independence Day and the enduring contributions of Indian Americans to Connecticut and the United States. The chief guest was Connecticut State Senator Bob Duff, Senate Majority Leader along with Nitin Mhatre, President and CEO of First County Bank.

The spirit of shared values and enduring friendship between the United States and India came alive as the Foundation of Indian Americans (FIA) New England celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day with a vibrant International India Day Parade and Freedom Festival for the fifth consecutive year in the historic Boston Harbor. [more]

The colors, music, traditions and warmth of India came alive at Columbus Park in Medford on Sunday, August 9, as the United India Association of New England (UIANE) hosted its Spirit of India and International Youth Day celebration. The afternoon brought together families, children, seniors, community leaders and friends from across the Greater Boston area for an enjoyable celebration of Indian culture and community spirit.

Greater Boston ManaBadi Telugu language and culture classes for local children across Greater Boston starting September 2026.

Shishu Bharati is please to announce that the registration for 2026-2027 is now open!

The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation USA – New Hampshire Chapter warmly invites you to Assi Nabbe Pure Sau—an afternoon of music, community, and purpose on September 13th in Nashua, NH. [more]

MITHAS presents Kaushiki Chakraborty with Ojas Ashiya (Tabla), Kedar Naphade (Harmonium) and Sohail Yusuf (Sarangi) on September 13th at MIT.

TiE Boston today announced the main program tracks and discussion themes for TiECON East 2026, its flagship entrepreneurial conference, co-hosted by TiE New York, and taking place on October 2, 2026, at the Burlington Marriott Hotel in Burlington, Massachusetts. [more]

Nritya-Anjali School Of Dance presents Madurai R. Muralidaran's A Garland Of Devotion (Story of Aandaal) on October 3rd in Littleton, MA.

Bhūmikā Arts is proud to present The Draupadi Phenomenon, a powerful multimedia dance-theatre production conceived and choreographed by internationally acclaimed Odissi exponent Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the LCA Performing Arts Center in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Jay-Ho! and Dhoom Entertainment jointly present the Hindi musical comedy-drama at the Collins Center on October 11. [more]

by Ramya Ramachandran
On July 19, 2026, at Littleton High School, Kumari Sasha Jawahar, disciple of Guru Smt. Preethi Ramesh, ascended the stage for her Bharatanatyam Arangetram. It was an evening filled with devotion, discipline, grace and the timeless beauty of Bharatanatyam. It will be remembered as a graceful and heartfelt celebration of a young dancer with poise and promise.

At the recent presentation titled Arpanam, Prachi Hemmige, a senior disciple of Smt. Suman Adisesh and currently training with Smt. Kalaimathy Vageeasan, in Toronto offered the audience precisely such an experience. Her performance brought together rhythm, devotion, and expressive storytelling in a captivating celebration of India's classical heritage at the Natya Samaagam Festival, held at the Boston Center for the Arts from June 12–14, 2026. [more]

by Janani Swamy
The second edition of Natya Samagam festival opened with a delightful recital by Smt. Sangeetha Prasanna, an accomplished exponent of the Kalakshetra bani and a disciple of the most lauded Gurus of Kalakshetra including Smt. N. S. Jayalakshmi and Smt. Savitri Jagannatha Rao. Sangeetha’s presentation, “Harihara-Unity in Duality- explored the one-ness of Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara) as a single entity in the Tirumala tradition.

Kanan Sachdeva, Founder and CEO of Forest Wealth and Insurance, has been recognized on the Forbes | SHOOK 2026 Top Financial Security Professionals Best-in-State list, marking her fourth consecutive year of this accomplishment affirming her position as a leading expert in the industry.

Anand Coomaraswamy Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art, Weinstein has been chosen to receive the NECA Art and Culture Visionary Award 2026. She talked to Lokvani about South Asian art at the MFA. [more]

Ambassador Jitendra Kumar Tripathi (Retd.)
India has adopted a foreign policy with the citizen- centric diplomacy at its heart. This policy places the welfare, security and interest of the country’s citizen at its core making Indian citizens an important part of its external engagements which has made, in turn, the Ministry of External affairs more responsive to their needs.

by Suchitra Durai
The 2004 Tsunami also saw the coming together of the navies of four countries – Australia, India, Japan and the US – to coordinate the delivery of assistance in a collaborative effort that eventually evolved into the Quad.

by Amish Tripathi
India’s Independence Day is not only a celebration of our freedom; it is a reminder that India’s story has never been confined to the borders of the subcontinent. Today, as we mark 15 August, we also celebrate this shared civilizational journey with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar, as a living, breathing bridge between our peoples.

Vision-Aid opens Ability Bazaar — a marketplace where people with disabilities build your websites, apps and accessibility audits, to earn livelihoods. [more]

by Madhumati Tyagi
For Varamahalakshmi Vrat, prepare traditional naivedyam (offerings) without onion or garlic. Essential festive recipes include Paramannam (sweet milk rice with jaggery and ghee), Kosambari (soaked moong dal salad), Sundal (seasoned black or white chickpeas), and Holige/Obbattu (sweet flatbread)

During the hot summer months, Indian village kitchens have long relied on simple, natural ingredients to keep the body refreshed. Saunf Shikanji is one such traditional drink. Made with fennel seeds, lemon, jaggery and water, it is refreshing, mildly sweet and aromatic. It can be prepared easily at home and served chilled.

A wise person learns from the mistakes of others, because life is too short to make them all oneself. - From the Panchatantra.