Lokvani wishes all its readers a very Happy Krishna Janmashtami and Labor Day Weekend!

At $175T the United States accounts for 30.7% of global household net worth, by far the largest share of any country. America’s household wealth is highly concentrated among the wealthiest, with the top 1% of households accounting for nearly one-third of national wealth. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, over 18% of the U.S. population lives below the poverty line.

The Great Elephant Migration, is an outdoor public art exhibition featuring 100 life-sized elephant sculptures, handcrafted by Indigenous artisans from India's Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The installation has transformed one of Boston's most iconic avenues, the tree-lined Commonwealth Avenue Mall,  into a place of reflection, wonder, and conversation.

On a bright and beautiful Sunday, August 16, 2026, Hastings Park came alive with vibrant hues of saffron, white, and green as more than 400 residents gathered for a landmark celebration of India’s 79th Independence Day. [more]

by Dr. Anjana Bose
The Fourth Regional New England Folk Literature and Oral Poetry Festival hosted by India Discovery Center was celebrated with an international storytelling program on June 13, 2026, held at Bennis Hall in Lincoln, MA. It brought together presenters from multiple cultural traditions, a community-based cultural exchange sharing folktales, songs, poems, and reflective commentary from multiple traditions, including Persian, Chinese, Indian, Norwegian, and American sources.

The Shivalaya Temple of Greater Boston was immersed in an atmosphere of devotion, spirituality, and community spirit as hundreds of devotees gathered from August 14 to August 20 to attend the Shri Shiv Mahapuran Katha delivered by Param Pujya Shri Swami Nalinanand Giri Ji Maharaj. Organized during the sacred month of Shraavana Maas, the seven-day spiritual discourse became a memorable celebration of Lord Shiva's divine glory and teachings.

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.

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.

GOPIO-CT joined hands with the Stamford Public Library for WorldFest: One City, Many Cultures, held on Sunday, August 16, at the Ferguson Library in Stamford. GOPIO-CT represented India at the festival which was put together by Ms. Yelena Klompus, Reference Librarian and ELL (English Language Learner) & Citizenship & Cultural Programs Manager at the Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT.

The Boston Saptaha Gyan Mahayagya 2026, organized by the Pashupatinath Buddha Temple and Nepali Community Center, concluded successfully after eight days of devotion, spiritual learning, cultural celebration, and community unity.

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."

Krishna Janmashtami is not merely the celebration of a birth that took place thousands of years ago—it is an opportunity to awaken the divine qualities of compassion, wisdom, humility, and devotion within ourselves.

Support A Child (SAC) presents vibrant spirit of Kathak dance and culture with dancers of Aditi Dance Collective on September 5th in North Billerica, MA.

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 Shyla Ganesan
Amrita Harish’s Bharatanatyam Arangetram in Boston was a deeply moving experience—a beautiful journey of artistic excellence, spiritual devotion, and personal connection

by Ramya Ramachandran 
On a meaningful summer afternoon, as India celebrated its Independence Day, the stage came alive with rhythm, devotion, and cultural pride at the Bharatanatyam Arangetram of Kumari Shruthi Shanmuganathan, disciple of Guru "Natya Prasanna" Smt. Kalaimangai Anbalagan, Founder and Artistic Director of AmudhaSri Dance School.

'Not Again' by Singer/ Songwriter Miss Kumu Gupta is an entry for Harry Belafonte Best Song For Social Change Grammy Award, to be presented by the Recording Academy in February 2027, Live on TV from Los Angeles. [more]

by Madhumati Tyagi
Ayurveda does not usually recommend foods in isolation—it emphasizes food combinations (Ahara Samyoga) based on how foods affect digestion (Agni), body tissues (Dhatus), and vitality (Ojas. Soaked raisins are a popular traditional remedy in many cultures. Raisins themselves are nutritious whether soaked or dry but soaking mainly makes them softer and easier to digest. Raisins are naturally rich in, Dietary fiber, Potassium, Iron (moderate amounts), Antioxidants (polyphenols), Natural sugars for quick energy.

Softly swings the little cradle, Bathed in dawn's celestial glow. There lies sweet Bala Gopal, The Lord the worlds can never know ... [more]

In Gokul's lanes at break of day,
A little smile lights every way.
With peacock feather, curls so bright,
He fills the world with pure delight. ...

What important spiritual message does Krishna's life convey?
A. Wealth is the greatest achievement
B. One should avoid all responsibilities
C. Dharma and devotion should guide our lives
D. Power is more important than compassion

Here are two problems for one and all!

Avalakki, or poha, is a wonderful ingredient for Krishna Janmashtami. In South Indian tradition, it can be transformed into a simple Neivedyam with coconut and jaggery. The dish is quick to prepare and particularly suitable for devotees who are fasting. [more]

Sakkarai Pongal is a beloved South Indian festive dish prepared with rice, moong dal, jaggery, milk and ghee. Its natural sweetness makes it especially appropriate as a Neivedyam for Lord Krishna.

It is seasonal laughter!

Layered hues of nature.

“For everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labour in freedom.” —Albert Einstein.