Lokvani wishes all its readers a very Happy 80th India's Independence Day weekend!

California, Massachusetts, and New York form a clear top tier, with wage gaps of nearly $98,000 or more. The gap then falls to $90,640 in fourth-ranked Washington. Massachusetts stands out by posting the nation’s highest wages at both ends of the distribution, with top earners making $163,010 and median workers earning $63,590 annually.

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.

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]

by Dr. Indrajeet Tyagi and Dr. Iranna Hirapur
Respiratory infections become more common during the cold and flu season, and one illness that often worries patients is bronchitis. Many people wonder whether bronchitis is contagious, whether antibiotics are necessary, and when they should seek medical attention. Here are answers to some of the most common questions.

India Association of Greater Boston (IAGB) invites you to the month‑long celebrations for India's 79th Independence Day, including multi‑town Flag Raising Ceremonies beginning August 1st and our flagship India Day event on August 15th at NARA Park, Acton.

Year after year, Vision-Aid’s annual production has grown into one of New England’s most beloved community events — and on July 26, hundreds of devoted fans watched a cast of more than 90 dancers, actors, and musicians bring the saga of the Marudhu Brothers and Queen Velu Nachiar to life in Kalaimamani Madurai R. Muralidaran’s spectacular Broadway-style production.

In a landmark move aimed at strengthening economic, educational, technological, and cultural ties between Connecticut and India, Governor Ned Lamont officially signed legislation establishing the Connecticut-India Trade Commission at a ceremony held in the State Capitol in Hartford. [more]

The ISKCON temple of Greater Boston came alive with devotion and divine joy as hundreds of devotees gathered to participate in the sacred Pushpabhishekam of Sri Sri Radha Krishna on Sunday, August 2, 2026 [more]

A Home Away from Home for Seniors and Peace of Mind for Families

Located in Woburn, Massachusetts, Evergreen Adult Day Health Center is dedicated to helping older adults remain active, engaged, and independent through compassionate medical and social support. The center offers a welcoming environment where participants receive personalized care while families gain the reassurance that their loved ones are safe and well cared for during the day.

The ISSO Boston Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple will celebrate its 20th Anniversary (Divya Dwidashabdi Mahotsav) with a nine-day festival from August 15–23, 2026, at 1705 Middlesex Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. [more]

India Association of Rhode island (IARI) Team is excited to celebrate India's 80th Independence Day at the South Park of the RI State House, 82 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02903 on August 15th, 2026. [more]

On Sunday, August 16, the Indian American Community of Newton (IACON) will once again welcome the community to its 6th Annual India Day Celebration, an afternoon dedicated to celebrating India's rich culture while bringing together people of all backgrounds in the spirit of community.

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!

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.

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]

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.

Global Peace Secretariat releases America 250-India 80 dialogue "Friendship Forever"  Flipbook , between Secretary General Kumu Gupta and Bapu, a title given to Mahatma Gandhi as a mark of deep respect, affection, and love by the people of India for his leading role in the country's freedom struggle.

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.

by Pandit Bharani
In today's world, when life is filled with competition, stress, material desires and constant distractions, the message of Lord Shiva is perhaps more relevant than ever. Shiva teaches us how to remain calm in the middle of turmoil, compassionate in the presence of suffering, humble despite our strength and detached despite living in a material world.

Pandit Bharani and Geetha Patil
Sawan, or Shravan Maas, holds a special place in the Hindu spiritual calendar. Traditionally associated with devotion to Lord Shiva, the month is marked by prayers, fasting, temple visits, Rudrabhishek, chanting of Om Namah Shivaya and offerings of water and Bilva leaves to the Shiva Lingam. But the deeper significance of Sawan goes beyond ritual. It invites us to pause, turn inward and reconnect with the divine qualities represented by Shiva.

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

Before the sun has rose the sky
Before the birds begin to sing
I come with folded hands, my Lord
With nothing... but my offering ...

Summer, you love water
This year rain don't have fear
Summer you are green
Deer Love to to eat my rose ...

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.