Lokvani wishes all its readers a very Happy Raksha Bandhan, and Janmashtami. 

India holds 880 tonnes of gold which represents 18% of central bank reserves, whereas US holds 8133 tonnes of gold which represents 82% of its reserves

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.

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.

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."

Having faced several tragedies in recent years, communities across Massachusetts are feeling the impact -underscoring the urgent need for open conversations around family support and mental health. To address these vital issues, ISW's youth group (IYG) is hosting a Youth Mental Wellness Panel featuring Kalyani Krishnan, Alison Ecclestona nd Sukanya Ray on August 29th in Shrewsbury, MA.

by Kanchan Banerjee
Legacy 250 presents “Walk with the Giants” on August 30 at 2pm in Boston, MA, featuring a walking talk with internationally renowned conservation biologist Dr. Kamal Bawa among the elephant sculptures of The Great Elephant Migration.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

'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]

Here are two problems for one and all!

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. ...

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.