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India-West Staff Reporter HONOLULU, HI –The Consulate General of India in San Francisco, in collaboration with VFS Global, held its inaugural “Consular Camp” on January 18. The event, organized in partnership with the Indian-American Friendship Council (IAFC) Hawaii Chapter and the

India-West Staff Reporter PLEASANTON, CA – Volunteers from the global non-profit Dr. Shri Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan (DSNDP) January 18,  participated in an Adopt-A-Highway cleanup at the intersection of Highway I-580 and Santa Rita Rd here. In collaboration with the California Department of

India-West Staff Reporter SACRAMENTO, CA - Covered California has announced a special-enrollment period for residents of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, where a state of emergency has been declared due to the Palisades and Eaton Fires that have destroyed over 12,000

India-West Staff Reporter BERKELEY, CA –The Vedanta Society of Berkeley, in collaboration with the Consulate General of India in San Francisco, has announced a year-long celebration marking the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s visit to the Bay Area. The celebrations will begin

India-West Staff Reporter INDIANAPOLIS, IN - On World Hindi Day, January 10, the International Hindi Association (IHA) – Indiana hosted a webinar titled “The Economics of Hindi in a Global Perspective.” The event featured a thought-provoking presentation by Prof. Mithilesh Mishra from Darbhanga,

India-West Staff Reporter FORDS, NJ - On January 12, over 450 music enthusiasts filled Royal Albert’s Palace for a Centennial Tribute to the legendary Showman of Indian Cinema, Raj Kapoor, alongside a dedication to the late Shobhna Patel on her first

India-West News Desk NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Rutgers University's decision to reject caste as a separate protected category under its anti-discrimination policies, the advocacy group CasteFiles hailed as a "mature and well-thought-through decision." On January 13, Rutgers stated that its existing policies,

India-West Staff Reporter CHINO HILLS, CA — As the Palisades, Eaton and other fires continue to devastate communities across the Los Angeles area, the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir through its charitable arm BAPS Charities, stepped forward to provide critical relief and

Photo: Rutgers University India-West Staff Reporter NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Rutgers University has decided to maintain its stance on caste discrimination, affirming its commitment to preventing such behavior on campus, but opting not to make "caste" a separate protected category within its

Photo: Amit Shiwalkar and his wife Mukta were among those who lost their home to the Pacific Palisades fire. The charred remains of their condominium complex. By REENA RATHORE With inputs from Bhartti Kumar LOS ANGELES, CA — As the infernos ravage Los Angeles and its

Photo: Ed Krassen/Ethnic Media Services Cal OES (Governor’s Office of Emergency Services)Website: www.news.caloes.ca.govThe California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is the state agency responsible for coordinating California’s response to natural disasters, emergencies, and other major incidents. Its primary mission is

Photo: Reuters/Ringo Chiu. India-West Staff Reporter LOS ANGELES, CA - As multiple wildfires continue to ravage Southern California, leaving devastation in their wake, several Indian American organizations have mobilized to provide critical aid to the affected communities. These have been actively reaching

India-West Staff Reporter OAKLAND, CA - In the final weeks of 2024 and continuing into the new year, a new billboard campaign across the Bay Area is calling attention to the ongoing persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh. The campaign, titled

India-West Staff Reporter FREMONT, CA - Mitu Walia was crowned as the winner of Mrs. Bharat USA, Classic 2024, and Mrs. Bharat California 2024 at the prestigious Miss Bharat USA pageant, held in New Jersey on December 8, 2024. The event

Photo: Fresno State College India-West Staff Reporter FRESNO, CA - On December 7, the Human Rights Coalition of the Central Valley (HRCCV) hosted a special celebration at the Fresno State Library to honor Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor, founder and longtime leader of the

India-West News Desk LOS ANGELES, CA - As wildfires continue to threaten several counties in Southern California, below are essential tips and resources to help protect yourself and your loved ones during these challenging times. Key Safety Tips 1. Sign up for alerts: Visit listoscalifornia.org/alerts. Each

India-West Staff ReporterSACRAMENTO, CA - Sumiti Mehta was officially sworn in as a member of California's Natomas Unified School District Board of Trustees, with State Senator Angelique Ashby administering the oath of office. The Trustees elected their officers for 2025

India-West Staff Reporter MALIBU, CA - Dr. Amarjit Singh Marwah, a revered philanthropist and community leader, passed away peacefully here in the early morning hours of January 7 at the age of 99. Known for his unwavering dedication to both the

India-West News Desk NEW DELHI - The Government of India on January 3 announced the recipients of the 2025 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards (PBSA), with three Indian Americans among the honorees: Sharad Lakhanpal, Sharmila Ford, and Ravi Kumar S. alongside 24

India-West Staff Reporter SACRAMENTO, CA – The Sacramento Suvidha International Foundation, in collaboration with the Rotary E-Club of Silicon Valley Health & Wellness and the Rotary Club of Rancho Cordova, successfully distributed over 500 jackets, sweaters, socks, jeans, and scarves to

India-West News Desk LOS ANGELES, CA - Jaspal Singh and his son Ishar Gill, Indian American owners of the Circle K convenience store in Cottonwood, Shasta County, have experienced both devastating lows and remarkable highs in recent years. In August 2021,

By Payal Kaur POMONA, CA – Thousands of Sikhs along with members of many other communities gathered in Pomona, California, once again, on December 25thto commemorate the Prakash Utsav or birth anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru

India-West Staff Reporter ATLANTA, GA  – Georgia Tech honored Prof. Shamkant B. Navathe for his 50 years of academic contributions, including 34 years at the university, with a celebratory luncheon and the launch of “The Shamkant B. Navathe Distinguished Lecture Series.” Navathe

Photo: USA Cricket India-West News Desk LOS ANGELES, CA - USA Cricket has announced its 15-player squad for next month’s ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia, and there's one major thing that stands out: every player, including the reserves, is

India-West Staff Reporter NEW YORK, NY - American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), an organization dedicated to combating Hindu defamation, has launched an artificial intelligence initiative aimed at identifying and countering Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bias, according to a press release. This new

India-West Staff Reporter NEW YORK, NY - On December 12, the New York State Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission was inaugurated at Queens College, where thirteen Asian Americans were sworn in to strengthen the connection between the AAPI community

India-West Staff Reporter COLUMBUS, OH — On December 19, Ohio state senator Niraj Antani celebrated the passage of his bill to designate October as Hindu Heritage Month in Ohio. Antani, the first Hindu and Indian American state senator in Ohio’s history, said,

India-West News Desk FORDS, NJ - Chennai-born 19-year-old Caitlin Sandra Neil, was crowned Miss India USA 2024 at the annual pageant held on December 15 in New Jersey. Neil is a second-year Cognitive Science student at the University of California, Davis,

India-West Staff Reporter NEW YORK, NY - Dr. Satheesh Kathula, the president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), was honored with the Healthcare & Science Leadership Award at the Raising Awareness of Youth with Autism (RAYWA) Foundation’s

Photo: cbsnews. India-West Staff Reporter FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - On December 17, Florida’s Broward County Public Schools, the sixth-largest school system in the US, made a historic decision to officially recognize Diwali as a holiday starting in the 2024-2025 academic year. The

India-West Staff ReporterLINCOLN, NE - In a historic ceremony at the State Capitol here, Governor Jim Pillen unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi on December 6, a date now officially recognized as "A Day of Remembrance for Mahatma Gandhi" across

India-West Staff Reporter PALO ALTO, CA - The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA hosted a gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palo Alto, raising $3.5 million to support the development of remote and rural villages in India. The event, themed "Building

India-West Staff Reporter LITTLE ROCK, AR - Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Maulden-Entergy Chair and Donaghey Distinguished Professor of Information Science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock), has been appointed to a working group by Gov. Sarah Huckabee

India-West Staff Reporter HICKSVILLE, NY – World Vegan Vision held its annual Vegan Thanksgiving Celebration brought together plant-based advocates, health enthusiasts, and community members at Antun’s by Minar here, for a memorable afternoon of education, gratitude, and vegan dining. The event highlighted

India-West News Desk LOS ANGELES, CA - A shocking incident of racial abuse unfolded on a United Airlines shuttle bus at Los Angeles International Airport, drawing widespread condemnation online. Wedding photographer Pervez Taufiq captured the exchange on video, documenting a confrontation

Photo: Cerritos Mayor Pro-tem Naresh Solanki presenting Proclamation to conveners India-West Staff Reporter ORANGE, CA - The GOPIO-LA Chapter hosted its annual event on November 16 at Tandoor Cuisine of India, bringing together over 120 attendees for an event on the critical

India-West Staff Reporter NEW YORK, NY — The streets of New York City transformed into a vibrant display of compassion and sustainability as the Green Hands Movement marked International Meatless Day on November 25. Spearheaded by the Sadhu Vaswani Center for

TORONTO (ANI) - Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Scarborough, Toronto, has received an interlocutory injunction from the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario, preventing Khalistani protesters from gathering within a 100-meter radius of the temple. The order, effective from 8 a.m.

Photos: Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia India-West Staff Reporter NEW YORK, NY - Let’s Share a Meal (LSM), a nonprofit led by the Sikh community, marked Thanksgiving this year by preparing and delivering over 10,000 vegetarian meals across 80 locations in five states: New Jersey,

Photo (Left to Right): Amartya Mukhopadhyay,, C. Anandharamakrishnan, Raghavan Varadarajan​, India-West Staff Reporter NEW YORK, NY- Tata Sons, in partnership with The New York Academy of Sciences, has announced the winners of the 2024 Tata Transformation Prize, recognizing three Indian scientists for

India-West News Desk LAUDERHILL, FL - Day 3 of the United States Premier League (USPL) Season 3 delivered a cricketing spectacle at Broward County Stadium, Florida, as the Maryland Mavericks, New Jersey Titans, and Carolina Eagles secured emphatic wins, energizing fans

Photo:WIkipedia India-West News Desk CHICAGO, IL - Rajan Hooda, at the University of Chicago, has unveiled a groundbreaking theory on how the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids, providing new insights into one of history’s greatest unsolved mysteries. The Egyptian pyramids, iconic for

Photo: Provost Michael D. Johnson places a medallion on Yogesh Joshi, formally investing him as the Indian Community Endowed Chair and Director of The India Center. By Sultana Ali ORLANDO, FL - On November 4, The India Center at the University of

India-West Staff Reporter WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for individuals traveling to Telangana, particularly members of the diaspora, following a surge in chikungunya cases among returning travelers. Chikungunya,

Photo: LtoR: Amy Dittmar, Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs; Ramamoorthy Ramesh, executive vice president for research; Caroline Levander, vice president for global; Reginald DesRoches, president.  India-West Staff Reporter HOUSTON, TX - Rice University, a leader in

India-West Staff Reporter NEW YORK, NY - The Diwali at Times Square 2024 celebration, held on October 19, illuminated the heart of New York City, leaving a lasting impression on those who attended the vibrant festival. The event, organized by Neeta

India-West Staff Reporter RIVERSIDE, CA - The Indian American Social Association (IASA) hosted a vibrant Diwali celebration in Southern California, bringing together 500 attendees for a night filled with cultural performances, delicious cuisine, and music. The event, held to celebrate the

India-West Staff Reporter LOS ANGELES, CA - In a historic moment of cultural recognition, the City of Los Angeles hosted a presentation and issued a proclamation in honor of Diwali, the festival of lights. The event, led by council members Nithya Raman

India-West News Desk CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - Sharath Jois, a star in the yoga community and grandson of iconic yoga guru K. Pattabhi Jois, tragically passed away here, at the age of 53. His sudden death has sent shockwaves through his tight-knit

Photo: Mohammed Jaffer-Snapsindia. India-West Staff Reporter NEWARK, NJ - Guru Nanak’s 555th Birth Anniversary was celebrated on November 9 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center here, under the theme “Oneness: A Light for Humanity.” The event, which honored the teachings of Guru