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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                MARCH 27, 2026      |  The Indian Eye 26

                                           19th Bharatiya Temple

                Gangaur Festival Celebrated with Great

                                           Fervor in Pennsylvania

            OUR BUREAU

            Pennsylvania
                  he 19th Gangaur Festival was
                  celebrated with great devotion,
            Tenthusiasm, and cultural gran-
            deur at the Bharatiya Temple in Penn-
            sylvania. On this occasion, more than
            500 members of the Indian diaspora
            and the Rajasthani community from
            various states across the northeastern
            United States gathered to celebrate
            the sacred tradition of Isar–Gauri
            Mata.  This  information  was  shared                                                                     He also appreciated Nand Todi,
            in a press note by Dr. Ravi Murarka,                                                                  founder and philanthropist of the
            President  of  the  Philadelphia  Rajas-                                                              Bharatiya Temple, who has generous-
            thani Mandal (PARAM).                                                                                 ly donated $1 million for the construc-
                The event was organized under the                                                                 tion of a shelter home in Montgomery
            leadership of Shri Nand Todi, found-                                                                  County in Pennsylvania.
            er of the Bharatiya Temple, and Dr.                                                                       During the festival, nine children
            Ravi Murarka, President of PARAM.                                                                     who won the poster competition were
                The ceremony was graced by                                                                        honored. These nine children were
            Ambassador Binay Srikanta Pradhan,                                                                    presented  cash  awards  and  certifi-
            Consul General of India in New York,                                                                  cates by the Rajasthan Association of
            as  the  Chief  Guest.  Prem  Bhandari,                                                               North America (RANA), New York.
            President  of  the  Rajasthan  Associa-                                                               The children created beautiful posters
            tion of North America (RANA), New                                                                     highlighting Rajasthan’s tourist desti-
            York, attended the event as the Guest                                                                 nations, historic forts, and the impor-
            of Honor. In addition, U.S. Congress-                                                                 tance of granting constitutional recog-
            man Brian Fitzpatrick, the Mayor of                                                                   nition to the Rajasthani language.
            Ambler, and several community lead-  multifaceted relationship between the   unanimously passing a resolution on   On this occasion, a special meet-
            ers were also present.            United States and India.          August 25, 2003, no concrete progress   ing was also held with leaders of more
                Several  members  of  Rajas-      Ambassador Pradhan also en-   has been made in this direction over   than 25 Indian community organiza-
            than Association of North America   couraged members of the Indian com-  the past 23 years.           tions, where community issues were
            (RANA), New York accompanied      munity to inspire and support their   Bhandari  said  that  all  political   discussed with Consul General Binay
            Prem  Bhandari,  including  newly  ap-  fellow Indians in entrepreneurship   parties share responsibility for this   Srikanta  Pradhan  and  Prem  Bhan-
            pointed Patron Jugal Kishore Ladda,   and trade through collaboration. He   delay. He explained that for the past   dari. During the meeting, representa-
            Secretary Ravi Jargarh, and members   noted that the nature of U.S.–India   16 years he has participated in various   tives of all organizations also honored
            Raj Garg, Vinay Jain, Sharad Agarw-  relations has evolved over time while   movements  and  demonstrations—  them by draping ceremonial shawls as
            al, and Harish Thakkar.           earlier the focus was on economic as-  from protests on the streets to repre-  a mark of respect.
                During the festival, devotees par-  sistance, today the relationship is in-  sentations  at  Rashtrapati  Bhavan—  Dr. Ravi Murarka also expressed
            ticipated in the worship of Gauri Mata,   creasingly centered on collaboration   yet due to a lack of political will, no   his heartfelt appreciation to the
            a grand Gangaur procession, cultural   in  modern  sectors  such  as  Artificial   decision has been taken so far. He   PARAM  core group members and
            performances, and the serving of tradi-  Intelligence (AI), trade partnerships,   also expressed that it is difficult to un-  numerous volunteers whose dedica-
            tional Rajasthani cuisine. Special attrac-  and technological cooperation.  derstand why the Government of Ra-  tion and tireless efforts made the 19th
            tions included Dal Baati Churma, Gatte   In  his  address,  Prem  Bhandari,   jasthan has not yet granted the status   Bharatiya Temple Gangaur Festival a
            ki  Sabzi,  and  Chhach  (buttermilk).  who serves as the International Con-  of a second official language to Rajas-  grand success. He noted that the plan-
                In his address, Ambassador Binay   vener  of  the  Akhil  Bhartiya  Rajas-  thani within the state.  ning and smooth execution of such
            Srikanta Pradhan, Consul General of   thani  Bhasha  Manyata  Sangharsh   During  his  remarks,  Bhandari   a large cultural gathering would not
            India in New York, emphasized that   Samiti and is a prominent voice of   also  praised  Ambassador  Binay  Sri-  have been possible without the col-
            the Indian diaspora in the United   the Indian diaspora community, high-  kanta  Pradhan,  Consul  General  of   lective teamwork, commitment, and
            States should work together in unity   lighted the long-standing demand for   India in New York, for ensuring that   enthusiasm of the PARAM leadership
            and  cooperation to  address  the  is-  the  inclusion  of  the  Rajasthani  lan-  the Indian Consulate remains accessi-  team and community volunteers who
            sues and challenges faced by the In-  guage in the Eighth Schedule of the   ble and active for the community 365   worked behind the scenes to ensure
            dian community in America. He said   Constitution of India. He stated that it   days a year, maintaining continuous   that every aspect of the festival—from
            that the Indian diaspora can play an   is extremely unfortunate that despite   engagement with members of the In-  cultural programs to hospitality—was
            important role in  strengthening  the   the  Rajasthan  Legislative  Assembly   dian diaspora.        organized seamlessly.

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