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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 03, 2026 | The Indian Eye 18

Lotus magazine hosts devotional Yoga Day

event cherished by 200 guests on Long Island

A Lotus in the Mud online magazine organized a multi-faceted, multifaith celebration in Hempstead,
NY, focusing on devotion for spiritual evolution, with a powerful panel discussion as the centerpiece.

OUR BUREAU
Hempstead, NY

More than 200 people cherished a
devotional Yoga Day celebration
on June 14 organized by ALotusIn-
TheMud.com, wellness and spirituali-
ty magazine. The program at the Vedic
Heritage Hanuman Temple in Hemp-
stead, NY was like modern satsang:
meditation, movement, music, dance,
dialogue, and community engage-
ment. Padma Bhushan Dr Dattatreyu-
du Nori was the Chief Guest. The
Indian Consulate, New York, was rep- humanity” and said devotion strength-
resented by Mahesh Yadav, Consul. ens the yogic journey by nurturing
The centerpiece of the program “humility, compassion, surrender and
curated by Lotus Founder and Editor a deep connection with the divine.”
Parveen Chopra was a panel discus- He commended A Lotus in the Mud
sion with the theme, ‘Devotion as a for sharing such spiritual messages
Superhighway to Spiritual Evolution.’ with a growing global readership.
As moderator, he said that according Continuing the Indian tradition,
to Indian philosophy, there are four the evening began with a ceremonial
paths to self-realization: Karma Yoga, lamp-lighting, to the accompaniment
Bhakti Yoga, Gyan Yoga and Raja of Vedic mantras by Ashok Vyas, at-
Yoga. The path of bhakti is the sweet- tended by panelists and presenters as
est and accessible to all. well as community leaders including
The four esteemed panelists were: Ravi Bhooplapur, Anil and Renu Jain,
Ordained Buddhist nun Lama Aria Kamlesh Mehta, Prof. Indrajit Singh
Drolma, author and banker Yakub Saluja and Abhishek Mishra.
Mathew, finance executive and artist Lama Aria led a Loving-Kindness
Nayan Kisnadwala, and yoga teach- Meditation for world peace while cul-
er Sharon Epstein. They agreed that tural performances included devotion-

devotion is both a gift that is received al singing by Budh Prakash Jasuja and
and a discipline that must be culti- his daughter Nanki, and Radha-Krish-
vated. And that personal effort walks na themed dance items by Preya Pa-
hand in hand with divine grace. tel and students of her Vivarta Arts.
Padma Bhushan 2026 awardee Anne Moffatt (Aanya Prarthana) en-
and internationally renowned oncol- gaged participants with Chair Yoga
ogist Dr Dattatreyudu Nori, who has and a Ribbon Dance session.
founded three Shirdi Sai Baba tem- Prominent people in the audience
ples in NY-NJ area, reflected on the included Dr Unni Mooppan, Animesh
deeper dimensions of yoga and medi- Goenka, Jasbir Jai Singh, Gobind
tation in his address as chief guest. Munjal, Indu Jaiswal, Nilima Madan,
“Being the witness keeps you Rashmin Master, Sharanjit Singh
away from all the problems,” he said, Thind, Varinder Bhalla, Jyoti Gupta,
emphasizing the yogic practice of ob- Bina Sabapathy, Sushma Kotahwala,
serving thoughts and emotions with- and Paresh Raval. dian Panorama, South Asian Insider, of ceremonies. All enjoyed a healthy,
out identifying with them. Parveen acknowledged mone- The Indian Eye, Hum Hindustani, vegetarian meal outdoors after the
He also recommended cultivating tary contributions by Mukund Pad- Bollywood Insider and Preetnama. program.
equanimity, noting that “dualities of manabhan, Abhishek Mishra, and The event concluded with a A Lotus In The Mud is a non-prof-
life are apparently contradictory, but India Association of Long Island. He charity auction of artworks by Nayan it online magazine dedicated to shar-
inherently complementary.” thanked Vedic Heritage Inc for allow- Kisnadwala conducted by Renu Jain, ing wisdom and practices from multi-
Shri Mahesh Yadav, Consul at the ing him to hold the program in Pandit with the proceeds intended for Lotus ple traditions as well as cutting-edge
Indian Consulate, described yoga as Jasraj auditorium, and media support magazine and Vedic Heritage Inc. science to promote health, happiness,
“one of India’s most profound gifts to by The South Asian Times, The In- Piya Jyoti Kachroo served as master and inner peace.

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