2020 Celebrations of the Center:

PRESIDENT’S REPORT 

                                         HAPPY DIWALI AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

                                      (Giriraj Shastriji’s Presentation on Laxmi  

                                       Poojan – Pl see in  Future Programs section)                                              

Dear Friends:

The following is a brief report of the Center’s Thursday, November 5 and Saturday, November 7, 2020 Zoom meetings organized this week. The report is abbreviated as the meetings were recorded and promptly placed on YouTube by Jagdishbhai Patel. Thanks Jagdishbhai.

1. The November 5th Meeting:

The meeting started with a prayer by Mrs. Lataben Shah.

In his welcome address, President briefly mentioned how the  widespread pandemic news of pandemic of the last seven months seem to have been placed on a back burner for a couple of days and got overshadowed by the nationwide post-election quagmire. 

(A) Dr. Fennil Shah’s Presentation:

Our member Mr. Bharatbhai Goradia introduced Dr. Fennil Shah, International Mindfulness and Mental Health speaker, a sole recipient of a Doctorate in Mindfulness in Gujarat, who has scores of learning centers in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Canada. 

We’re thankful to Bharatbhai for bringing talented artists from India for the benefit of our members. This is the ninth program he is bringing to us. He is only at a striking distance to hit a double digit number. 

Dr. Fennil Shah spearheaded his lively talk on positive mental attitude, analyzing the ingredients for experiencing the true happiness and stressing the importance of breathing. In an interactive session inviting viewers, he posed a question as to what’s happiness? Instant replies mentioned peace of mind, smile, contended life, self satisfaction, etc. Thereafter, he narrated a story of a 99 Club, stressing the importance of everlasting inner happiness compared to temporary materialistic happiness. 

In order to achieve happiness, Dr. Shah elaborated on the power of choosing life, laying down a mindset and believing that whatever happens, happens for the best, as enunciated in Bhagvad Gita. Moreover, happiness is a journey and not a destination. The role of body, soul and mind play a vital role for the happiness in life. Regular exercise, soul searching and meditation are the prerequisites. 

Dr. Shah explained the importance of endorphin (secrets a positive feeling,) dopamine (feels pleasure,) oxytocin (promotes feelings of love,)  and serotonin (promotes satisfaction and optimism.) In order to energize viewers, he played music which instantly inspired them to dance in their homes. 

In order to feel and enjoy happiness, Dr. Shah has listed salient elements in “Affirmation” and “10 Things to do Everyday.” 

Interesting Q&As followed. Viewers enjoyed and applauded Dr. Shah’s presentation.

<Affirmation by Dr Fennil.pdf>

(B) Anokhi Antakshari:

The Center launched a pilot program of Anokhi Antakshari, initiated by Pankajbhai Parikh, VP, with the guidance of anchorman RJ Mr. Amol Shende of Nagpur, India. The program was sponsored by a Well Wisher. The following  members participated:

Mayur & Rekha Trivedi, Deepak and Bharati Mehta, Harshadray &  Indira Joshi, Ashok & Kusumben Gandhi, Bharati Parikh & Ila Butala, Rekha Gajiwala & Shobhana Shah, and Avani Mathuria & Varsha Kadakia. 

Normally, we play Antakshari where a contestant sings the first line of a song which begins with the consonant with which the previous contestant’s song ended. However, today’s concept of Antakshari was different. It was अनोखी. Seven pairs were judged based on singing a song considering a consonant/vowel, lyrics, film, actor/actress, singer, silent video, image, etc. 

RJ Shende assigned marks, Mrs. Varsha Parikh (EC member) listed scores and the following winners were declared:

First prize:
Bharati Parikh & Ila Butala

Second prize:
Rekha Gajiwala & Shobhana Shah

Third prize:
Harshadray & Indira Joshi

Fourth prize:
Avani Mathuria & Varsha Kadakia

Audience prizes:
Manohar Parmar
Rama Sampat

Viewers enjoyed participants’ songs during an hour-long program and Sachin Dhomne capped the event with a song. 

Mr. Jitendra Zaveri, Jt. Secretary, detailed future programs. 

A Vote of Thanks by Mr. Rajendra Shah.


2. The November 7th Meeting:

The meeting started with a prayer by Mr. & Mrs. Anil & Meena Shah. 

In his welcome address, President thanked today’s Grand Sponsor Mr. B. Elango, Head US and Caribbean Operations, Bank of Baroda, and other co-sponsors Dr. Ishita Sheth, our youngest sponsor (daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Ashok & Priya Sheth) and Mr. & Mrs. Anil & Aruna Parikh. Mr. Ashok Sheth introduced Mr. Elango and Pankajbhai introduced co-sponsors. 

Mr. B. Elango in his brief speech commended activities of our Center and Senior Community Center of VTNY. 

Profiles of sponsors are attached. 

A power point presentation of sponsors, prepared by Jyotindrabhai Patel and played by Jagdish Patel was displayed. Thanks to both of them.

(i) Musical Program:

Music virtuoso Raj & Smruti and Family from Kentucky entertained viewers for two hours with a string of bhajans and old Bollywood songs. Some of the evergreen સદાબહાર songs swept viewers to their younger days. The ensemble including their singer daughter Eshna, son Jigar and tabla player son Amit, delighted viewers. 

Singers kicked off the program with Navkar Mantra and Maa Shakti prayer. Thereafter, they unleashed a countless number of songs in their melodious voice including Maadi Taru Kanku Kharyn Ne Suraj Ugyo, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Suhana Safar Aur Yeh Mausam Haseen, Dharti Ko Aakash Pukare aaja aaja, Dukh Bhare Din Beete Re Ab Sukh Aayo Re, Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya, Dam Dam Diga Diga, Gadi Wale Gadi Dheere Haak Re, Yeh Sham Mastaani, Hame To Loot Liya Husn Waalo Ne, Kuhu Kuhu Bole Koyalia, Dekha Ek Khwab To Yeh Silsile Hue, Tu Ki Jaane Pyaar Mera Mein Karoon Intezar Tera, Taakte RehteTujhko Saanj Savere, Tu Chhupi Hai Kahan, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Ye Zindgi Usiki Hai blended with Alvida to Corona with the year 2020. 

Viewers applauded singers for selecting excellent songs and their melodious voice. 

(ii) New Members:

We welcome the following new members:

1. Mukesh Kapadia
2. Kumud Kapadia

3.Pankaj & Pragnya Panchmatia

4.Bharat & Niranjana Shelat

5.Kirit & Sucheta Naik

(iii) Contributions:

We are thankful to the following members for their generous contributions:

1. PragnabenMehta$100
2. Dhruv Vora $ 51
3. Dahyabhai &Pushpaben Patel $101

A Vote of Thanks by Mr. Dahyabhai Patel. 

3. The Computer Class:

Prof Raj Vangapaty is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting on Sunday, November 8, 2020 from 10:30am to 12:30pm.

Topic: Computer Technology Course for India Home Members
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet  10:30 am Sunday 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://indiahome.zoom.us/j/98114126485?pwd=U29hbFFZTktTSUprZHNSdXdCSWUvdz09

Meeting ID: 981 1412 6485
Passcode: 885935

4. 
   The Yoga Class:

 Our member Rupaben Dharia’s Yoga class is going in full swing as about 60 families participate on Zoom every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00am. The next class is on Tuesday, November 10,  2020. For your queries, please contact her at rdharia78@yahoo.com or by text at 917 435 1890.

ID: 715 3405 1087

Password: 6789

5. The Arts Class:

India Home has extended an invitation to our members to join the arts, creative writing, cooking, crafts and technology classes. Please contact Mrs. Kavita Shah, Creative Aging Director, at 917 825 1559 for the Zoom link as well as for new educational and informative events. For additional programs, you may visit the following link:

https://indiahome.zoom.us/j/7280154731?pwd=d1preTlFMng5NXBQdFlKVjVqenh5Zz09

Meeting ID: 728 015 4731

Passcode: 2007

6. Future Programs:

Mr. Niranjanbhai Patel, Secretary, provided details of the future programs.

Please note the ID and Password for the programs (i) through (xi):

ID: 516 607 5252

Password: 5252

(i) Giriraj Shashtriji’s Presentation:

Giriraj Shastriji’s in depth guidance on conducting pooja rituals for Laxmi Poojan and other Poojas during the Diwali festival on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 10:30am. The program is sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Jitendra & Rita Zaveri.

(ii) A musical program of Jagruti Chauhan, sponsored by Suhag Mehta on Thursday, November 12, 2020 at 10:30am, followed by  Bollywood songs by Mr. Param Dave (grand son of our members Harshadray & Indiraben Joshi.) 

Thereafter, Mr. Devendra  Gohel’s presentation on recent changes in Medicare and Part D Program. 

(iii) Musical Program:

A musical program by the Dhomne Group with orchestra is planned on Sunday, November 22, 2020 at 10:30am, sponsored by Jagadish & Shailaben Patel, Mansukhbhai & Ranjanben Patel and Aroonbhai & Shobhanaben Shah. (Pl note the original date of November 21 is changed to November 22.)

(iv) Musical Program:

A musical program Shyam Teri Bansi by the Dhomne Group with orchestra, is planned on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 10:30am, sponsored by Mrs. Nayanaben Gandhi, Mrs. Jayshreeben Vishnubhai Joshi, and Mr. & Mrs. Indravadanbhai & Hemangiben Shah.

(v) Musical Program:

A musical program Ek Shaam Lata Ke Naam by Dhomne Group with orchestra is planned on Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 10:30am, sponsored by Dinesh & Kailasben Shah, Dipak & Bhartiben Mehta and a Well Wisher. 

(vi) Musical Program:

A music program by Sudesh Parmar Group with orchestra, sponsored by Arvindbhai & Kalpanaben Dharia, is planned on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at 10:30am. 

(vii) Music Program:

A musical program Mukesh-Sada Bahar by Dhomne Group with orchestra is planned on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 10:30am, sponsored by Vijay Patel.

(viii) Musical Program:

A musical program by Dhomne Group with orchestra is planned on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 10:30am,  sponsored by Drs. Virendra & Nalini Juthani.

(ix) Valentine’s Day:

Valentine’s Day, sponsored by Narendrabhai & Kaminiben Shah will be celebrated on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 10:30am. 

(x) Holi Celebration:

A musical program by Dhomne Group with orchestra is planned on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 10:30am to celebrate Holi, sponsored by Anil & Meena Shah.

(xi) Vishnu Sahsranam:

As advised earlier, Dr. Narendra Bhalodkar’s program on Vishnu Sahsranam is on every Monday from 10:00 to 11:30am. His next program will be on Monday, November 9, 2020. 

(xii) Music Program:

A music program by Daxesh Patel Group is planned by Senior Community Center of VTNY on Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 11:00am. 

A flyer is attached. 

ID 819 408 3415

Password 2020

(xiii) Bhajan Sandhya:

Brahmin Society of New York (BSNY) has planned a Bhajan Sandhya, sponsored by Joy & Clara Oza, on November 21, 2020 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Please contact Rajesh Pandya at 347 493 9774 for details. 

Please stay healthy.

Mukund Mehta, President 

November 7, 2020

Profiles:

Balasubramaniam Elango is the Chief Executive (US Operations) of Bank of Baroda. Prior to this assignment, he was Deputy General Manager and Head of Credit for the International Operations at Bank’s Corporate Office, Mumbai.

Born in 1966, Mr. Elango holds a Bachelors Degree in Science and MBA degree in Finance. He is an Associate Member of the Institute of Cost & Management Accountants of India (ACMA) and a certified Associate of Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (CAIIB).He also completed ICSI (Inter) of Institute of Company Secretaries of India.

Mr.Elango joined Bank of Baroda as a Manager in 2000. In a career spanning over 17 years with Bank of Baroda, he acquired rich experience of diverse Banking operations with a thorough knowledge of International Operations.

Mr. Elango has held a wide range of responsibilities in Domestic as well as International operations of the Bank in various capacities. He also headed credit & Development department of Bank of Baroda (Uganda) Ltd, Kampala (A subsidiary of Bank of Baroda) for more than four years.

Dr. Ishita Sheth, M.D. is a board certified Infectious Disease and Adult Internal Medicine physician who currently practices at APICHA community health center in lower Manhattan. Her expertise includes HIV management involving antiretroviral therapies, as well as treatments of opportunistic infections within those patients. She has also been involved in Infectious Disease consultation services both inpatient and outpatient, involving a wide range of viral and bacterial illnesses. Her experience also involves travel medicine as well as multidrug resistant diseases .  Dr. Sheth served as director of the Infection Control and Antibiotic Stewardship Committees at Terence Cardinal Cooke Rehabilitation center. She has completed her undergraduate training at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and graduate medical training at AUA College of Medicine in Antigua.  She completed her residency at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, NY and Fellowship training at Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ.

Anil & Aruna Parikh

Born and brought up in Mumbai,  Came to US in 1964 to NYC, NY to Brooklyn Polytech.

After earning MSIE, Anil has worked for Hospital, Manufacturing, Insurance Companies, Banks and Finally for the U.S. Postal Service.  Aruna has Master’s in Economics-Politics and worked for the Reserve Bank of India and in USA for Insurance, Inventory and Distribution,Market Research and the U.S. Postal Service.

Our daughter Aditi Parikh has  MPH and DMD.  Practices Dentistry in Queens NY.  Our son Amit is an  IT Professional, lives and works in Manhattan, NY with his wife Neetu who has Master’s Degrees and has pursued PhD in English Literature; she is a Banker and their daughter Aanya who is 8 and in the third grade. We have lived in Chicago, New York and Pittsburgh. 

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