Nov 2024
Community Conversations
IAGB asked the community: “Share a tradition that you follow to celebrate your favorite festival” – and the community poured their hearts out!
Anuja Das
The autumn season, spanning October and November, is such a special time of the year bringing people from diverse cultural backgrounds together in celebration. The convergence of Rosh Hashanah, Chinese Moon festival, Durga Puja, Golus, Navratri, Halloween, Dussehra and Diwali creates a vibrant atmosphere of joy, reflection, and new beginnings and is my favorite collective festival. My favorite tradition is simply to get completely immersed in each of the festivals our friends help us celebrate specific to their culture. Despite their differences, these celebrations share common values and themes that encourage us to introspect, set goals, and look forward to the future. The spirit of togetherness, gratitude, and hope that permeates this time of the year is truly uplifting and a perfect way to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one.
Julie Chatterjee Khanna
Traditions are what keep us bonded and bring beauty to our life. In our daily hustle, we barely get a chance to stop breathing and take in the beauty of life. Our traditions allow us to take a pause switch off from the daily hustle and focus on what is important … friends family laughter and love. Being a Bengali, my most beloved tradition has been to get deeply involved with Durga Puja, from decorating the pandals, to drawing “Alpona” (Bengali Rangoli) to making garlands has always been an enticing beckon. Not to mention, dress up in fineries for the 5 days of the festivities.
However after marrying a Punjabi man, I got a beautiful insight to his tradition in doing Laxmi puja on Diwali day. While us Bengalis decorate pandals and stay out all day, my Punjabi side of the family does exactly the opposite. On Diwali, the focus is to deep clean the house and decorate it; do an aarti at home and not leave the house till the diyas burn out. We stay indoors dressed in fineries putting our best foot forward both in terms of self and our hearth. I have come to love this tradition and look forward to watching my husband do Diwali shopping for decking up his “mandir” (temple) at home.
To sum up, respecting each other’s traditions and enjoying it keeps the national integration at home alive 😊
Monalisa Chakraborty Patel
Diwali is the biggest festival in Mumbai. I am from Mumbai, and I like to follow the tradition here from home away home in USA. Diwali is the festival of lights – so I decorate my house with lights, traditional diyas and candles, and also make colorful rangoli in my home. On this auspicious occasion, I gather my family members and friends to get together at my home and celebrate Diwali.
Moumita Banerjee
In West Bengal, Diwali, pronounced as “Dipaboli” is celebrated uniquely with deep cultural and spiritual significance, blending Hindu traditions with regional customs. Diwali is associated with the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, in many parts of India. However, in Bengal, Diwali coincides with Kali Puja, dedicated to the mighty Goddess Kali, the fierce form of the Divine Mother known for her powerful and protective nature. Being Bengali, I celebrate Diwali here in the USA by:
- performing Kali Puja-decorating idol of Maa Kali, worshiping, and offering rice, sweets, fruits etc.
- lighting and decoration-decorate our house with light, Diya, and Alpana, traditional form of Bengali rangoli, where intricate patterns are created on the floors with rice paste, symbolizing auspiciousness, and welcoming blessings.
- Finally, Diwali is not complete without lighting up firecrackers. The vibrant, colorful displays are seen as a way to celebrate and symbolize the triumph of light over darkness. As a Bengali, I prepare a variety of sweets such as sondesh, rossogolla, and payesh, along with savory snacks. Food is an integral part of our Bengali celebration, shared with family and friends to strengthen bonds.
Shital Bhammer
One tradition that we follow every year is to participate in Annakut at mandir on New Years Day. We also decorate our house every year for diwali and perform Laxmi Pujan with the whole family.
Saswati (Lima) Das
Diwali is always special for our family. My child and I are very fond of this festival. We buy an auspicious item on Dhanteras. We do the typical bits of new dresses, visiting the temple, lighting sparklers, making a feast, putting a grand kolam, placing diyas around the house. This is the only day we light lamp for our ancestors (for their “mukti”/ freedom from all “Sanchita karma”/cumulative doings in the South direction outside of the house, preferably in diyas made with wheat flour or rice flour or in earthen lamps. Some keep thirteen lamps also facing the south direction. In the evening, we do the puja for Goddess Lakshmi, and make a fresh sweet for prasad. This is how we celebrate one of our favorite festivals, Diwali.
Community Spotlight
This time, IAGB gives a fond ‘shout-out’ to 2 community leaders, Sivakumar Mallaiyasamy, President of TMM (Tamil Makkal Mandram) and Ramesh Kumar, Ex-President of TMM. For the community to know, Tamil Makkal Mandram (TMM) is a New England/Greater Boston-based organization preserving Tamil culture and language. They say that they unite individuals and enthusiasts, promoting heritage, community and cultural exchange, and IAGB can vouch for it, because TMM has been displaying poise, integrity, cultural exchange and community spirits towards IAGB for the past several years. IAGB salutes Siva and Ramesh, and team TMM for their friendship and good faith shown towards IAGB.
Sivakumar Mallaiyasamy
Sivakumar, President of TMM, is a seasoned technology professional with over 20+ years of IT experience. He has a master’s degree in business administration from UMass Lowell. He lives in Wilmington, MA with his wife and two boys. Sivakumar is passionate about giving back to the community through volunteering. He has served in Shishu Bharathi, Dwarkamai Sai Temple and Tamil Makkal Mandram (TMM).
Sivakumar has been volunteering in Tamil Makkal Mandram for the past nine years through various capacities (Executive Member, Secretary, Vice President and currently as President). Looking forward to building stronger and thriving communities across New England with meaningful partnerships.
Ramesh Kumar
Ramesh has been a passionate advocate for community service for over 15 years, driven by a commitment to uplift and support his community. His involvement in Tamil Makkal Mandram (TMM), a non-profit organization in New England, has been transformative since he joined as an executive committee member in 2015. Throughout his tenure, he held various leadership roles, including Vice President from 2019 to 2021 and President from 2022 to 2023, making an indelible impact on the organization and its events.
Under Ramesh’s leadership, TMM’s events grew remarkably, bringing together over 1,000 attendees and 300 performers for grand celebrations, such as Pongal and Deepavali. His initiatives included honoring Tamil teachers and high-achieving students, organizing sports leagues, and hosting youth-focused programs like TMMTED. Ramesh was instrumental in launching several innovative programs, such as the annual Tamil New Year festival, and unveiling a statue of the revered Tamil poet, Thiruvalluvar. He consistently prioritized collaboration, partnering with groups like IAGB for immigration workshops and NEMA for musical events, bringing value and recognition to TMM.
Ramesh’s approach to leadership extended beyond traditional community gatherings. He modernized TMM’s digital presence, developing the organization’s website and cultivating a substantial following on social media, growing TMM’s Facebook followers to 5,000. Additionally, he spearheaded efforts to make TMM self-sufficient, from procuring equipment for banana leaf feasts to establishing TMM’s first storage space for event materials.
Beyond TMM, Ramesh has been actively involved in various charitable and social efforts, from organizing college seminars to donating thousands annually to local charities. He also participated in the Harvard Tamil Chair fundraiser and numerous other organizations, exemplifying his dedication to fostering Tamil culture and supporting his community.
Ramesh’s commitment to community service continues with his new venture, Yaadhum, an initiative that combines his values of transparency and sustainability to support those in need. Yaadhum, co-founded with his wife Thilaka, is structured around three pillars: community services, entertainment, and technology, aiming to generate funds for charitable causes. With Yaadhum, Ramesh envisions a platform that hosts Indian celebrity events, offers technical services, and provides resources to local businesses, making a meaningful impact across multiple sectors.
Ramesh Kumar is a true community leader whose unwavering dedication and innovative spirit inspire others. Through his service, he has built a legacy of compassion, cultural pride, and sustainable growth for future generations.
Events Recap
IAGB’s participation in the Walk Against Alzheimer's
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Northeastern MA that was held on October 6! Thanks to our amazing walkers, the Alzheimer’s Association have already raised $596,100 toward our goal of raising $673,500. These funds are crucial to continuing to provide support for individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families. The funds allow anyone access to at-no-cost services like our 24/7 Helpline, care consultations and support groups. Thank you, Indian American community and team IAGB for continuing to raise awareness and being part of the community dedicated to ending Alzheimer’s and all other dementia!
The walk saw over 2000 walkers! The ceremony preceding the walk featured a Promise Garden Ceremony where chosen leaders from the community were to hold flowers to symbolize their connection to Alzheimer’s and their commitment to ending the disease. IAGB Team Captain Tanu Phoenix was selected to hold the White Flower, which signified the hope to find a cure for this disease.
Here’s to finding a CURE TO ALZEIMER’S – a tormenting brain disorder that is the most common cause of dementia in older adults and is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States!
IAGB’s participation at the Tamil Makkal Mandram Deepavali 2024
IAGB received a warm invitation from Sivakumar Mallaiyasamy, President of Tamil Makkal Mandram to attend their Deepavali 2024 event.
President Tanu Phoenix and Vice President Nilesh Agrawal delightfully attended the event. “The warm festivity, the graceful greetings, the atmosphere of togetherness, the joyful ambience and the scrumptious & savoring banana leaf feast being so lovingly served by the TMM team – my first ever experience of this kind and most definitely an experience of a lifetime!”…commented IAGB President Tanu Phoenix.
IAGB is grateful to TMM for its continued camaraderie, love, warmth and respect towards IAGB. We feel the same way about TMM – here’s to continuing to live up to this endearing ethos of mutual admiration and community spirits!
THANK YOU, TMM President Sivakumar Mallaiyasamy, Vice President Subhashini Raman, Ex-President Ramesh Kumar Radhakrishnan & the entire TMM team, for being such gracious hosts!
IAGB’s participation at the Asian Community Fund’s Inaugural Gala
IAGB leadership (President Tanu Phoenix, Vice President Nilesh Agrawal and Treasurer Deepak Garg) is proud and honored to have joined the Asian Community Fund’s Inaugural Gala on October 3rd, a signature event for AAPI leaders and supporters in MA to celebrate the region’s most prominent AAPI leaders and allies and help amplify AAPI visibility, representation, and narrative change!
The Asian Community Fund (ACF) at the Boston Foundation is the first and only philanthropic fund in Massachusetts dedicated to activating, convening, and supporting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
Launched in 2020, ACF’s goal is to increase the visibility of the Asian American community and expand resources for nonprofits and businesses.
Key Facts to note about ACF:
- Mobilized $6 million to date in gifts and pledges for the AAPI community across Massachusetts.
- Distributed over $1 million in grants to 81 Asian-led and serving organizations throughout the region.
- Launched vital community coalitions and programs including the Asian Business Empowerment Council, the AAPI Arts and Culture Network, and the AAPI Mental Health Collaborative.
President Tanu Phoenix commented, “ACF unites the diverse ethnicities within the AAPI community, incubate new partnerships, and build a stronger advocacy voice. IAGB stands in support of ACF’s trajectory and looks forward to working with ACF and AAPI in many more such groundbreaking endeavors! A huge “THANK YOU” to Danielle Kim, Executive Director, Asian Community Fund, The Boston Foundation and Anu Chitrapu, ACF Campaign Co-Chair, for their warm invitation and for encouraging inclusivity and camaraderie across the board. I look forward to doing meaningful work with these two superior leaders in the greater good of our Indian American community.”
