Shekar Ganore for Highland Heights Ward 2 City Council

Highland Heights is a city in Cuyahoga Country in Northeast Ohio. Its a small city with a population less than 10,000 residents. Mayor and safety director of the city is Chuck Brunello. The City Council members include Ann M. D'Amico, Anthony DeLision, Carol Ganser, Robert E. Goff and Edwin V. Hargate, Sean Milroy.

Highland Heights is a part of the highly ranked Mayfield City School District headed by Dr. Michael Barnes.   

It is a pleasure to see Asian Indians desis of Northeast Ohio becoming active in political space. Our growing community needs representation and leaders in decision making spaces. It is a honor to note that Shekar Ganore was a first time contestant in the race for Ward 2 against Highland Heights councilman Frank DiLalla according to The Plain Dealer Married for 20 years, Shekar Ganore is the father of a student at Mayfield High School, and a student at Mayfield Middle School.

Shekar Ganore has served the past three years as commissioner of Mayfield Soccer Club and, prior to that, Shekar Ganore coached, inspired and lead his children’s soccer and basketball teams.

Shekar Ganore of Highland Heights

Shekar Ganore received 375 votes, Frank DiLalla 554; not too shabby for a first time contestant. Shekar Ganore ran an excellent race and this looser's shortcoming should not discourage other super duper leaders from Asian Indian desi community in Cleveland and Akron area to try to "contribute", "uplift" and "serve"  the communities of the greatest country in the world.

Goken America and Visa Inc. Employees Drown

Cleveland Asian Indian Drowns in Rose Lake, Hocking Hills, Ohio

On July 26th, tragedy struck the family and friends of two young men, Karthick Alagarsamy and Raam Gautham Arjunan, who drowned in Rose Lake, Ohio.

Seven friends trekked on a Hocking Hills trail to reach Rose Lake on the warm Sunday afternoon. Seeing the rope swing and after judging the depth of the water below to be safe, three of them Gautham, Karthick and Kaushik decided to take a dive into the stagnant and friendly waters. What started off as a fun afternoon suddenly took a wrong turn when Karthick jumped in and started to panic. On understanding that his friend needed help, Gautham swam towards him. What happened after that is anybody’s guess. Before anyone realized what was going on, they saw both of them sinking into the water. Help was called for immediately and first responders arrived shortly only to find the visibility too poor and the water too deep to search for either of them. By the time the rescue team could get the necessary equipment to recover Gautham and Karthick, they'd lost so much time and also the lives of two young men.

The loss of such amazing individuals affects the people around them in ways unimaginable. The families are flying into the US from India in the middle of a pandemic holding unbearable grief in their hearts.

Raam Gautham Arjunan, 26

Raam Gautham Arjunan, 26, was from Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu.  Arjunan, who also went by Raam Gantham professionally, lived in the Cleveland area. He worked as an associate product manager in digital payments for CardinalCommerce in Mentor near Cleveland, a wholly owned subsidiary of VISA Inc. that authenticates digital transactions against fraud.  He earned a master's degree in engineering management from Case Western Reserve University.  He had just got married last year. His presence lives on in the thoughts of his wife, father and mother.

Karthik Alagarsamy, 26

Karthick Alagarsamy, 26,  was a free spirited soul who's friendliness and adventure was well known. He was a student at Wayne State University before working for Goken America in Marysville, Ohio. He lived in Dublin, Ohio.  He went to work at Goken America after graduating from Wayne State University in Detroit with a master's degree in mechanical engineering in 2018.  Prior to graduation, he was a mechanical engineering intern at DTE Energy, was the drive train captain on Wayne State's Warrior Racing Formula SAE Team and was a graduate student assistant at the university. He was also a graduate of Madras Institute of Technology and attended Anna University, MIT Campus, in his native Chennai city, Tamil Nadu state, India. 

"He was a great young man," said Bill Nichols of Goken America remarked, adding that Alagarsamy was "friendly, well-liked and often had a smile on his face.  He's survived by his father, mother and sister from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. 

Kasturi Kannada Sangha Cleveland to celeberate Ugadi

Asian Indians of Cleveland celebrate Ugadi

Asian Indians of Cleveland celebrate Ugadi

Kasturi Kannada Sangha of Cleveland is scheduled to celebrate Ugadi on April 22 at Broadview Heights Community and Recreation Center.  Manjula Gururaj and Badari Prasad will perform on this happy occasion.  Check out the Cleveland Kannada community's facebook page for more information.

Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana 2015

Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival, the “largest Indian classical music festival outside of India” and in its 38^th year, will be held in Cleveland, Ohio from April 1-12, 2015.  Ticket cost per person varies between $20 to $40.  Season passes to the festival cost $200.  

Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana will reportedly include over 200 celebrity artistes in over 85 concerts; including Carnatic Symphony, a fusion of Western music orchestra with Carnatic music presented by about 100 talented children of various nationalities and conducted by renowned K.N.Shashikiran.  Registration is now open.  Now, the festival registers children starting at age 10.

Music and Bharathanatyam dance competitions will also form part of this Festival; which will also bestow various music and dance awards, like Sangeetha Rathnakara, Nrithya Rathnakara, Sangeetha Kala Sagaram, Nrithya Kala Sagaram, etc.; and organize educational programs, including “The Glory of Lord Venkateswara”.  It is pertinent to understand the reality about the imaginary Lord Venkateshwara that Thyagaraja wrote about and you should read this post titled Hindu Gods are Imaginary

Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival

 Packets

The Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Committee, a non-profit organization responsible for organization of this Festival, includes R. Balasubramaniam, V.V. Sundaram, Gomathy Balasubramaniam, Roger and Jaya Natarajan, K. Venkataraman, Sunitha and Ashok Grandhee, Radhika Balasubramaniam and Gopi Sundaram, Shankar Sundaram and Karthik Venkataraman, Venkat Narayanaswamy, Arvind Balakrishnan and Mony Iyer, Kanchana Sundaram and Lavanya Krishnan, Nigamanth and Divya Sridhar

Asian Indians celebrate Diwali at Cleveland City Hill

Dr. Chittaranjan Jain and Asim Datta of FICA

FICA, Cleveland and Cleveland Community Relations Board host Asian Indian Festival Diwali at Cleveland City Hall

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson gave brief remarks at the Asian Indian Festival of Lights celebration held in the Cleveland City Hall Rotunda.  Diwali is one of the biggest festivals of Hindu Asian Indians in Cleveland and Akron.  It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness in Cleveland and Akron areas in Northeast Ohio.

During this Asian Indian festival, Hindus worship their Goddess Lakshmi. This event celebrates the rich cultural heritage and traditions of one of Cleveland’s many diverse communities, and included music, dance and delicious cuisine.

The members of the Federation of India Community Association of Northeast Ohio FICA and the Cleveland community, particularly Asian Indians, enjoyed a social evening filled with cultural and educational activities.

Hira Rane, Michael Sreshta and Venky Venkatesh at Cleveland City Hall

Harsha Rane at Cleveland City Hall

Kalyani Veturi, Kuchipudi dancer at Cleveland City Hall

Sri Pasumarthy Sreekrishna, Asian Indian Flute player

Mayor Frank Jackson at Diwali function

Geeta Limaye on violin at diwali at Cleveland City Hall

FICA is one of the many community organization representing Asian Indians in Northeast Ohio.  Community Relations Board is an outfit of City of Cleveland.  Its members represent Cleveland's racially, ethnically, and religiously diverse population. Members include Mayor Frank G. Jackson and Reverend. Dr. Charles Lucas.  Blaine Griffin is the director of the Community Relations Board.

The Asian American outreach contact is Le Nguyen 216-664-2319.  Youth  outreach contacts are James Box and Pastor Grady Stevenson.  Hispanic liaison are Lucy Torres and Theasha Dainely at 216-664-6248.

Photo credit: Ruggero Fatica; URL of media gallery City of Cleveland dated Nov 8, 2013: http://www.cleveland-oh.gov/CityofCleveland/Home/media-gallery/slideshow?id=1400
 

Sujata Emani contests in Strongsville Schools Board of Education Elections

Sujata Emani daughter of braveheart Vijaya Lakshmi Emani contested to become a member of the Strongsville School Board of Education along with Duke Evans, George Grozan and Jennifer Sinisgalli during election held on November 5, 2013. 

Strongsville Post reported that Dr. Sujata Emani, a graduate of Strongsville High School, holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego.  Here she worked with a Nobel laureate.

Here is the tally of the votes:

Sujata Emani     1,803
Duke Evans     5,761
George Grozan     4,817
Jennifer Sinisgalli     3,244

Duke Evans and George Grozan will be the new members of Strongsville Board of Education. 

Asian American non-profit of Akron and Cleveland gets 775k

Congressman Tim Ryan announced that a $775,000 grant to the Asian Service in Action, Inc. (ASIA), a non-profit organization from Akron and Cleveland that works to empower and advocate for Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders.

Congressman Tim Ryan: Grant to Asian Services in Action
Cleveland and Akron

The money will be used by Asian Service in Action (ASIA) to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate information and services, including comprehensive care across all life cycles, including primary care, OB/GYN, pediatrics, geriatrics, preventive dental, diagnostic laboratory and x-ray, pharmacy, and emergency medical services. 

The Asian Service Action Inc. grant was awarded by the Department of Health & Human Services Division of Grants Management Operations.

Akron Office of Asia Service in Action is at 730 Carroll Street, Akron, OH 44304 and Cleveland Office of Asian Service in Action is at 3631 Perkins Ave., Ste. 2A-W, Cleveland, OH 44114 (t) 216-881-0330

Cleveland Asians and Ohio Asians - A Profile

Asian Population in Cleveland, Ohio 2010

Asian Indians are the largest population of immigrants followed by Chinese and Filipono in Cleveland, Ohio.   Here are the counts:

Asian Indian 20,733
Chinese (exceptTaiwanese) 14,768
Filipino 8,215
Korean 5,336
Vietnamese 4,082
Japanese 3,474
Pakistani 1,117
Burmese 899
Thai 880
Cambodian 842

Asians in Cleveland, Ohio

Demographics of Asians in Cleveland and Asians in Ohio

No other racial group in the Midwest is proportionally more immigrant than Asians, with
more than half of Asians born outside of the UnitedStates

64% of Asians in Cleveland Combined Statistical Area (CSA) are foreign-born.

28% of Asians in Cleveland CSA are limited English proficient: Chinese (42%), Vietnamese (41%), and Korean (27%) Americans have the highest rate.

In 2007, Asian in Ohio owned over 18,000 businesses. Businesses are most concentrated in three industries:

• healthcare and social assistance,
• accommodation and food services, and 
• professional, scientific, and technical services.

From 2007 to 2010, the number of unemployed Asians in Ohio grew by 350%, an increase
significantly higher than any other racial group in the state

59% of Asian Americans 25 years and older in the Cleveland CSA, between 2006 and 2010, held a bachelor’s degree or higher

During the 2010-2011 school year, Chinese, Vietnamese, Punjabi, Hmong, and Korean were the top 5 languages spoken by K-12 English language learner students in the Cleveland, Ohio.

Asian Indian Stereotypes for Desis

India stereotype map

Kashmiri
One Kashmiri = carpet salesman.
Two Kashmiris = carpet factory.
Three Kashmiris = terrorist outfit.
Four Kashmiris = shoot-at-sight order.

Tamil-Brahmin
One Tamil-Brahmin = priest at the Vardarajaperumal temple.
Two Tam-Brahms = Maths tuition class.
Three Tamil-Brahmins = Queue outside the U.S consulate in Chennai at 4 a.m.
Four Tam-Brahms = Thyagaraja music festival in Cleveland, USA.

UP Bhaiyya
One UP bhaiyya = milkman.
Two UP bhaiyyas = halwai shop.
Three UP bhaiyyas = a fist fight in the UP assembly.
Four UP bhaiyyas = mosque destruction squad.

Gujju
One Gujju = share-broker in a Bombay train.
Two Gujjus = rummy game in a Bombay train.
Three Gujjus = Bombay 's noisiest restaurant.
Four Gujjus = stock market scam.

Andhraite
One Andhraite = chili farmer.
Two Andhraites = software company in New Jersey, USA.
Three Andhraites = Naxalite outfit.
Four Andhraites = song-and-dance number in a Telugu movie.

Mumbaikar
One Mumbaikar = footpath vada-pav stall.
Two Mumbaikars= film studio.
Three Mumbaikars =The number of people standing on your foot in the train at rush hour.
Four Mumbaikars = slum

Sindhi
One Sindhi = currency racket.
Two Sindhis = papad factory.
Three Sindhis = duplicate goods shop in Ulhasnagar.
Four Sindhis = Hong Kong Retail Traders Association.

Marwari
One Marwari = The neighbourhood foodstuff adulterator.
Two Marwaris = Threaten the Jews as a community.
Three Marwaris = Finish off all Gujaratis & Sindhis.
Four Marwaris = 50% of Calcutta

Bihari
One Bihari = Laloo Prasad Yadav .
Two Biharis = booth-capturing squad.
Three Biharis = train capture.
Four Biharis = caste riots
Five Biharis = entire literate population of Patna

Bengali
One Bengali = poet.
Two Bengalis = film society.
Three Bengalis = political party.
Four Bengalis = two political parties.
More than four Bengalis = Countrywide agitation to bring Ganguly back into cricket team.

Punjabi
One Punjabi =100 kg hulk named Pinky.
Two Punjabis = Pinky with his bigger brother Twinky.
Three Punjabis = assault on the McAloo Tikkis at the local McDonalds
Four Punjabis = combined IQ equal to one.

Carnatic Music Program at Cleveland Music of Art

L and Ambi Subramaniam

 Dr. L. Subramaniam kicks off the 2013-14 Cleveland Museum of Art Performing Arts Series on Friday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m.  He will perform a program of South Indian Carnatic music with his son Ambi Subramaniam and percussionist Mahesh Krishnamurthy.

Considered India’s violin icon and the “Paganini of Indian Classical music”, Dr. L. Subramaniam performs all over the world – from Singapore to Paris, Delhi to Los Angles – and conquers every audience with the elegance and virtuosity of his style. “Positively dazzling,” writes the New York Times.

Subramaniam’s performance includes a pre-concert talk at 6 p.m. by Sonya Rhie Quintanilla, George P. Bickford Curator of Indian and Southeast Asian Art, who will discuss the reopening of the Indian and Southeast Asian galleries.

Tickets and additional information can be found through the Ticket Center at (216) 421-7350 or by visiting  http://www.clevelandart.org/events/music-and-performances/subramaniam

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh-Cleveland's Dharma and Yoga Fest

Cleveland Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh's Dharma and Yoga Fest 2013

For Asian Indians of Cleveland and Akron, the local branch of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) is organizing a Dharma and Yoga Fest on September 22, 2013 at Beachwood Community Center from 2 PM to 5 PM.  This HSS event's goal is to promote universal peace through Dharma and Yoga.

The event is a celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of the Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda.  Swami Vivekananda was born Narendra Nath Datta on January 12, 1863 near Kolkata, India.  He was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world.  If there is one man that Hindus, or a person of any other religion would like/want/need to investigate, it is Swami Vivekananda's.  His philosophy is profound, sustainable and universal. 

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh is inspired by the idea that the whole world is one family, ideally/theoretically/utopian (vasudhaiva kutumbakam) and conducts educational activities across the United States in order to promote this message.  The Mahatma Gandhian vision of holistic development and respect for all forms of life (human, animal and plant); nonviolent conflict resolution are thought to be an extension of the ancient Indian concept of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam.  Again this is a ideal/theoretical/utopian/conceptual vision and has little to do with present and foreseeable ground conditions in India.  

Planned activities during this event include:

• Meditation
• Singing
• Dance
• Discourses
• Yoga
• Workshops on Dharma and Yoga 

 

Beachwood Community Center is located at 25325 Fairmount Blvd in Beachwood.  For additional information, contact clevelandhss@gmail.com or 216-375-6691 or 216-288-8340 or 224-392-9768.  Local sponsors of this event, as noted today, are Bamboo Garden, Indian Flames, Udupi Restaurant/ Lakshmi Grocers and Sunny Auto Repairs.

All humans are forms of the divine. The goal of human life is to manifest this divinity within, do it by 

1. work (Karma Yoga), or 
2. worship (Bhakti Yoga), or
3. philosophy (Dhyana Yoga) or 
4. psychic control (Raja yoga), or 

a combination of these, and be free.  This is the whole of religion, said Swami Vivekananda.  No other Hindu monk has summarized the concept of Vedanta has eloquently as Swami Vivekananda has.  Remember it as WWPP and if there is one thing that you should teach your children, it is this.  Finally, some of Swami Vivekananda's ideas should be taken in the proper context and not transplanted to the present time.     

India Fest USA To Felicitate Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Leader

R. Balasubramaniam, Committee President of Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana to be recognized at Cleveland India Fest USA at Independence Middle School

Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival at Cleveland State University

• Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival is the largest Indian classical music festival outside of India. 
• Named after Kakarla Tyagabrahmam, one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music (music of Southern India).
• Thyagaraja compositions are mostly about the Hindu God, Ram.
• Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival was first celebrated in 1978.
• Number of attendees at Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana = 8,000
• Usually held around Easter every year.  

Perhaps the biggest benefit of living in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio is the opportunity to attend Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival at Cleveland State University campus in downtown Cleveland.

The super awesome president of the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Committee Mr. R. Balasubramaniam is to be recognized at the India Fest USA to be held on September 14, 2013 at Independence Middle School in Cleveland area.  Mr. Balasubramaniam is the man who has worked tirelessly in arranging tours of Carnatic musicians and dancers in India.  

Russ Mitchell to be MC for Cleveland Indian Festival USA

India Festival Cleveland, Ohio, USA 2013 will be at Independence Middle School on September 14, 2013.  Russ Mitchell of Channel 3   

Russ Mitchell of Channel 3 is to be the MC for the 2013 India Festival Cleveland, Ohio, USA 2013 Evening Show. Russ Mitchell is the Managing Editor of Evening News and lead anchor of the 6pm and 11pm newscasts of WKYC Channel 3 since 2012.

Russ Mitchell was the anchor of the CBS Evening News weekend editions and The Early Show on Saturday, and national correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning, the CBS Evening News, and The Early Show.

Russ Mitchell has been honored with multiple local and national Emmys Awards. He has received the National Association of Black Journalists Award, the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award for his coverage of the Elian Gonzales story, the New York Association of Black Journalists Award for Best Documentary, and the Press Club of St. Louis 18th Annual Media Person of the Year Award.

Russ Mitchell to be MC at India Festival USA, Cleveland

Russ Mitchell is married to Karina Mahtani-Mitchell, a freelance contributor of entertainment reports.  They have four children, ranging in age from a 21-year-old college senior to a 4-year-old

Asian Indians in Cleveland Are Selfish Not Snobby

FICA (Federation of Indian Community Association) official should be commended for taking the monkey by its horns and attempting to deal with this issue that may be nonspecific to Asian Indians in Cleveland.  The official of the elite FICA wrote something like this in the June 2013 issue of their publication Lotus. 

Surprisingly, however, at the volunteer appreciation dinner a week ago, the presence of the Indians was extremely sparse, to say the least, which meant not many offered to volunteer at this event, though there were many non-Asians seen helping out at this Asian event . 

So, once again it led me to wonder why there is such utter reluctance on the part of the Indians to be “out there”!! I have often heard comments made by non-Indians that we are a community driven to snobbery by our relative successes and greater wealth, and consequently, we chose to remain aloof. Is that true? Do we suffer from a sense of superiority over all others? But how can that be? Are we not a humble people? Isn’t snobbery uncharacteristic of our cultural upbringing? Is our reluctance then to blend with the non-Indians caused by our relative shyness? Any thoughts, anyone?

I don't think Asian Indians of Cleveland are more or less snobby than any other community.  It is observed that they tend to be less snobby when dealing with Caucasians and more snobby towards their own kind and this makes them humble, right?  The days and times when one could say that snobbery is inconsistent with Indian culture is history.   That is never coming back and nostalgia is day dreaming.  I don't think Asian Indians of Cleveland suffer from a sense of superiority over all others either.  Maybe they do in some areas because of a false notion their culture is better than other cultures. 

So why are Asian Indians not into voluntary community service and events?  Here's one sugar coating free theory; I think that a lot of them, who are newer immigrants, think what's in it for me, for my family, for my sub-community, my state in India and finally India (not the US)? and they don't like the answer they get.  Its that uncomplicated.  A lot of them tend to be selfish and this is okay.   They know who and what pays the bills.   Asian Indians are not shy either; when it comes to being "out there" for the darshan of the Supreme Lord, the Dollar.

"aaj kaha ka nation kahe ki dharti maiya
Na Biwi Na Bacha Na Baap Bada Na Maiya
The Whole Thing Is That Sabse Bada Rupaiyya"

Volunteer work and community participation is an unpaid at will individual choice.  No one is obligated or required to do any volunteer work for any cause or reason.  And yeah, Swami Vivekananda is wrong.  What Swami Vivekananda said about volunteer work probably made a bit of sense when he was alive but now it simply is abba su lu tely  ridunkulous.  

Asian Indian performers at Cleveland Asian Festival

Cleveland Asian Festival is a good event.  The organizers put up a good show.  The Asian Indian kids put up a good show too and present Indian culture well..  The Indian food at this event sucks.  After two or more visits to this Cleveland Asian Festival, most people can't stand this good event anymore, they move on and find relatively more interesting things to do. 
 
 Any thoughts, anyone?    

Hindi Comedy On Tap for Asian Indians in Akron and Cleveland Ohio

International Hindi Association, Northeast Ohio Chapter President Dr. Anoop Kumar Announces Hasya Kavi Sammelan 2013 at Bamboo Garden in North Olmsted, Ohio

This year's Hasya Kavi Sammelan in Cleveland will feature three poets. 

Dr. Suresh Awasthi of Kanpur is a leading satirist in India who has entertained and awakened the conscience of millions of people with his humor containing a deep penetrating satire. Eleven books to his credit, Dr. Awasthi is a maestro of haasya-vyang. He is also a Hindi professor and a journalist.

Dr. Kunwar Bechain is a renowned lyricist and poet from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Bechain is also known as the king of ghazals, and has published several books. He has traveled to various countries outside India, and mesmerizes the audience with his creative and original poetry. He received President’s Award & worked as head of the Hindi department in MMH College, Ghaziabad.

Shri Sanjay Gupta is a leading humorist from Faridabad. He has entertained the audience at places like I.I.T., NDTV, Delhi Door Darshan, and Radio Salam Namaste. He has made numerous trips outside India, and has written several books. He keeps the audience spellbound with his humor and satire.

International Hindi Association's Hasya Kavi Sammelan at Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple

Audience at Hasya Kavi Sammelan at Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple in 2012

Audience at Hasya Kavi Sammelan at Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple 2012

Established in 1980 in the United States of America, the International Hindi Association (IHA) or Antarashtriya Hindi ‘Samiti’, is one of the most vibrant Hindi institutions in the world. Its programs and activities focus on fostering the cultural heritage of India through promotion and propagation of Hindi and its literature among Indians abroad to ensure that future generations are not only able to speak Hindi with pride but can also learn and enjoy the reflections of Indian culture abundant in Hindi prose and poetry written through generations. The activities such as Hindi classes, youth camps, poetry recitals (kavi sammelans), literary symposiums and publications promote and inculcate human values inherent in the Indian culture.  International Hindi Association is a non-religious, non-political, and non-profit lingo-cultural organization is run entirely by volunteers with the support and patronage from its growing membership worldwide. 

Sree Venkateswara Temple of Cleveland to Open in May 2013

Balaji Venkateswara idol at Tirupati Temple, India.
However, Balaji is a myth; like Spider, Batman, etc; imaginary

S. V. Temple aka Sri Venkateswara Temple of Cleveland located at 4406 Brecksville Road in Richfield, Ohio is scheduled to open on May 22, 2013.  This Hindu temple area is approximately 3000 sft on a 7 acres of land lot. 

Venkateswara means "the Lord who destroys the sins of the people".   According to the Hindu scriptures, Vishnu, out of love towards His devotees, incarnated as Venkateswara and appeared for the salvation and upliftment of humanity in this Kali Yuga age. He is considered the Supreme form of Vishnu in this age.  Venkateswara's consort is Lakshmi aka Padmavathi.  Lakshmi is said to exist in several other forms. The most famous amongst them are Sridevi, Bhoodevi, and Neeladevi

The pranapratishtapanam program at first Sree Venkateshwara Temple in Northeast Ohio is scheduled to be held from May 22 through May 28, 2013.  According to Hindu Scriptures, special rite(s) are performed before deities are placed in the Sanctum Sanctorum of a temple, referred to as Prana-Pratishta, to infuse divine force into the deities. "Prana means ‘breath’ and Pratishta means ‘establishing’/’stabilizing’. So, Prana Pratishta is literally the process of ‘establishing the breath’ within the sacred image. In other words, it is bringing the sacred image to life! A theological explanation that recognizes the all-pervading and omni-present God, yet reflects on the idea of establishing the breath of the deity within an image, lies in the deeper meaning that the rites and ceremonies uncover. The pur-pose of the ceremony is therefore not so much to establish the Deity within the image, but to awaken the mind of the participants, us devotees, through the power of ritual, to the presence of divinity within that sacred image. At the beginning of the ceremony people see only stone or metal, but at the end they see God! The real installation takes place not in the stone or metal image, but in the minds of the participants.

There is an auction for first Pattuvastram offering to Lord Venkateswara with a starting bid of $5,000.  Starting bid for first Pattuvastram for Sridevi and Bhoodevi is $2,500.  There are other auctions and inaugural pooja sponsorships available for devotees.   

Mailing address for donations etc. is P.O. Box 305 Richfield, OH 44286.  Checks should be made payable to Sree Venkateswara Temple of Cleveland.

Richfield, Ohio is a village in Summit County, Ohio, United States.  This area is approximately equidistant between the downtown areas of Akron and Cleveland.  Richfield is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Before you go to any temple, here is a must read related post on the meaning of Venkateshwara: http://clevelanddesis.blogspot.com/2013/05/brahman-hindu-god-and-relational.html

Shiva Vishnu Temple (Cleveland, Ohio) Classes

   Shiva Vishnu Temple Classes for Asian Indian Hindus by   clevelandasianindian
Shiva Vishnu Temple in Parma presents classes in carnatic music, hindi, hinduism, telugu, kathak, bharatanatyam and kuchipudi at Patel Hall located in the basement of the temple.

 

Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple links up with Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland

Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple's Sandwich Project

Children prepare sandwiches for Salvation Army of Cleveland

Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple has linked up with the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland.  The Hindu temple in Parma has initiated a Sandwich Project.  On the first Sunday of each month, Hindu devotees of the temple prepare peanut butter sandwiches for the hungry and homeless which get distributed by the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland.

The Salvation Army is a religious and social service organization, a branch of the Christian church dedicated to the never-ending battle against the twin enemies of sin and despair. It is a holistic ministry to body, mind and soul. The Salvation Army seeks to improve the physical environment, provide for material needs and lead people to a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland, Ohio is dedicated to the men, women, and children it serves. Covering the greater Cleveland area, it works everyday to elevate individuals up from despair to provide hope and assistance.  In teaching life skills, the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland, Ohio provides individuals with an opportunity to maximize their physical, emotional and spiritual being to effect permanent change.

The Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland
2507 E. 22nd Street
Cleveland, Ohio  44115  (map)
Phone: (216) 861-8185  |  fax: (216) 928-6006  |  web: www.SalvationArmyCleveland.org

Major Lurlene-Kay M. Johnson

Divisional Secretary & Area Coordinator of Greater Cleveland
Phone: (216) 861-8185  |   fax: (216) 861-1463 
 |  email: Lurlene.Johnson@use.SalvationArmy.org

Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple holds vigil for Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

Shiva Vishnu Temple in Cleveland, Ohio

 Greater Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple conducted a prayer vigil in memory of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.  The group of Hindu priests from this Hindu temple in Northeast Ohio chanted Sanskrit mantras including the one below from Brhadaranyaka Upanishad and this was followed by a minute of silence by about 100 devotees in the temple.

Asato Ma Sadgamaya Mantra in Sanskrit

Asato Ma Sadgayama
Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya
Mrytor Ma Amritamgamaya

Asato Ma Sadgamaya Mantra English Translation

Lead me from Untruth to Truth
Lead me from Darkness to Light
Lead me from Death to Immortality

Photo Credit: Indrajit Mukherjee

Talk for Asian Indian Women of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

Association of Asian Indian Women is a Cleveland area organization which attempts to reach out to Asian Indian Women be it at home or in the professional world.  Association of Asian Indian Women has scheduled a event with Anisha Durve, the author of "The Power to Break Free: Surviving Domestic Violence, with a special reference to Abuse in Indian Marriages" on April 22, 2012 at Solon Community Center (440)349-4930. 

Anita Durve is the founder and CEO of the Power to Break Free Foundation and will discuss

• Stereotypes of the ideal Asian Indian female
• Four aspects of the Asian Indian female identity and theme of sacrifice
• Gender equality patterns in raising Asian Indian boys and Asian Indian girls
• The business of matchmaking for arranged, introduced and love marriages
• Cultural taboos of divorce
• Dynamics and nuances of abuse within Asian Indian population
• Domestic violence movement within the larger South Asian Indian community
• Prevention of abuse and how to protect young Indian girls.