November 13, 2011 by Soma.

Tamil Sangam Diwali Party

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Tallahassee, FL

The Tallahassee Tamil Sangam celebrated the Diwali with a evening party on Saturday, November 12, 2011. About 50 families brought in pot-luck dinner items, snacks, party supplies, and fireworks to the party.

The program started at 6:00 PM at the Rec Hall in FSU Alumni Village. The snacks were served first and around 7 PM all the kids were invited to a short fireworks fun. Many parents brought their own fireworks (only those approved in the State of Florida). The adults watched over the fun in a basketball court (concrete floor).

Then at 7:45 the dinner was served and then the kids put on two dance items. Then the dessert was served. By 9:30 we completed the party and everyone pitched in to clean

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October 15, 2010 by Soma.

Durga Pooja Celebration

Friday, October 15, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Tallahassee, Florida

We were invited to join in the Durga Pooja (Puja) celebration at a close friend’s residence. They have been doing the poojas for a long-time. So I went to their house after I came back from work. They have been performing the pooja for most of the day and I joined them during the time for the “Aarathi”. Several others joined us around 7 PM. There were songs about goddess Durga and everyone performed individual aartis.

There was special prasad for those who had gathered. I had to leave around 8 PM as I had to go to Navarathri celebration at the Gujarati Samaj later in the night.

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October 4, 2010 by Soma.

Quiz from Pew Forum on Religion

Monday, October 04, 2010

Tallahassee, FL, USA

Following the much publicised recent results about Americans and their knowledge about religion that showed that even though most Americans consider themselves very religious their knowledge of religion was NOT that high, I thought I would test my own knowledge about religion. Since birth I have been a follower of one faith, the one I was born into, and about half of my life I spent in a country where that faith has been the predominant one. Then during second half my life, I am living in a country where my faith is not the predominant one.

So, I went to Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and took the 15 question quiz about religion. Several questions related Judo Christian faiths and there were about 4 questions about Eastern religions. After finishing the test, I was surprised to learn that I answered correctly 14 out of the 15 questions.

 Glad to know that at least I know something about religion. Thank God!!!

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January 23, 2010 by Soma.

Pongal Celebration

Saturday, January 23, 2010

ARH, Tallahassee, FL 32306

We celebrated Pongal Festival this evening.

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December 1, 2009 by Soma.

2009 World AIDS Day Community Interfaith Service

World AIDS Day Interfaith Service
December 1, 2009, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee

2810 North Meridian Road, Tallahassee, FL 32312

Sponsored by the Big Bend Cares & Canopy Connection

Twenty-first annual Community Interfaith Service for 2009 World AIDS Day (Tuesday, December 01, 2009) was observed in many places in Tallahassee, FL. One such service sponsored by Big Bend Cares was held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee, 2810 Meridian Road between 7 and 9 PM. During the service members from several religious faiths and communities offered words/prayers of hope, healing, relief from suffering in the fight against HIV. The service was led by pastor from Gentle Shepherd Metropolitan Community Church. We then heard messages from people around the world who are suffering from the disease. Then members of th Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, and Pagan communities offered prayers and encouragements. There Interfaith choir sang songs as well.

Representing Hindu faith, I read a Sanskrit prayer for praise of God. Then read Thirugnana Sambanhar’s Thevaaram in Tamil and meaning in English as a prayer for healing the suffering. I ended my speech from a quote about human being’s greatest gift is “service to others”. Then as the service ended everyone was given a red rose in rememberance of those who have passed away and for keeping hope for who are fighting the disease. That was followed by light refreshments.

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November 1, 2009 by Soma.

Hinduism and personal view

Private Church Speaker

Sunday, November 1, 2009, 6 PM

I was invited to speak about what Hinduism means to me personally to a private church gathering of people who were interested in other religions of the world. We all (about 8 people) met at a private residence and spoke for about an hour.

I started the speech by playing a musical rendition of the Gujarati prayer song (favorite of Mahatma Gandhiji) “Vaishnava Jana Tho“ and spoke about my personal practices and views of Hinduism in general and how does it affects me here in the USA.

Later I concluded the speech with the Aavuyaiyar’s Invocation to God “கடவுள் வாழ்த்து - பாலும் தெளிதேனும்” . Following the song we had Q and A session for about 15 minutes. We ate some cookies and I departed home with a feeling that I was able to listen to people of other faith while telling about what I follow.

Thanks to the person who made this possible.

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January 17, 2009 by Soma.

2009 பொங்கல் விழா

சனிக்கிழமை, சனவரி 17, 2009

தலகாசி, அமெரிக்கா

Dr Mano and Mrs Priya arranged for a Pongal vizha for Tamil loving people of Tallahassee, Florida, USA. The celebration began with about 50 people gathering together for an evening of drawing of kolam, prayer, play for kids, preparation of sweet pongal, and eating of a communal dinner.

First nine separate teams of ladies and children participated in kolam drawing competition using colored kolam powder on black plastic sheets. The friendly event kept the whole crowd interested in the activity. The teams worked on their kolam for about an hour. Three non-partisan judges evaluated the team’s work and prizes were given to first (1 team) and second place (3 teams).

பொங்கல் விழா ஒளவையாரின் “பாலும் தெளி தேனும்” கடவுள் வாழ்த்துடன் துவங்கியது (விவேக் மற்றும் சோமு). பின்னர் குழங்தைகள் விளையாட்டுப் போட்டி நடந்தது.  இனிப்பு பொங்கல்  தயாரான உடன் அனைவரும் உண்டு களித்தோம்.

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January 14, 2009 by Soma.

2009 பொங்கலோ பொங்கல்!

புதன்கிழமை, சனவரி 14, 2009

தலகாசி, புலாரிடா, அமெரிக்கா

அனைவருக்கும் 2009 பொங்கல் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்! வாழ்க வளமுடன்!

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December 1, 2008 by Soma.

2008 World AIDS Remembrance Day 

Big Bend Hospice

Monday, December 1, 2008, 7 PM

1723 Mahan Center Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida

32308-5428

 First let me offer a Hindu prayer for Lord Ganesha the remover of obstacles and sorrows.

Prayer for Lord Ganesh | Remover of Obstacles

(In Sanskrit)

Gajananam Bhootha Ganathi Sevitam

Kapittha Jambu Phalasara Bhaksitam

Umasutam Shoka Vinasha Karanam

Namami Vigneshwara Patha Pankajam

Meaning: He who has an elephant face and who is worshipped by the Bhootha Ganam!

He who consumes the essence of kapitha and Jumbu fruits!

He who is the son of Goddess Uma (Parvathi)!  And, He who removes the sorrow in all of us!

O! Lord Vigneshwara who is an embodiment of all the above, we pray at your Divine feet.

Then let me offer a Hindu prayer to Lord Shiva to remove the pain and suffering:

Prayer for Lord Shiva | To remove pain and suffering (In Tamil)

2008ன் அ.ஐ.டி.எஸ் நினைவு நாள்

பாடியவர்: திருஞான சம்பந்தர்

பாடல்: தேவாரம் (தெய்வ அன்பு) 

பாடப்பற்ற இடம்: திருநெய்தானம்

பாடிய காலம்: 7-வது நூற்றாண்டு 

கோலம் முடி நெடுமாலோடு கொய் தாமரையானும்

சீலம் அறி அரிதாய் ஒளி திகழ்வாய் நெய்த்தானம்

காலம் பெற மலர் நீர் அவை தூவித் தொழுது ஏத்தும்

ஞாலம் புகழ் அடியார் உடல் உறுநோய் நலியாவே 

Thirugnana Sambandhar’s Thevaram at Thiru Nithanam

Author: Thirugnana Sambhandhar

Song Collection: Thevaram (God’s Grace)

Song’s location: Thirunithanam

Song’s Time: 7th Century CE

Song’s Language: Tamil 

O! Lord Shiva you appeared as great Light in front of both the beautifully haired Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma who sits on the lotus flower.

When we the devotees who live throughout the world worship you with flower and water.

O! Lord who resides in Thiru Nithanam temple you will remove the pain and suffering.

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October 5, 2008 by Soma.

Gujarathi Samaj Hindu Temple

9100 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, FL

We visited the newly finished Gujarathi Samaj Hindu Temple in Apalachee Parkway. We arrived there around 6:00 PM during the Dushera but couldn’t find people inside. So we decided to come some other time.

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