GARDEN GROVE, CA: In a well organized and smoothly conducted fundraising event, Chinmaya Mission Los Angeles on Nov.18 raised about $400,000. The evening's highlight were some heart warming bhajans by famed singer of the genre, Anup Jalota and a few speeches of substance

FREMONT: The newly formed Laxmi-Narayan Dev Spiritual Organization (affiliated with Shree Swaminarayan Temple of Vadtal, India) had a huge, memorable and joyful "Diwali & Annakut" celebration on November 17 at the Fremont Hindu Temple.

TULSA: For a small but a well knit Indian community in Tulsa headed by an Indian scientist Dr Dayal Meshri, the Diwali celebration this year would be an affair to remember for many years to come.The nearly five hours of celebrations had many highlights but capping them all was a proclamation presented by the Mayor of Tulsa, Kathy Taylor that declared the period from November 3

MONTCLAIR: Vedic Temple in Montclair held its first Community Health Fair on November 25.Paul M. Eaton, Mayor of City of Montclair graced the occasion. At the temple, the mayor was welcomed with the Poorna Kumbha as per Vedic tradition.

RIVERSIDE: Every year, on the auspicious day of Tulsi Vivah, devotees worship the Tulsi plant with flowers and milk, believing Lord Vishnu to be present in it. In a picturesque program held Sunday in Riverside's Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, the wedding of Lord Vishnu to Shri Tulsi Devi was celebrated.

WASHINGTON: On October 30, the 100-year-old Maha Mariamman Temple in Padang Jawa was demolished by Malaysian authorities. Following that demolition, Works Minister and head of the Malaysian Indian Congress Samy Vellu, who is of Indian origin, said that Hindu temples built on government land were still being

PICO, Rivera: At first sight Five Point looks like just another auto repair shop where you might want to drop in to get minor repairs or maybe a quick oil change - well that's what you think - and you are so dead wrong!!

CHICAGO: Tragedy has struck yet another Indian family beset with domestic problems. A couple of months ago, an Indian woman, Nimisha Tiwari burnt herself with her two children in Naperville. This time it is Kaushik Patel, 34, who allegedly doused his two children, Om and Vish, with gasoline and set them on fire.

CHICAGO: From a mere $23 million asset bank a decade ago to now over $1.4 billion asset bank, the Chicagoland situated Mutual Bank easily can claim to be the largest single NRI owned bank in the country, according to Pethinaidu Veluchamy, Chairman of the bank.

CHICAGO: Diwali celebrations were held at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (BAPS), located in Bartlett, a northwest side Chicago suburb, where hundreds of devout families gathered to commemorate the five-day long Diwali festival. The culmination was the grand Annakut held on November 10.