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www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 6 CITY VIEWS July 11, 2025 Philadelphia Rajasthani Mandal Holds Annual Summer Picnic P hiladelphia Rajasthani Mandal USA, PARAM, a community organization for Rajasthanis in the tri-state area, hosted its much-anticipated Annual Summer Picnic June 28, 2025, a day filled with fun activities and celebration of culture and tradition. Chester County, PA, Commissioner Josh Maxwell, at- tended the celebration, and spent time interacting with the community and presenting certificates and awards to young Rajasthani participants. Children displayed their talent in a poster exhibi- tion on the importance of the Rajasthani language and culture during the Bhartiya Temple Gangaur Festival held in March this year. One of the most memorable highlights of the picnic was the live cooking of authentic Rajasthani delicacies— Dal Baati Churma and fresh Jalebi—prepared on-site by volunteers and community members. The rich aroma and vibrant flavors brought a taste of Rajasthan to Ameri- can soil, delighting all attendees, a press release from organizers said. The celebration also featured traditional games, eth- nic group dances, and spirited performances to Rajast- hani folk songs, immersing those present in the colors, sounds, and joy integral to Rajasthani heritage. Families traveled from neighboring states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia; others driving hundreds of miles, to be a part of the gathering. “We are Rajasthani Indian-Americans—rooted in our values, rising across oceans,” organizers said in the press release. “Even though many of us have been away from our homeland for four to five decades, our hearts have never left Rajasthan. We continue to speak our language with pride, cook our traditional foods with love, and in- still timeless values of community, respect, and together- ness in our next generation.” Dr. Ravi Murarka, president of PARAM, reflected on the occasion, saying, “This picnic was not just a celebra- tion—it was a reminder that even thousands of miles away, our culture thrives when we come together with unity and purpose. Seeing families, volunteers, and chil- dren connect through heritage, food, and music was truly heartwarming.” PHOTOS:PARAM Sangeet Gupta sharing her culinary skills while preparing the traditional jalebi dessert at the Annual Summer Picnic of the Philadelphia Rajasthani Mandal, PARAM, June 28, 2025. From left – Dr. Ravi Murarka, president of PARAM, Commissioner Josh Maxwell of Chester County, PA, and Pankaj Ajmera, PARAM Picnic Coordinator, at the June 28, 2025, Annual Summer Picnic hosted by PARAM. Attendees enjoying the Rajasthani Annual Summer Picnic in Philadelphia June 28, 2025. By a StaffWriter Maulik Pancholy Shares How He Conceived Idea For ‘Murder At The Patel Motel’, Says “Surprised How People In The US Are Not Aware…” A s the Indian immigrant popu- lation grows across diverse regions,shaping local cultures and economies, actor and author Maulik Pancholy explores this phenome- non in recent project, ‘Murder at the Patel Motel,’ tracing the unique journey and influence of Patel motel owners across America. Speaking to ANI, he said, ” I’m always surprised how people in the United States are not aware of the prevalence of Patel motels,” Maulik shared, adding, “About 50% of motels in the U.S. are owned by Indian Americans, many of whom have the last name Patel. They’re even jokingly called the ‘Patel Motel Cartel.’ I thought it would be just such a perfect place to set some kind of story.” ‘Murder at the Patel Motel ‘, an Audible Original comedy podcast, created and headlined by Maulik Pancholy, is a comic Agatha Christie-style mystery. It blends humour with a deeply personal story about identity. The story is about Milan Patel (voiced by Pancholy), a high-end event planner from NewYork who returns home after years away, only to find himself entangled in a murder investigation when his father suddenly drowns at the family motel. Along with co-writers Zackary Grady and Achilles Stamatelaky, Pancholy began shaping the series specifically for audio. “I always imagined it as a scripted se- ries. You know, I’ve done so much in series and I love the format of a series where you get multiple episodes to develop char- acters and scripting is very interesting to me,” he added. On talking about his character Milan and how he relates to it, Pancholy shared, “I always envisioned myself playing Milan; There’s a lot of me in Milan. I think I was this kid who sort of couldn’t wait to get out of the town that I grew up in, because I didn’t feel like I could be myself there. And as a brown gay kid, it wasn’t always easy. I thought I had to run away to become myself. So there’s so much of that storyline that exists in Milan.” The cast includes Poorna Jagannathan, Padma Lakshmi, Karan Soni, Anna Camp, and even Emmy-winner Murray Bartlett. “I got to play alongside everybody, and also give them some direction,” he said. His slate of upcoming projects is just as packed. He’s fresh off filming Jesse Eisen- berg’s next film (starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti), and a comedy titled Nuked (co-starring Anna Camp), which drops July 11. On the audio front, Phineas and Ferb season five just launched, and he’s midway through writing his third novel. -ANI PHOTO:VIA ANI Maulik Pancholy