Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 10 CITY VIEWS August 29, 2025 Mayoral Candidate Andrew Cuomo Visits BAPS Flushing Swaminarayan Mandir M ayoral Candidate, former NY Governor, Andrew Cuomo, and his team of supporters visited the BAPS Flushing Swaminarayan Mandir, Sunday, August 24, 2025, in an outreach event to meet the Indian community. Before speaking to the Mandir gathering, Cuomo vis- ited the temple’s images of deities and stood in reverence as the priest chanted ‘shanty paath’ and also participated in ‘abhishek’. A 3-D photo of Akshardham in New Jersey was presented to him by the Mandir’s priest. Addressing the gathering of close to two thousand peo- ple, Cuomo talked of his long experience being Governor for NewYork, signing new legislations and supporting economic and healthcare policies. His term as the Gov- ernor saw him sign legislation on same-sex marriages, gun control, minimum wage, family leave, and expansion of Medicaid, he said. He said he also oversaw construction of LaGuardia Air- port and of the Second Avenue Subway, completing transpor- tation hubs of the Moynihan Train Hall and the former Tap- pan Zee Bridge. Outlining his mandate, if elected Mayor under the inde- pendent seat, Cuomo said he wanted to bring safety to New York City by increasing the presence of uniformed police in the subways. He will also work for Economic develop- ment, affordable housing and mental health and homeless- ness in the city, he said. Cuomo said the Indian community had always been very supportive of his projects, and added that he looked forward to such support in the upcoming Mayoral elec- tion. At the same time, he also affirmed his support for the Indian community. Earlier in June, Cuomo had visited the Sikh Gurudwara in Richmond Hill in Queens. Cuomo was accompanied by Ismael Malave-Perez who is running for the comptroller’s office, President of New American Voters Association (NAVA) and District leader Dr. Dilip Nath, NAVA Chairman Dr. Harikrishna Shukla and Vice President Subhash Patel. Also in the visiting team were political leaders from Flushing and nearby areas including Dr. Neeta Jain of Democratic Organization of Queens County, State As- sembly District leader Martha Flores Vasquez, Democrat- ic District leader Vishnu Rana Magar and Shaimi Jacob from the NYS Office of Comptroller, Koshy Thomas from Assemblyman Edward Braunstein’s office, Neil Trivedi from Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar’s office and Harsh Parekh from Cuomo’s office Representatives from community organizations in- cluding the American Bengali Hindu Foundation and the NATHMission of USA also attended the outreach event. Others present included Community leader Guruji Dilipji, Andre Fadhel from theWorld Alliance of Reli- gious Peace, Mariam Singh from NYC Corrections Desi Society, Jagannath Rao from ISKCON, Aswini Parsaud, Sanjiv Jindal, Kirti Shukla, and Dipa Nath. “The Hindu community is an essential cornerstone of NewYork’s mosaic,” posted Cuomo following the visit on X. “A tremendous delight visiting friends at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Flushing,” he said, adding, “Every faith, every tradi- tion, every community has a place here. That diversity is our strength, and it’s what makes this city unlike any other.” Cuomo expressed similar sentiments and posted photos of his visit on Instagram. By Archana Adalja PHOTO:Provided byVipul Patel PHOTO:Capture from Cuomo’s poston X. PHOTO:Provided byVipul Patel Former NYS Governor and Independent cadidate in the Mayoral race, Andrew Cuomo (4th from right) posed with political and community leaders and Swaminarayan Mandir members including External Affairs Administrator Dr. Vipul Patel (next to Cuomo on the right). Cuomo visited the Mandir on Sunday, August 24, 2025. Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo spoke to a gathering of more than 2,000 during his visit to the BAPS Flushing Swaminarayan Mandir on Sunday, August 24, 2025. Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo participated in Abhishek during his visit to BAPS Flushing Swaminarayan Mandir Sunday, August 24, 2025. Krishnaarpitayen Lecture Brings Spiritual Insights On Janmashtami In New Jersey O n the occasion of Krishna Jan- mashtami, Jhilmil-USA, an orga- nization that has been promoting Indian art, culture, and literature in the United States for over two decades, hosted a unique lecture titled “Krishnaarpi- tayen” – a dedication to Lord Krishna. The program was held at the residence of Rajni and Anoop Bhargava in Plainsboro, NJ, and drew a warm and engaged gathering of community members. The event featured two distinguished speakers from Indore, India —Dr. Mad- havi Patel, an ENT surgeon and scholar of Indian scriptures, and Mrs. Ratna Bochare, Chief Town Planner at Indore Develop- ment Corporation and a noted authority on the Ramayan and Mahabharat. Both have earned acclaim in India and abroad for their captivating presentations on ancient epics, bringing their stories alive with wis- dom and charm. By Nandini Rai PHOTO: JHILMIL-USA Community members gathered in Plainsboro, NJ, enjoying fellowship and food after the “Krishnaarpitayen” Janmashtami program. - Continued On Page 12