Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know Navratri Celebrations Held At Satya Narayan Mandir, NY T he Satya Narayana Temple of El- mhurst, NY celebrated Dussehra, a festival that symbolizes the tri- umph of good over evil, on Thurs- day, October 02, 2025, marking an end to the nine-day Navratri festival (September 22 to October 2) and Vijayadashami mark- ing the end of the festival. People flocked to the temple every day for Nava Durga Puja and Vijayadashami celebrations. Members of the Nepali community celebrated their Dashain festivities, also known as Vijayadashami, with Tika and Jamara ceremony at the temple. Vidyarambham and Annaprashan ceremonies were also performed. Each day of Navratri was devoted to a specific avatar of Maa Durga and devotees participated in the Puja and performed their own individual Puja of Lord Ganesh and Maa Durga by following the instruc- tions given by the temple priests, Pun- dit Hemant Ramrakhyani Ji and Pundit Anand Tripathi Shastri ji. Sponsors offered a specific bhog (meal) each day to seek blessings for health, pros- perity, and spiritual well-being. Chanting of Vedic mantras, prayers, singing of aratis and bhanjans by the temple priests per- vaded the air and guided devotees as they expressed their devotion and love. On Sunday, September, 28, 2025, morn- ing, the sacred Mata ki Chowki program was hosted during the auspicious period of Navratri. Temple priests performed the Puja of Maa Durga in her seventh form as Maa Kaalratri, the fiercest and most pow- erful form of Goddess Durga, by following all the Vedic Puja Paddati and chanting of Vedic mantras. After the elaborate pujas, Vijay Banjara and Group with Indu Gajwani, sang bha- jans of Maa Durga. They were joined by the devotees who sang along and clapped their hands to the beat On September 30, 2025, the Ashtami puja was performed, followed by Kanya Pujan/Kumari Puja that holds a very special place in the festivities. It is a sym- bolic way of honoring the purest form of feminine energy, Shakti, the press release noted. Ashtami Havan and Purna Ahuti were also performed. Temple president, Jagdish Kakwani appreciated the support received from sponsors/Yajmans for Navaratri Pujas and Maha Prasadam which was distributed to all the devotees. Temple priests blessed the sponsors with Mantra-pushpam and Angavastram or Chunni. Kakwani thanked volunteers for their services and the devotees for their active participation, as well as the priests for conducting the ceremonies. By a StaffWriter 6 CITY VIEWS October 10, 2025 Congressman Frank Pallone Calls For Early US-India Dialogue To Remove Obstacles In Strategic Partnership C ongressman Frank Pallone, D-NJ, a long- time ‘Friend of India” called for an early resolution to obstacles in the US-India strategic partnership, and criticized the $100,000 additional fee for H-1B visas, as well as the tariff regime slapped by President Trump on India which was coming in the way of trade negotiations between the two democracies. At a webinar held Oct. 4, 2025, by the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GO- PIO) entitled, “H-1BVisa Storm, Current Chal- lenges and Pathways Forward,” Pallone, a Padma Bhushan recipient and member of Congress for 18 terms, said the Trump administration is focusing on the wrong priorities. Rep. Pallone emphasized that rather than investing in training programs to develop locally qualified talent, billions are being spent on a fee that does not address the root problem. Linking the $100,000 H-1B fee to tariffs, was like adjusting the lottery to favor higher-paid employees, and disadvantage small businesses creating economic distortions, the press release from GOPIO said. Congressman Pallone contended there was a broad bipartisan support in Congress for continuing the H1B Visa program. He said the Indian American community and organization such as GOPIO should engage with the Members of Congress to help develop a consensus towards a more considered approach towards preserving the many benefits of the H1BVisa program that has led to many positive outcomes for the US economy, the GOPIO press release said. He also warned that in the global competition for tal- ent, countries like Germany and China are ready to attract highly qualified professionals, which could ultimately weaken the U.S. economy instead of strengthening it. He also expressed some concern about what he saw as India’s growing turn toward China and Rus- sia. “Meanwhile, India’s pivot toward countries such as Russia and China – partially in response to U.S. policy – raises additional strategic and economic concerns.” He called for an early US-India dialogue to remove the current hiccups. The webinar began with a welcome from GO- PIO’s Associate Secretary and Chair ofWebinar Series Sunil Vuppala. GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham noted how “shocked” everyone was when President Trump announced $100,000 fee for H-1B Visa on September 19, and described the benefits of the visa program to the US economy. The Moderator for the panel discussion was New York Immigration Attorney Dilli Bhatta. The panel- lists included Immigration Attorneys David Nach- man, Stephanie Dy, and Prashanti Reddy. Panelists described in detail, the impact of the new $100,000 fee. They also noted that the current policy upheaval extended far beyond H-1B visas, affecting tariffs, lottery mechanisms, and international competitiveness, all of which could have lasting conse- quences for U.S. innovation and global leadership and stressed the urgency of proactive community engage- ment and informed advocacy. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:CourtesyGOPIO Rep. Frank Pallone with GOPIO officials and speakers at the Webinar. From l. to r., Top Row: Dilli batta, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., Prakash Shah; Middle Row: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Prashanti Reddy, David Nachman; Bottom Row: Stephanie Dy, Siddarth Jain and Vatsala Upadhayay. PHOTOS:Organizers,courtesyGeeta Patil Maa Durga puja being performed at the Satya Narayan Mandir in New York. Temple priests blessing devotees at Satya Narayan Mandir, NY.