Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 8 CITY VIEWS October 10, 2025 Pratham USA Gala In New York City Raises Enough To Provide 300,000 Children With Education T he non-profit organization Pratham, held its NewYork City gala at The Glasshouse, attended by a slew of high-profile guests October 3, 2025. The event raised enough to provide more than 300,000 children with access to education, an email mass mailer from the organization said. One of the highlights was a fireside chat with Bollywood-Hollywood star Priyanka Chopra Jonas, an award-winning actor, producer, and humanitarian. Priyanka posted a photo of herself relaxing on a sofa, with her comment on Instagram saying, “That’s how you feel after meeting the most incredible people doing Gods work at @prathamusa. At Peace. There are too many people to shout out from tonight’s special gala but I just wanted to say to Rukmini Banerji ma’am (CEO PEF)You and your team are a true inspiration. In a world that tests us everyday, people who have faith in humanity and relentless hope that we can do better is such an in- spiration. Thank you for the much needed dose of hope. Here’s to doing better. Everyday.” Daron Acemoglu, MIT Institute Profes- sor and the 2024 Nobel Prize winner in Economic Sciences, delivered the keynote address highlighting his involvement with Pratham’s Teaching at the Right Level ap- proach and the intersection of AI to reach scale. The attendees also got to hear the story of Prajakta’s experience from the field. It was about how her life and that of her daughters changed after she went through the Pratham Second Chance Program. Well-known Indian American singer Vidya Vox, performed her fusion music at the event. Organizers thanked all those who made the event a success, including the at- tendees, its own board members, the gala committee, and volunteers. “Together, we are not just raising funds, we are raising hope, opportunity, and the next generation of learners globally,” they said. By a StaffWriter PHOTOs:CourtesyPratham Top left, Priyanka Chopra Jonas at a fireside chat during the Pratham USA New York City Gala October 3, 2025, top right, Nobel Laureate Daron Acemoglu, and other attendees and speakers. Top right, Vidya Vox performing at the Pratham NYC Gala Oct. 3. Top left, and bottom row, attendees and section of the audience at the event. Thousands Enjoy The Two-Day Durga Utsav At Times Square N ewYork City’s Times Square became a symbolic cultural hub with hundreds of New Yorkers walking in to either get a glance or stay to experience the two-day Durga Puja organized Octo- ber 1 and 2, 2025 by the Times Square Durga Utsav Association (TSDUA). The Hindu festival of Durga Puja was celebrated at NewYork’s Times Square this year for the first time, with a fair of themed pandals designed by famous puja artists, especially brought in from Kolkata. The two days were full of spe- cial aratis, pujas and live performances. The Utsav also drew a lot of support from other orga- nizations in the tristate area. TSDUA secretary Nirupoma Saha told Desi Talk, “The association has received letters of praise and commendation from 263 organizations from all over the East Coast, expressing hopes of bringing their programs and festivals to Times Square”. The event was attended by many dignitaries and office bearers of TSDUA, including President Shashdhar Hawal- dar, vice president Dr. Kallol Basu, Secretary Nirupoma Saha, Chief Advisor Mridul Pathak from Kolkata, Advi- sor Biswajit Saha, Treasurer Soumyaprata Dasgupta and more. Biswajit Saha told Desi Talk they had received great support from LaGuardia Community College, Rutgers University and Columbia University student associa- tions who sent more than thirty volunteers to manage the celebrations round the clock. “It was the first time that we saw so many people come to visit during office hours, and also during the night,” Saha said. He said five security persons were present through the night and spoke about having late night visitors from New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware andWashington, DC. “They would come, do a Pranam, and leave, ” he said. Apart from the regular aratis and havans on October 1, cultural program included dance performances by Nrity- anjali and Garba by Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan. There were musical recitals in the Kolkata Pujo spirit by Lopamudra Mitra and Joy Sarkar. Similar cultural programs were also part of the second day. A special at- traction was a ballet by artist Rimli Roy which was an English adaptation of the Ramayan. Audiences were thrilled by the following dance drama Mahishasur Mardini by the Nrityanjali troupe. Singer Deyashini Roy brought the real puja singing. The highlight of the two day festival was the traditional ritual of Sindoor Khela which is traditionally performed on the last day of Vijaya Dashami when married women apply sindoor or ver- million to each other’s faces and share sweets. NewYorkers also witnessed the Dhunuchi Nach per- formed during the evening arati. Dhunuchi or a clay pot holds burning coal and incense and devotees move their bodies balancing the pots in their hands, on their heads, chins or held in their mouths. Durga Puja has been recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. And with the festival held at Times Square, the center of NewYork City where people of the whole world converge, “people are learning about it and appreciating it,” said Nirupoma Saha. By Archana Adalja PHOTOS:CourtesyBiswajitSaha The image of Durga sculpted by noted artisan from Kumartuli India, Pradip Rudra Paul. Singers Lopamudra Mitra and Joy Sarkar fascinated huge crowds at the Times Square Durga Utsav.