Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 4 CITY VIEWS November 28, 2025 By a StaffWriter Rana Samaj USA Marks 35th Annual Gala Diwali With Community Leaders And Cultural Splendor R ana Samaj USA celebrated its 35th Annual Gala Diwali on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Ma- hatma Gandhi High School, drawing nearly 500 attendees for an evening filled with culture, com- munity pride, and distinguished guests, including Guest of Honor Mayor Hector C. Lora of the City of Passaic. The program opened with a sol- emn prayer and moment of silence led by Rana Samaj USA President Bharat Rana, honoring members of the community who passed away during the year. In his welcome, Rana highlighted the organization’s long-standing mission of preserv- ing Rana heritage and fostering unity through cultural, social, and religious programs across the United States. The event showcased vibrant per- formances from youth and adult par- ticipants, featuring choreography and entertainment presented by MC Kalpesh Master, BJ Kala Dance Studio, and Unnati Dance Academy. The three-hour program was met with enthusiastic applause and reflected the organization’s commitment to encouraging cultural expression among younger generations. Mayor Lora praised the contributions of Indian Americans to the City of Passaic, stating, “I am honored to be part of this wonderful celebration of Indian heritage and culture. The Indian American com- munity has made significant contribu- tions to the growth and prosperity of the City of Passaic, and I extend my warm wishes to the community for their health and wellbeing.” Several community leaders and spon- sors also spoke, emphasizing the impact of Rana Samaj USA’s work: * Piyushbhai Patel, Chairman of Unity 4 Cause, commended the organization’s ef- forts and praised President Bharat Rana’s leadership. * Mukundbhai Thaker, CEO of Aris- tacare Nursing Home, highlighted the importance of supporting elders and expressed pride in partnering with the group. * H.K. Shah, CEO ofWorld Vegan Or- ganization, applauded the community’s dedication to cultural preservation. * Vipul Amin, owner of Param Home Health Care Services, reaffirmed his company’s commitment to supporting community health needs. * Geetaben Fofandi, CEO of Faith Home Health Care and Hos- pice Services, recognized the orga- nization’s strong leadership and its role in community engagement. * Pankajbhai Vedawala, CEO of Prestige Daycare Center, expressed enthusiasm for continuing col- laboration with the group. Attendees enjoyed tradi- tional cuisine, music, and dance throughout the evening. Orga- nizers extended gratitude to the Women’sWing, led by Coordinator Binduben Rana, as well as execu- tive committee members Kalpesh Rana, Dharmesh Rana, Hema Rana, and Bhupen Rana. Apprecia- tion was also given to subcommit- tee members, sponsors, commu- nity donors, and Shreya and Dip of D&S Photography and Videogra- phy for helping make the event a success. About Rana Samaj USA Rana Samaj USA is a non-profit cultural organization committed to preserving Rana heritage and strengthening com- munity ties through cultural, social, and religious initiatives. Its activities include annual picnics, Holi celebrations, In- dian Flag Raising ceremonies on India’s Independence Day—often held with the participation of local, state, and federal officials—and a variety of educational seminars for community members. Arts4All Launches World Kindness Day, A 50-Day Campaign To Provide Meals For New Yorkers In Need O n Thursday, November 13, 2025, the Arts4All Foundation com- memoratedWorld Kindness Day by launching a 50-day emergency food campaign to provide thou- sands of freshly prepared and nutritious meals to combat the food emergency, resource scarcity, and affordability crisis. According to Arts4All, the crisis is impacting over 3 million NewYorkers that are currently living in a state of food insecurity which has surpassed pandemic levels with 1 in 10 NewYorkers being food insecure. Following the long government shut- down, Arts4All estimates nearly 3 million men, women, and children residing in NewYork are reliant on food pantries and soup kitchens for food, which is an 89% increase since 2019. To address the ever-growing poverty and hunger crisis, the Arts4All Foundation launched onWorld Kindness Day a 50-day Giving Back Emergency Food Campaign that is committed to ensuring every New Yorker has access to high-quality and nutritious meals daily. On the first day of the 50-day cam- paign, Arts4All Foundation partnered with Kaushal Naik, the owner of Hot Breads, a local bakery based in New Hyde Park, New York, and provided thousands of meals to homeless children, women, seniors, disabled persons, veterans, and families. The volunteers of Arts4All Foundation are also preparing high-quality, fresh, nutritious, and hot meals and deliver- ing them to homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, senior centers, veteran centers, children community centers, medical facilities, schools, nonprofit and religious centers, and directly to low-income and homeless people from November 13, 2025, to January 2, 2026, the organization said. By a StaffWriter PHOTOS:ARTS4ALL PHOTOS:ARTS4ALL Dr. Sumita SenGupta with Krishna Maruti SengGupta, Ambika Devi SenGupta and Shree Devi SenGupta preparing and delievering fresh hot meals for the homeless. Dr. Sumita SenGupta, Ambika Devi SenGupta and Kaushal Naik preparing boxes of food for the homeless at Hot Breads.