Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 9 CITY VIEWS June 19, 2026 Y oga Guru Dr. H. R. Nagendra, President of S-VYASA University, Bengaluru, arrived June 10, 2026, at John F. Kennedy International Airport, NewYork, along with the Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. N. K. Manjunath. The renowned yoga guru was wel- comed at the airport by Prem Bhandari, president of the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), NewYork; Ajay Patel, Vice President of Jaipur Foot USA and Chief Coordinator of the Jaipur Foot USA Permanent Center in Trinidad & To- bago; officials from the Consulate General of India, NewYork, and other community leaders, a press release from RANA said. Several meetings and interaction programs in honor of Dr. Nagendra were scheduled to be held on his arrival at the residence of Prem Bhandari in NewYork. Dr. H. R. Nagendra is visiting the United States at the invitation of RANA NewYork. A major highlight of his visit will be his participation as Chief Guest at the Inter- national Day of Yoga celebrations at Times Square on June 21, 2026, organized by the Consulate General of India, NewYork. Dr. Nagendra played an important role in the planning and coordination of the first International Day of Yoga celebra- tions organized by the Government of India in 2015. He has also served as a member of the Padma Awards Selection Committee constituted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In 2019, on the occasion of the Inter- national Day of Yoga, Dr. Nagendra and Bhandari, were honored with the “Yoga Ratna” Award at a special ceremony held in the British Parliament. The award was presented by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Indian Traditional Sciences in recognition of their contributions toward the promotion of yoga and Indian tradi- tional knowledge systems in London. Prior to the Times Square event, RANA NewYork, BRUHUD NY Seniors, and Jaipur Foot USA will hold special sessions on yoga, health, and wellness from June 12–14, 2026, at the YO1 Longevity & Health Resorts in NewYork. These sessions will be addressed by Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Dr. N. K. Manjunath, world-renowned interventional cardiolo- gist and Ellis Island awardee Dr. Samin Sharma, Dr. Raj Bansal, founder of one of the largest ACO organizations in the United States, and Ellis Island awardee Dr. Rekha Bhandari, Chief Medical Officer of one of America’s leading nursing home networks. On June 22, 2026, the Consulate General of India, NewYork, in collabora- tion with RANA NewYork, BRUHUD NY Seniors, and Jaipur Foot USA, will host a special lecture by Dr. Nagendra. Best wishes for the series of yoga events were extended by high-profile individuals including former Judge of the International Court of Justice, Dr. Dalveer Bhandari, former Foreign Secretary of In- dia, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and former Member of the National Human Rights Commis- sion, Dr. Gyaneshwar Muley. Bhandari said the visit would further strengthen awareness of yoga, health, spirituality, and India’s ancient knowledge traditions among the Indian community and American society. He added that for more than a decade, RANA NewYork, BRUHUD NY Seniors, and Jaipur Foot USA have been actively promoting yoga at the United Nations Headquarters, Capitol Hill, Times Square, and various commu- nity platforms. By a StaffWriter Renowned Yoga Guru Padma Shri Recipient Dr. H. R. Nagendra Arrives In New York PHOTOS:COURTESY RANA Photo left, Dr. H.R. Nagendra arriving at JFK Airport; Photo right, Dr. Nagendra being hosted at RANA President Prem Bhandari’s residence. Thousands Throng To 50th Anniversary Of ISKCON’s Hare Krishna Festival In NYC T he heart of NewYork City came alive June 13, 2026, with the chants of Hare Krishna Hare Ram! Drums, and music as thousands gathered to celebrate the Hare Krishna Festival, also known as Ratha-yatra or the Festival of Chariots. The massive procession accompanied three giant hand-pulled chariots traveling down Fifth Avenue from 41st St toWash- ington Square Park., marking the 50th anniversary. The Golden Jubilee celebra- tion coincided with another historic mile- stone for ISKCON: the 60th anniversary of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), founded in New York City in 1966 by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Among the high profile guests were a representative from the Indian Consul- ate Mahesh Yadav, as well as Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh and Dr. Sudha Parikh. ParikhWorldwide Media covered the event on ITV Gold its sister television channel. Dr. Sudhir Parikh and Sudha Parikh thanked organizers for inviting them and praised the elaborate celebra- tions and the organizers for keeping up the tradition. In addition to the chanting and music, there were cultural performances, yoga and meditation programs, as well as spiritual exhibits and a complimentary vegetarian feast. The inaugural Fifth Avenue festival 50 years ago also drew thousands of partici- pants and spectators. The NewYork Times described it as a moment when “East MeetsWest,” highlighting the unique gathering of Indian immigrants, New Yorkers and international visitors cel- ebrating one of the world’s oldest spiritual traditions, the press release from ISKCON said. “The festival’s longevity also reflects NewYork City’s unique role as a global crossroads. For fifty years, Ratha-yatra has brought together NewYorkers and inter- national visitors of all faith backgrounds in a joyful public celebration,” organizers noted. A special highlight of the 2026 Golden Jubilee was the return of the original chariot of Srimati Subhadra Devi, which was restored to its original form which Srila Prabhupada rode during the inaugu- ral 1976 procession. “The 50th anniversary of NewYork Ratha-yatra is much more than a celebra- tion of a festival—it is a celebration of a vision,” said President of ISKCON New York City Hansarupa Dasa, “When Srila Prabhupada brought Lord Jagannatha down Fifth Avenue in 1976, he demon- strated that NewYork City could become a meeting place for the world’s spiritual and cultural traditions. Fifty years later, we are honored to celebrate the continu- ation of that legacy by welcoming people of every background to experience the joy of kirtan, the spirit of community and the timeless wisdom of bhakti-yoga.” More than 20,000 plates of complimen- tary prasad, sanctified vegetarian cuisine, were distributed to attendees. From humble beginnings in a Lower East Side storefront, ISKCON has grown into a global spiritual movement with hundreds of temples, educational institu- tions, farms, restaurants and cultural centers around the world. “Few events better illustrate Srila Prabhupada’s impact on NewYork and the world than the annual Ratha-yatra Festi- val,” said ISKCON NYC Communications Coordinator Pancharatna Dasa. “Today, this festival is part of a global tradition celebrated in hundreds of cities across six continents.” By a StaffWriter Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, at the ISKCON Rath Yatra June 13, 2026. Sudha Parikh wishing organizers for the anniversary celerbrations. PHOTO:SCREENGRABS FROM ITV GOLDVIDEO