Author: SITHARA

My passion in life is driven by meeting new people, connecting with them, knowing their stories, because for me that’s the best way to embrace new cultures when you travel.
India, NationLeave a comment

Consulate General of India, Toronto celebrates India’s 70th Independence Day in a glittering ceremony

SITHARA

The Consulate General of India in Toronto was delighted to ring in another 15th August this year, to celebrate India’s 70th Independence Day.

Consul General Mr. Dinesh Bhatia and his wife welcomed over 300 guests at the reception held in Hilton Garden Inn, Vaughan. The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Honorable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, was the Guest of Honor on the occasion.

The gathering of around 300 included prominent local dignitaries, members of the Diplomatic Corps, academicians, business persons and members of the Indo-Canadian community. The ceremony kicked off with the   singing of National Anthems of Canada and India. This was followed by greetings from the Chief Guest, the Lieutenant Governor. Continue reading “Consulate General of India, Toronto celebrates India’s 70th Independence Day in a glittering ceremony”

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Chill at Crystal Clear Charming Coastline!

SITHARA

The Coast is Clear. Fort Erie’s Crystal Beach is a well-guarded (or not?) secret among Ontarians. The “best beach” destination (out of the mouths of kids) sounds like feeble praise. With miles of coastline, Crystal Beach holds its own as idyllic spot you’d want to spend on a Sunday afternoon in summer.

Crystal Beach is more of a Caribbean type of sandy beach, a family-friendly enclave which attracts kids and grown-ups as well. Lake Erie’s cool, clear waters draws a lot of travelers on summer weekends from across Niagara, Western New York and the GTA.

We picked a perfect day, when the weather was absolutely gorgeous. The water was reliably calm, for the kids to play some watersports and swim. Walking on the sandy shores was a pleasure on its own. Add to it, the company of your trusted friends and family, the charisma of the picturesque beauty doubles! What was especially satisfying was there was something for everyone. Seniors in the family sat in the shade sipping tea, teens were busy clicking selfies and the little ones building sand castles! Continue reading “Chill at Crystal Clear Charming Coastline!”

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Parvaaz to make Canadian Debut at Monster Rock Orchestra

SITHARA

Indian rock band Parvaaz kicking off Canadian tour at Monster Rock Orchestra, Toronto Independent Music Award Winner Stephanie Braganza added to lineup

Parvaaz-MediaKit-Image1.jpg

Brampton, ON: Indian rock group Parvaaz are embarking on a month long Canadian tour and are making Garden Square in Brampton their first stop. The “A Rooted Departure” tour is the band’s first international trip, and the team at MonstrARTity is proud to have them hit the stage Aug 18 for a free show before Monster Rock Orchestra’s headlining performance. Parvaaz’s sound is best described as a haunting soundscape of blues rock and psychedelia with profound, philosophical Kashmiri and Urdu lyrics layered over it. Following the release of their debut album Baran, which premiered a teaser on Rolling Stone India and earned a four star rating, the band have been busy recording new music and preparing for the tour. Their single from the album, “Beparwah” is a catchy tune with a punchy backbone and a visually engaging video to match. Contrastingly, their latest single “Color White,” is a cathartic journey that subtly builds and binds the listener in six minutes of auditory bliss. Continue reading “Parvaaz to make Canadian Debut at Monster Rock Orchestra”

Articles, Community, Reel SpinLeave a comment

Kailash Kher rips it up at Celebration Square in Mississauga!

SITHARA

— Lachman Balani

 On Saturday Aug 12, 2017, the Celebration Square witnessed the likes of a concert never experienced before!

Padma Shri (India’s fourth highest civilian award) winner, singer Kailash Kher, took the stage at Celebration Square for TD Mosiac’s 12th annual festival. The organizers brought him and his band all the way from India to perform! Throngs of people had gathered to see this living legend. There were so many people that the grounds were jam packed and late comers had to sit on the stairs by the fountains behind the grounds to soak in the music.

The crowd went wild when Kailash stomped onto the stage with his lion’s mane of hair. He and his band, Kailasa, regaled the crowd for an almost 2 hour free concert. The audience knew every last one of his songs- not just the popular Bollywood tunes but even his folk and sufi music and sang along. Kailash was totally impressed that the patrons knew so much and even expressed his amazement to the public. Continue reading “Kailash Kher rips it up at Celebration Square in Mississauga!”

Global, IndiaLeave a comment

President Trump Recognizes India Day Grand Celebration

SITHARA

(Naperville, Illinois) On the 70th anniversary of India’s independence, President Donald J. Trump, will recognize the occasion with an official letter, declaring in part, “Thanks to the irreplaceable contributions of Hindu and Indian Americans, the future of our valued partnership has never looked brighter, and we continue to foster even greater cooperation for future generations.”

The letter will be presented at the India Day Grand Celebration, tomorrow (August 13, 2017) in Naperville. Hosted by the Indian Community Outreach Organization and sponsored by the Republican Hindu Coalition, the celebration is one of the largest Indian American festivals in the United States.

The event, which is free to the public, will feature food, floats, fashion, and fireworks, along with shopping and classical and modern Indian dance. India’s most popular Bollywood Stars will headline the show, and statesman Nigel Farage is traveling from the United Kingdom to bring special greetings for the occasion. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is also scheduled to attend. Continue reading “President Trump Recognizes India Day Grand Celebration”

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Markham-Milliken Children’s Festival:  A One-of-A-Kind Family Summer Special

SITHARA

On Saturday, August 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Markham-Milliken Children’s Festival is back for its 19th year. Come join the fun at the Markham Civic Centre, located at 101 Town Centre Boulevard, as part of the City’s vibrant Canada 150 celebrations. This “must–attend” family summer special is the largest annual children’s festival in Ontario and only one of its caliber run by a municipality –guaranteeing a memorable and action-packed experience for the kids, rain or shine!

Admission is free to the event and offers a wide variety of safe, fun and educational activities and games everyone can enjoy. Let your children’s imagination run wild at the Imagination Market, Technology Zone, arts and crafts tents and more! Learn through play how to prepare your family for an emergency and jump in to the front seat of Markham Fire & Emergency Services’ Canada 150 fire truck.  Continue reading “Markham-Milliken Children’s Festival:  A One-of-A-Kind Family Summer Special”

India, TravelLeave a comment

Indian Railway Stations to provide better access

SITHARA

In order to provide better accessibility to Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), short term facilities, as detailed below, have been planned at all stations:

  • Standard ramp for barrier free entry
  • Earmarking at least two parking lots
  • Non-slippery walk-way from parking lot to building
  • Signages of appropriate visibility
  • At least one toilet (on the ground floor)
  • At least one drinking water tap suitable for use by Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)
  • ‘May I help you’ Booth

In addition, long term facilities,  have also been planned at ‘A-1’, ‘A’ and ‘B’ category stations:-

  • Provision of facility for inter-platform transfer
  • Engraving on edges of platform

So far, 394 escalators at 167 stations and 219 lifts at 100 stations have been provided. Further, work is in progress for about 380 nos. of escalators at 133 stations and 427 nos. of lifts at 134 stations which shall be completed over a period of next two to three years. Continue reading “Indian Railway Stations to provide better access”

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JET AIRWAYS ANNOUNCES FREEDOM SALE WITH EXCLUSIVE DEALS

SITHARA

Guests booking from India to enjoy flat discounts of 30% and 20% on international & domestic fares 

Mumbai, August 10, 2017: Jet Airways, India’s premier full service international airline, today announced a special six-day celebratory fare sale to mark India’s 70thIndependence Day. The sale, starting August 11, 2017, will offer guests an attractive 30 percent discount* on Economy fares and 20 percent* on Premiere fares.

 Applicable on both one-way and return tickets, guests can book their tickets for 44 domestic destinations and 20 international destinations across Jet Airways’ expansive network. Tickets purchased as part of the sale for domestic flights, will be valid for travel from September 05, 2017. For international flights, the promotional tickets will be valid from September 15, 2017.

 This is yet another guest-focussed initiative from Jet Airways, already acclaimed for delivering exceptional value to travellers, aside from its attractive promotions and innovative product offerings. Continue reading “JET AIRWAYS ANNOUNCES FREEDOM SALE WITH EXCLUSIVE DEALS”

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Embark to Europe: Ride the Rail!

SITHARA

Our family loves Europe. Zurich, Paris, Venice, Rome, Brussels. We enjoyed our recent visit to all these cities and more in a fun, adventurous trip not too long back. One of the biggest decisions we had to make was whether to do the tour on four wheels or the ride the rails? The answer, the choice was clear. Ride the Rail!

The train journey can be thoroughly enjoyable, with unparalleled scenery to boot, if you take proper steps to ensure that your trip is not derailed. From booking the right ticket to riding in best possible comfort, here’s some tips to ensure that you travel successfully.

The most important choice depends on how much you want to travel and how flexible your plans are. If you’re just traveling from point A to point B, you can purchase an open ticket, which is only good for a particular train at a specific time. On most routes, you don’t even need a reservation.

Rail passes are excellent, if you’re traveling within a country or multiple countries and planning on a lot of travel. Opt for the right combination and you’ll maximize your journey while minimizing your cost. Just make sure to do your homework and compare prices. Continue reading “Embark to Europe: Ride the Rail!”

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Sri Sanskriti Dance Academy Presents Ram Katha

SITHARA

Founded by Prabha Raghavan,Mississauga based Sri Sanskriti Dance Academy  students are getting ready to present the most popular epic story Ramayana. A lot of work has been put into bringing this story through dance and drama. The presentation is a seamless narrative based on the legendary and renowned epic that commences with Sri Ram’s birth and leads up to his coronation. The production will feature senior students of the Academy who have undergone rigorous training in the Indian classical dance style of Bharatanatyam.

This ambitious project involves many young dancers portraying various characters and narrations of the  Hindu mythology through dance and drama, specially recorded music, professional lighting, visuals and sound .It was indeed a challenging task for Artistic Director Prabha Raghavan who is well known for her unique concepts and choreography and excerpts from this great epic have been chosen carefully to bring out the story in 110 minutes . This is a Must-see for the entire family, and we look forward to sharing this with you! Continue reading “Sri Sanskriti Dance Academy Presents Ram Katha”