New York: The 19th Gangaur Festival was celebrated with great devotion, enthusiasm, and cultural grandeur at the Bharatiya Temple in Pennsylvania. On this occasion, more than 500 members of the Indian diaspora and the Rajasthani community from various states across the northeastern United States gathered to celebrate the sacred tradition of Isar–Gauri Mata. This information was shared in a press note by Dr. Ravi Murarka, President of the Philadelphia Rajasthani Mandal (PARAM).
The event was organized under the leadership of Shri Nand Todi, founder of the Bharatiya Temple, and Dr. Ravi Murarka, President of PARAM.
The ceremony was graced by Ambassador Binay Srikanta Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York, as the Chief Guest. Prem Bhandari, President of the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), New York, attended the event as the Guest of Honor. In addition, U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, the Mayor of Ambler, and several community leaders were also present.
Several members of Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), New York, accompanied Prem Bhandari, including newly appointed Patron Jugal Kishore Ladda, Secretary Ravi Jargarh, and members Raj Garg, Vinay Jain, Sharad Agarwal, and Harish Thakkar.
During the festival, devotees participated in the worship of Gauri Mata, a grand Gangaur procession, cultural performances, and the serving of traditional Rajasthani cuisine. Special attractions included Dal Baati Churma, Gatte ki Sabzi, and Chhach (buttermilk).
In his address, Ambassador Binay Srikanta Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York, emphasized that the Indian diaspora in the United States should work together to address the issues and challenges facing the Indian community in America. He said that the Indian diaspora can play an important role in strengthening the multifaceted relationship between the United States and India.
Ambassador Pradhan also encouraged members of the Indian community to inspire and support their fellow Indians in entrepreneurship and trade through collaboration. He noted that the nature of U.S.–India relations has evolved over time, while earlier the focus was on economic assistance, today the relationship is increasingly centered on collaboration in modern sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), trade partnerships, and technological cooperation.
In his address, Prem Bhandari, who serves as the International Convener of the Akhil Bhartiya Rajasthani Bhasha Manyata Sangharsh Samiti and is a prominent voice in the Indian diaspora, highlighted the long-standing demand to include the Rajasthani language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. He stated that it is extremely unfortunate that despite the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly unanimously passing a resolution on August 25, 2003, no concrete progress has been made in this direction over the past 23 years.
Bhandari said that all political parties share responsibility for this delay. He explained that for the past 16 years, he has participated in various movements and demonstrations—from protests on the streets to representations at Rashtrapati Bhavan—yet due to a lack of political will, no decision has been taken so far. He also expressed that it is difficult to understand why the Government of Rajasthan has not yet granted the status of a second official language to Rajasthani within the state.
During his remarks, Bhandari also praised Ambassador Binay Srikanta Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York, for ensuring that the Indian Consulate remains accessible and active for the community 365 days a year, maintaining continuous engagement with members of the Indian diaspora.
He also appreciated Nand Todi, founder and philanthropist of the Bharatiya Temple, who has generously donated $1 million for the construction of a shelter home in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
During the festival, nine children who won the poster competition were honored. These nine children were presented cash awards and certificates by the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), New York.
On this occasion, a special meeting was also held with leaders of more than 25 Indian community organizations, where community issues were discussed with Consul General Binay Srikanta Pradhan and Prem Bhandari.
