New York: Sai Mandir USA, the first Sai Baba temple in America, celebrated its 25th anniversary (Silver Jubilee) at Hicksville Middle School, drawing a devoted gathering of over 750 attendees from across the Tri-State area. The spiritually uplifting evening began with refreshments and was followed by a vibrant cultural program, concluding ‘Mahaprasadam’.
Sai Mandir Core Team felicitated acclaimed singer Sunita in honor of her contribution to the spiritual evening.
The event featured “Kala Ratna” Sri Parupalli Sriranganath; senior musician and renowned singer TTD Sunitha; and Guest of Honor Binaya S Pradhan, Consul General of India, New York -- apart from musical performance by Sadhana Paranji, youth dance by Maheshwari Jagabattula and storytelling drama by Ashok Chintakunta.
Chief Guest Binaya Pradhan graced the event and delivered an inspiring message to the community, leaving a lasting impact on all in attendance.
In his heartfelt remarks, Dr Dattatreyudu Nori, founder of Sai Mandir USA, shared his personal journey with Sai Baba, explaining how Baba’s divine grace guided him to build temples as places of peace, spiritual healing, and service. He emphasized the inspiration he drew from his Guru, Sri Sri Sri Viswayogi Viswamji Maharaj, whose voice message of blessings was shared during the event, resonating deeply with the audience.
Nassau County honored Dr Nori, a renowned oncologist, with a citation recognizing his decades of exemplary service in both the medical field and community leadership.
Dr Nori was joined by his wife, Dr Subhadra Nori, a constant pillar of support in his spiritual and community endeavors. He was also accompanied by his son, Sateesh Nori, daughter-in-law Joy Kanwar, Shaan Kumar, and Jhansi Nori, as the family stood united in celebrating this historic milestone with the community.
Parupalli Ranganathan’s mesmerizing performance transported the audience into an immersive world of divine music and devotion.
The event on May 31 was attended by several dignitaries and community leaders, who offered rich tributes to Dr Nori’s unwavering service over the past 25 years.
Prominent attendees included Kanak and Prabha Golia; Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava; Jayasheel and Ravi Bhooplapur; Ratna and Varinder Bhalla; Nimmi and Kamlesh Mehta; Indu Jaiswal; Seema and Dr. Wasil; Veena and Amit Shah; Beena Kothari; Bina Sabhapathy; Neeta Bhasin; Ashok Vyas; Dr Manjul Bhargava, Princeton University, and many other respected community members.
More than 750 devotees gathered, making it one of the most well-attended spiritual events in the Tri-State area. It was a truly divine and memorable celebration.
The NY Core Team and volunteers played a critical role under the program chair leadership of Kiran Parvathala in the celebration’s success, dedicating countless hours to planning and execution. Their commitment and selfless service reflected the very essence of Sai Baba’s teachings.
With free entry, ample parking, and traditional Mahaprasadam, the Silver Jubilee was a deeply meaningful celebration of faith, unity, and 25 years of selfless community service through Sai Mandir USA — a legacy that continues to flourish under the guiding light of Sai Baba.
(All photos courtesy: Sai Mandir USA)
