Deepavali / Diwali - Commercialization, Consumerism, & COMMUNITY

As a Tamil Hindu, I never celebrated Diwali. As an Indian American I now do. It’s heartwarming to see Diwali bringing together people of diverse faiths and cultures, celebrating light, hope, and community.

classical traditions, cross cultures, culture, cultures, desi american, educate, faith, global cultures, hindu, hinduism, history, hometown, indian american, interfaith, love, new york, my story, nyc, oneness, religion, religions, reflections, spirituality, tamil, tamil american, tamil nadu, temple, unique, unity, unityindiversity, world religions, diversity and inclusion, diversitysangeetha kowsikDecember 1, 2024hindu, hinduism, festival, santha, sikh, sikhism, muslim, islam, comm, community, festivals, holiday, high, holidays, deepavali, diwali, nyc, new york city, new york, south asia, south, southindian, south indian, tamil, tamil culture, tamil american, american, desi american, usa, pakistan, music, culture, cultural diversity, cultu, cro, global culture, global cultures, beauty, fashion, querr, queer, transgender, lgptqi+, diversityandinclusion, diversity, educate, educationComment

Anti Racism from a Hindu Perspective - As demonstrated by a "Golu"

In Hinduism, racism finds no place, as the rich descriptions of deities' diverse skin tones and facial features illustrate emphasizes “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (Sanskrit language)”

“The world is one family!”.

From the fair-skinned Goddess Saraswati to dark-complexioned Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva's dreaded locks, Goddess Meenakshi’s “fish eyes”, Lord Muruga’s curly black hair, Goddess Lakshmi’s golden complexion etc. We even have major deities like Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesha, who do not possess human-like features, emphasizing our reverence and affection for all creation, recognizing that everything is an extension of the divine. Hinduism embraces the beauty of diversity.

world religions, unityindiversity, unity, unique, temple, tamil nadu, tamil american, tamil, spirituality, spiritual activism, south asia, religions, religion, reflections, racism, prayer, new york, nyc, my story, oneness, love, interfaith, inspiration, inclusion, impact, hinduism, hindu temple, hindu, global cultures, global, friendship, faith, education, educate, diversity, cultures, cross cultures, create the change, compassion, classical traditions, change in thinking, change, appreciation, activismsangeetha kowsikSeptember 29, 2024hindu, hinduism, festival, navaratri, golu, goddess, anti racism, racism, diversity, inclusion, inclusiveness, diversityandinclusion, hindu chaplain, faith, interfaith, spirituality, spiritual, santhana dharma, santhanadharma, southasia, india, educate, education, educateyourself, teach, doll display, navarthri, navarathri, unityindiversity, colorism, durga, girl gods

Rahu - Friend or Foe? Solar Eclipses in Hinduism

Hinduism, the oldest living religion, embodies diversity and eternal truths, fostering unwavering faith and unity amidst life's challenges. Life is characterized by its cycles of good and bad experiences. Don’t blame the Navagraha or 9 planets in Vedic Astrology, have strength, show compassion, live fearlessly!

SELF HATING (Indian Americans). Loving HINDU TEMPLES. AUNTIES & UNCLE GUTS.

If Hinduism is such a DOPE OPENMINDED INCLUSIVE faith……then…

WHY DO SO MANY INDIAN AMERICANS GROW UP WITH SELF-HATRED, MAKING FUN OF HINDU RITUALS / PRACTICES, DEITIES, INDIAN ACCENTS, FOOD, DRESS ETC. & CONFUSE BEING “INDIAN” (WHICH IS A NATIONALITY/RACE) WITH BEING A HINDU (A FAITH THAT ANY PERSON OF ANY NATIONALITY/RACE CAN PRACTICE) ???

activism, activist, appreciation, art, artwork, change, change in thinking, childhood, classical traditions, compassion, create the change, cross cultures, culture, cultures, desi american, design, distinctive, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global cultures, global, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, holiday, hometown, impact, inclusion, indian american, inspiration, interfaith, love, new york, music, my story, nyc, oneness, prayer, reflections, religion, religions, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil nadu, tamil american, temple, tamil, unique, unity, world religions, unityindiversitysangeetha kowsikDecember 19, 2022hindu, hinduism, hindu temple, temples, temple, temple worship, spirtiuality, spiritual, spirituality, india, inspiration, southindian, south indian, south india, south aisa, indian, indian arts, indian classical music, music, history, sanathana, sanathanadharma, santhana dharma, dharma, sanatana dharma, educate, education, educateyourself, break stereotypes, stereotypes, faith, interconnectedness, interfaith, international, sanskrit, worship, ritual, growing up, american, tamilamerican, tamil american, desi, desi american

Transforming Spaces : The Power of Indian Classical Music

I adore that Indian Classical Music is a form of worship, the interconnectedness between Hinduism and Islam, the beautiful melodies and various ragas, has to power to transform and unite, but most of all it’s the way to reach the divine, who is LOVE!

appreciation, art, california, classical traditions, compassion, cross cultures, culture, cultures, desi american, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, impact, hometown, holiday, inspiration, indian american, interfaith, islam, language, languages, love, music, my story, nyc, oneness, prayer, reflections, religion, religions, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil, tamil american, tamil nadu, temple, unityindiversity, unitysangeetha kowsikOctober 31, 2022music, musician, musicians, classical, classical music, inclusivity, indian, southindian, south india, tamil nadu, tamil, tamilnadu, tamil culture, tamilamerican, tamils, hinduism, hindustani, carnatic, Karnatic, raga, ragam, melody, temple, temples, hindu, hindu temple, hinduarchitecture, temple worship, worship, faith, international, interconnectedness, interfaith, islam, sarod, sarswati, sound, sounds, transformative, transform, bhakti, devotion, spiritual, spirituality, inspiration, sangeetha, sangeetham, sanathanadharma, sanatana dharma, vishnu, saraswati, tradition, traditions, ancient, ancient cultures, ancient traditions, contemporary, amir khusro, purandardasa, saint, ganapati, ganesha, ganesh, deepavali, diwali, festival, high holiday, holiday, ritual, rituals, practice, riyaaz, riyaz, lineage, spirtiuality, friendship, love, unity, unityindiversity, community, comm, history, educate, education, educateyourself, yoga, meditation, appreciation, creatives, creative, mughal, court, king, dynasty, family, cultures, culture, crosscultural, cultural diversity, south indian, bengal, bengali, indian arts, india, north india, southasia, asia, sufi islam, sufi, sufism, heritage, sacred, puja, prayer, mystory, story, experience, my experiences, my truth, truth, samaveda, veda

A Muslim Musician wrote a MANTRAM!

A mantram can be repetitive (but doesn’t have to be) and is used for meditation, prayer, and maybe even to set your intentions/goals. For me, Alam Khan’s album Mantram is a true spiritual/religious experience. I LOVE every single track and I am in tears by the end of it, but happy tears because I’ve seen my beloved Lord. It reminds us that no matter how much crap and emotional turmoil we’ve all gone through in life, HOPE & LOVE is what wins at the end.

appreciation, art, california, change in thinking, change, classical traditions, compassion, cross cultures, culture, cultures, education, educate, diversity, design, desi american, friendship, faith, global, global cultures, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, hometown, impact, inspiration, interfaith, inclusion, indian american, islam, love, museum, my story, oneness, nyc, new york, reflections, religion, religions, spirituality, spiritual activism, south asia, tamil, travel, unique, unity, unityindiversitysangeetha kowsikOctober 1, 2022hindu, hindustani, hinduism, music, musician, musicians, islam, mantra, mantram, new music, classical music, indian classical dance, dharma, sanatana dharma, indian arts, india, indian, sarod, composer, community, unity, unique, unityindiversity, south asia, southasia, south indian, southindian, south india, temple, worship, aliakbarkhan, temples, hindu temple, cali, california, mystory, ritual, spiritual, spirituality, inspiration, friendship, muslims, muslim, ohm, japa, homam, designer, artist, creative, creatives, crosscultural, faith, belief, hope, love, compassion, shiva, vishnu, practice, prayer, sanskrit, sanathanadharma, sanathana

Faith, Fusion, ABCD, Cultural "Norms", it’s time to CHANGE!

This is the same issue many children of immigrants face if they don’t have light skin, light eyes, and a “white” name. We always have to prove our “Americaness” or our “Ethnic Identity” over and over again and frankly, it’s just EXHAUSTING.

I HATE the word “ETHNIC” which needs to be removed from the English language! Ethnic literally describes anyone who is not white! HOW RUDE!

I am sick/tired of folks confusing “Indian culture/communities/society” with the FAITH of Hinduism.

I always found solace, peace, and understanding in my faith in Hinduism though I grew up in a chaotic/mishmash often contradicting Indian/Hindu/American culture and society. For example, I never understood why “Brown/Indian” American women were made to feel ashamed to date, go to school dances, date/marry folks of other races, wear tank tops, bikinis, etc.

SOCIETY & COMMUNITIES create stupid rules, divisions, racism, sexism, hate, patriarchy, and bigotry, not FAITH.

activism, activist, appreciation, art, artwork, change, change in thinking, childhood, classical traditions, create the change, cross cultures, cultures, desi american, design, diversity, educate, education, exhibition, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, hindu, hinduism, history, impact, indian american, inclusion, inspiration, interfaith, language, museum, languages, my story, music, oneness, religion, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, religions, tamil, tamil american, tamil nadu, travel, unity, temple, hindu temple, prayer, unique, culture, distinctivesangeetha kowsikJune 1, 2022hindu, hinduism, hindustani, hindu temple, hinduarchitecture, dancer, compassion, indian classical dance, classical, classical music, spiritual, spirituality, interfaith, faith, fashion, ethnic, community, communities, change, break stereotypes, kindness, immigrant, statues, museum, the metropolitan museum of art, art history, artwork, sanatana dharma, truth, one love, heritage, educate, education, educateyourself, racism, temples, temple, story, mystory, my truth, my life, life, love, bethechange, for change, language, society, culture, cultures, tamil, tamil nadu, tamil americna, tamils, tradition, traditions, ancient cultures, crosscultural, identity, american, feelings, desiart, desi artist, desi, design, dharma, designer, friendshp, friendship

I'm Hindu, DON'T eat Indian Food, Drink Chai, or Practice Yoga - FAITH vs. CULTURE

“Hindu Faith” and “Hindu Culture” are two very different things.
Nowhere in any Hindu religious scripture does it say to serve Palak Paneer, Samosa, or Dosa!
I wish the west would take the time to understand and appreciate the diversity of India and Indian Americans!

appreciation, california, art, activism, activist, change, change in thinking, create the change, classical traditions, cross cultures, cultures, desi american, diversity, design, educate, education, hindu, hinduism, global, global cultures, history, hometown, inclusion, indian american, interfaith, islam, oneness, religions, religion, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil american, tamil, tamil nadu, unity, unityindiversity, my story, languages, languagesangeetha kowsikMarch 28, 2022food, cusine, cultural diversity, crosscultural, hindu, hinduism, hindu temple, my story, story, journey, yoga, california, india, indian, south indian, tamil, ta, tamil nadu, american, tamil american, tamilamerican, tamil culture, afghanistan, afghan, cuisine, food culture, blogger, blog, cali, break stereotypes, stereotypes, faith, spiritual, spirituality, immigrant, first generation, new york, nyc, new york city, educate, educateyourself, education, global, bay area, chai, tea, teacher, culture, cultures

Hindu/Religious VS. Spiritual/Dharmic/Vedic - Gym, Puja, Design

Since when did the word “RELIGION” or “RELIGIOUS” start to freak people out? It boggles my mind.

If a Muslim says they are religious they are immediately branded as a “Terrorist”, If a Christian says they are religious they are immediately branded as a “Bible-thumping, right-wing, Trump lover”
If a Hindu says they are religious they are immediately branded as a “Cow piss drinking, right-wing, Modi lover”

Becoming Chaplain was the first time I ever spoke up about “Being Hindu”. It was never an identifying mark for me, not something I went around proclaiming, I’ve always lived my faith, I just WAS, Gym, Puja, Design, every single day!

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"Abrahamizing" Hinduism (NOT about Conversion)

As the Hindu Chaplain of NYU/Columbia Universities, I find myself explaining my faith in "Abrahamic terms"

Why so many Gods? What's with the half-naked priests? Why don't you have 1 book, the same ways of thinking or the same holidays?

I can’t dip you in water, smack you upside the head with a Veda or Gita and make you a Hindu! (and other thoughts…)

It’s very hard to generalize/compartmentalize/define Hinduism because practices vary dramatically by culture, family, demographics, communities, practices, etc.

It’s what I’ve always found fascinating and interesting about Hinduism, there’s always something new and unique to discover.

LORD AYYAPA - An INLCLUSIVE Hindu Deity who is BELOVED by Hindus, Muslims, Christians & who's prayer came from Buddhism!

A Hindu Deity whose pilgrimage & fast is taken by 40 to 50 million people of all faiths/backgrounds yearly! A deity who unifies Hindus, Muslims, Christians, etc., people of all backgrounds/faiths. Showing that the mighty divine is SUPREME and belongs to ALL creation regardless of class, background, faith, gender, etc. The divine deity who symbolizes equal rights for the LGBTQI+ communities.

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I WON! Winner- Re-Imagining Democracy Future Art Awards - Virtual Exhibition - Black Lives Matter Design

I’m beyond thrilled and honored to win a special mention artist award for my Black Lives Matter Design in this year’s 2021 Future Art Awards Re-Imagining Democracy by Mozaik Philanthropy! I’m thrilled to be included in the Virtual Art Exhibition up on their website! https://mozaikphilanthropy.org/2021-exhibition/

MY REFLECTIONS:

I never understood why I have had only one black boss in the 20+ years I’ve worked in the world of fashion.

BLACK MUSLIM EXPERIENCE, UMMAH, EID & ME - Juneteenth

I was the ONLY non-Black, non-Muslim, non-Hijab, non-Nikab wearing person/lady there! Did I feel any different? NO! I was welcomed with so much love and respect into this Ummah! (Community)

Art for the Love of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) - Tanjore Painting meets Islamic Patterns

For hundreds of years Tamil poets have composed devotional poems adopting the voice of a mother, addressing praises to an extraordinary child. Called pillaittamil ( "Tamil for a child”), major genre of Tamil literature.” Muslim poets used the genre, to praise the Prophet (PBUH), members of his family, and various walis (“friends of God”) who’s tombs are revered in Tamil Nadu.

My design incorporates Tamil script, Tanjore (Traditional Classical style of South Indian (Tamil) painting), traditional Islamic patterns in the background/cradle, & cradle (the poem states “so I can place you in the cradle, and rock you happily, come joyously. Muhammad, who has the truth, come joyously, come”)

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