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

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

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

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”)

cross cultures, unity, unityindiversity, inclusion, cultures, global cultures, appreciation, interfaith, childhood, classical traditions, diversity, friendship, global, history, holiday, hometown, inspiration, music, oneness, travel, art, design, graphic design, typography, language, languages, educate, education, museum, religions, spirituality, impact, activism, activist, spiritual activism, create the change, change in thinking, change, faith, religion, hindu, south asia, tamil nadu, tamil, tamil american, indian american, desi americansangeetha kowsikMarch 6, 2021islamicart, islamic, islam, islm, islamicarchitecture, islamic art, islamic pattern, pattern, tanjore, tanjore painting, painting, art, design, crosscultural, culture, ancient cultures, tamil, tamil culture, south india, south indian, southasian, southasia, southasianartist, southindian, tamil nadu, tamilnadu, tamil americna, tamil american, tamilamerican, mix, prophet, saw, muhamad, prophet muhammad, tamizgh, tamizhl, classical painting, ancient traditions, tradition, traditions, cultures, global culture, learn, educate, education, educateyourself, activism, contemporary art

Arabic Ganesha Chaturthi

EVERYBODY LOVES GANESHA! I have many Muslim/non Hindu friends who love Ganesha. Musicians who travel with a small statue, Arabs girls who find him adorable, Yoga practitioners etc. His image is found across the world (Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, archeological evidence even shows ancient South America!) 🌏

His image is on Indonesian currency (a predominately Muslim nation) ☪️

design, diversity, cross cultures, classical traditions, global, friendship, faith, global cultures, hinduism, history, holiday, hometown, inspiration, islam, music, oneness, religion, travel, unitysangeetha kowsikAugust 27, 2020hindu, ganesha, ganesh, vinayak, vinayaka chaturthi, ganesh chaturthi, ganesha chaturthi, festival, islam, hinduism, culture, unity, unityindiversity, unique, holiday, independence, independence day, freedom, colonization, british, british raj, raj, lokmanya tilak, freedom fighter, fight, change, celebration, indonesia, global, global culture, holy month, holy, faith, pilayar, tamil, ohm, om, yoga, spiritual, spirituality, musician, musicians, bethechange, for change, for the culute, history, politics, politian, bollywood, film star, marriage, love, art, design, devotion, desi, deity, desiart, southasian, southasia, india, arabic calligraphy, arabic, typography, fashion, style, luxe

Krishna Janmashtami and The Prophet's (PBUH) sandal

Islam and Hinduism teach the unity of God / service to mankind — a message both Prophet (PBUH) and Lord Krishna taught.

cross cultures, design, diversity, classical traditions, childhood, california, religion, oneness, islam, unity, hinduism, global cultures, global, faith, friendshipsangeetha kowsikAugust 12, 2020krishna, krishnajanmashtami, mystory, hinduism, islam, hindu, muslim, oneness, tamil, southindian, educate, prophet, tradition, designer, arabic, arabic calligraphy, interfaith, faith, tamil culture, love, design, share, desi, desi artist, india, identity, feet, artist, culture, kolam, krishnalove, hadith

Eid Mubarak! Eid Ambarki Ighudan!

Ramadan concludes with morning Eid Prayers outside in Washington Square Park which is so special and absolute magic. Though I’m the Hindu Chaplain for NYU, my brothers have always included me in Eid prayers, I have celebrated with the Islamic Center any times.

classical traditions, cross cultures, design, diversity, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, hinduism, history, holiday, inspiration, oneness, islam, religion, travel, unitysangeetha kowsikMay 26, 2020hindu, hindustani, hinduism, archives, islamicarchitecture, hinduarchitecture, oneness, one world, one, interfaith, family, #zakirhussain #culturematters #islam #hinduism #tabla #oneness #tee #unity #understanding #interconnected #subhanallah #tablas #inclusion #muslimfashion #awareness #crossculture #meaningful #muslimwear #music #shoponline #fortheculture #multicultural #storyteller #unisex #arabictee #arabiccalligraphy #artist #apparel #fashion #contemporaryart, morocco, moroccan, amazigh, amazighs, tamazirt, tamazight, arabic calligraphy, arabic, calligrapher, calligraphy, designs, designer, design, devotion, divine, diversity, dharma, drawn, illustration, tamil, peacock, yali, lion, animal, figure, figurine, nyu, university, purple, higher enducation, college, true love, love, ramadan, ramadan mubarak, festival, peacock feather, together, corvid, corvid virus, corona, moon, islamicart, islamic, islamic art, ishwar, ihsan, ishan, unityindiversity, unity, understanding, dialogue, compassion, talk, conversation, conceptualart, concept, allah, gold

Ramadan Mubarak! : in 5 Languages

Here is my Ramadan Artwork/Design! Written in 5 Different languages : Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit (language of my faith Hinduism), Tamil (language I speak with my family) & Tamazight (language of the Amazigh people of North Africa)

design, diversity, cross cultures, friendship, faith, global, global cultures, inspiration, holiday, history, islam, oneness, religion, travel, music, unitysangeetha kowsikApril 27, 2020#ramadan #ramadanmubarak #diversity #persian #tamazight #sanskrit #islam #hinduism #poem #oneness #unity #understanding #tamil #mosque #hindu#southasianartist #muslim #global #ilustration #mystory #love #meaningful #interfaith #artistsoninstagram #multicultural #storyteller #arabiccalligraphy #temple #artist #contemporaryart, #zakirhussain #culturematters #islam #hinduism #tabla #oneness #tee #unity #understanding #interconnected #subhanallah #tablas #inclusion #muslimfashion #awareness #crossculture #meaningful #muslimwear #music #shoponline #fortheculture #multicultural #storyteller #unisex #arabictee #arabiccalligraphy #artist #apparel #fashion #contemporaryart, art, designs, desert, design, divine, diversity, concept, culture, calligrapher, calligraphy, casablanca, crosscultural, creative, world, global, global culture, one world, earth, interconnectedness, one, oneness, connected, language, languages, color, ramadan, ramadan mubarak, holy, holy month, month, mosque, temple, hinduism, hindu, morocco, unityindiversity, india, indian, persian, tamil

A Moroccan Love Story : Amazigh Culture & Tamazight Language

I discovered/fell in love with the Amazigh people, culture, language (Tamazight). Please don’t call them Berbers!

travel, design, inspirationsangeetha kowsikJanuary 14, 2020morocco, moroccan, maroc, berber, amazigh, tamazight, travel, tamazirt, design, scarf, geometric, designs, textile, textiles, islam, islamic, islamic art, simplymorocco, moroccotrip, casablanca, desert, sahara, culture, toursim, tourist, adventure, rabat, agadir, fez, travelling, moroccanmarrakesh, love, instatravel, artist, art, concept, marrakechdesign, travelmorocco, visitmorocco, amazighs, history, fortheculture, diversity, unityindiversity, tamil, indian, desiart, southasianartist, southasianart, southasia, india, tamaghra, aitatta, creative, conceptual, conceptualart, mosque, islm, islamicart, islamicarchitecture