Author: Lavina Melwani

If you’re wondering what the Secret Garden is, and where it is,  it is Children’s Hope India’s annual gala and it was held on October 7 at Pier Sixty in Manhattan. The theme of this much anticipated fundraiser for the education of under-served children was based on the classic children’s novel ‘The Secret Garden’ by Frances Hodgson Burnett which shows how love and compassion can transform the lives of children.

2338 people reached on Lassi with Lavina FB page – 14 Likes – 116 post clicks Ankit Narula, Gulnaaz Lalji and Shagun Mehandru like it on Lassi with Lavina FB page Children’s Hope India: A Visit to a Secret Garden [dropcap]I[/dropcap]magine a lush Secret Garden where dreams are nurtured and where tiny seedlings are encouraged to bloom to their full potential. Children’s Hope India (CHI) invites you to just such a special space. Inspired by the classic children’s novel, ‘The Secret Garden’,  this year’s CHI Gala touches upon the theme of rejuvenation and  playfully evokes a floral fantasy at Pier Sixty…

From thought leaders and advocates in public spaces to the CEOs of corporations and start-ups to the hordes of unsung NYC cabbies, cooks and 711 workers – there are countless Indian stories waiting to be told.  Indian brain cells, entrepreneurship and sweat equity are entwined with the success of America, and we will meet these famous, infamous and ordinary people every week.

The Season of India Gala was co-chaired by Sangita Jindal and Sana H. Sabbagh. The guest list had everyone in stunning India-inspired wear and jewels, blending in as one large international family – from different cities and across continents.

The movie has pulsating Soca music and the gorgeous island settings. So, who knows, Trinidad with its beaches, its spicy colors and its famous carnival, may become a hot Bollywood location after this film!

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard shares her Hindu faith and thoughts on Janamashtami, the birth of Lord Krishna. “And by engaging our time, energy, and skills in the loving service of God and all His children, we can be connected with Him.”

This is an immigration tale, about the woes of the H4 visa spouses. Since 2015 a temporary work authorization has allowed them to work and have a normal life. Now there may be a reversal of fortune and the clock may be turned back.

Superstar. Bollywood Royalty. Miss World. Guess model. Fashion Icon. International Recording Star. Highest Paid Actress in the Indian Film Industry. Queen of Endorsements. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. The Empress of High Heels.

Yes, Priyanka Chopra is all these but she’s also something you would never, ever have guessed in a hundred years.

She’s an FOB – Fresh Off the Boat!

2467 people reached on Lassi with Lavina FB page 174 views on LinkedIn The Passing of an Indian Patriot  – Atal Bihari Vajpayee Today India’s former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away at the age of 93. I share the wonderful tribute to him by Nirupama Rao, India’s former ambassador to the United States: ” R.I.P Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. As spokesperson of the M.E.A in the period 2001-2002 it was an honor to serve him as our Prime Minister – a man of unbounded eloquence, perspicacity, and a profound understanding of statecraft, history, and human behavior. The quintessential democrat, without an…

For generations, he was ‘Sanju Baba’, the spoilt, loved darling of the collective Indian nation. The son of iconic Nargis and the wonderful Sunil Dutt, he could do no wrong and if he could or did, nothing would stick to him. Sanjay Dutt of the fabulous dreamy, druggee eyes and the lost little boy smile. Everyone ached for him and his losses, especially for the loss of his beloved mother to pancreatic cancer when he was a susceptible, troubled youth.

The noted husband and wife team of Chefs Hemant Mathur and Surbhi Sahni has probably birthed more new restaurants than anyone else!  Their latest creation Saar Indian Bistro is the newest in the line of eateries which have included Tulsi, Chote Nawab, Chola, Malai Marke, Haldi and Sahib. This one has moved more uptown from the Curry Hill area of Little India. It is in the theater district (241 West 51st street) so is  a real spicy alternative for diners looking for more drama on their platters (the only other Indian restaurant in the theater district is Utsav, a long time staple of the area.)

Aroon Shivdasani says, “People came for the draw of the big names and stayed for the arts and got acquainted and learnt so much about lesser known artists and the excitement of their work.”

Dr. Atul Gawande, in today’s lingo, is one cool dude. After all, which other noted surgeon listens to Bruce Springsteen as he performs surgery in the operation theater? As the lanky iconic writer-physician told a room full of fans at the New York Public Library, he’s in surgery twelve to fourteen hours and music helps him and his team get through the day.

“For me music is an important tool for doing that,” he said. “Number one, if I pick the music really well, then the nurses and the anesthesiologists that I want are likely to pick me for my room and I get known a little bit for my playlists, and get certain people I want coming in the door if I pick the music well. You do five cases in a day, it’s a long day. It definitely keeps me going. It’s great!”

Fathers leave children an inheritance of whatever they’ve acquired during their lifetime. But how is a musical legacy passed on? For fans of these master musicians, there is good news – the children of some legendary musicians are carrying on the legacy of their musical riches and New Yorkers had an opportunity to hear this new generation of performers at Symphony Space.

We talk to these emerging sons of famous fathers. What is it like to grow up in the home of a famous maestro like Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia? In this post, Rakesh Chaurasia talks about his famous ‘babuji’ and how he transformed his life. He says with heartfelt conviction: “I’ve not seen Krishna or heard the magic of his flute. So for me Hariji is Krishna.”

We’ve all known and loved her – Meena Kumari, the tragic beauty who brought so many wonderful films to life. Many of us have seen her films in crowded theaters in India while another generation has experienced the power of her work via videos, catching on to her life after it was already over.

Most of us don’t know that she was a poet too, writing in Urdu. Now her words have been lovingly gathered into a book, ‘Meena Kumari, the Poet – A Life beyond Cinema’, and fans, poetry lovers and the merely curious will be able to see what made her tick, what were her innermost thoughts

‘Yadvi’ is the story of Princess Yaduvansh Kumari, daughter of Bhupinder Singh, Maharajah of Patiala, told by her two grand-daughters Jyoti Singh, who acted in it and directed it and Gauri Singh who wrote the script. I

If you’re a fan of Tagore, music, art, literature or education, the Rubin Museum of Art is the place to be on June 1 for a free public opening reception from 6 pm -10 pm. The evening launches the opening of A Lost Future: The Otolith Group (June 1–September 17, 2018)

Hats may have disappeared from the fashion lexicon in modern times but on this one glorious day they make a triumphant return, like a descent of a fleet of multicolored exotic birds. Welcome to the ‘Hat Luncheon’ of the Central Park Conservancy!

It’s almost an annual rite of Spring – the Children’s Hope India luncheon in New York – where women come together to celebrate the end of winter with a joyous get-together which supports the girl child. It was all about women helping women and women celebrating women.

 11,431 people reached on Lassi with Lavina FB page – 1214 post clicks – 111 Likes  Rita Sharma, Sonika Pal and 91 others like it on Lassi with Lavina FB page 341 views on LinkedIn  Anita Dongre Takes Manhattan [dropcap]D[/dropcap]uchess Kate Middleton, Hillary Clinton, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, Hollywood and Bollywood stars have worn her clothes – and now so can you! Yes, we are speaking of Anita Dongre, one of India’s most loved designers. And now you don’t even have to go all the way to India to get her current Spring/Summer 2018 collection. No air ticket needed –  just hop…