Indian Army servicemen perform yoga in the mountains of Leh. Here in Texas, yoga events are in progress
Houston, DFW, San Antonio and Austin.
Consulate General of India Leads Celebration of 12th IDY 2026
Houston: The Consulate General of India in Houston proudly announces its celebration in honor of the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026 with a variety of statewide community yoga events during the month of June.
The events are open and free for the public, with two of the main programs happening in Midtown Park in Houston on Saturday June 20th and the Texas Capitol in Austin on Sunday, June 21.
The Consulate is working with different community organizations, several city council districts and nonprofits throughout Texas. This year’s festivities will also include classes held at other iconic locations across the state, like Discovery Green in Houston, the Civic Park in Hemisfair in San Antonio, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Plaza in Dallas. International Day of Yoga celebrations are open to long-time practitioners, first-timers, elders, families and youth to come together and experience the beauty of the practice.
“There is nothing more unifying than seeing people from very different backgrounds doing the same sun salutation under the same sky,” said Robert Boustany, a wellknown practitioner that has been teaching yoga for 56 years. “It’s a powerful way to bridge communities and at the same time share in improving physical health, mental well-being, and harmony between people and nature.”
“At its best, International Day of Yoga is less about perfect poses and more about collective exhale
energy, millions of people pausing for one day to notice their breath, posture, and humanity,” said Sharad Amin, Texas IDY Coordinator.
“We are thrilled to bring our diverse Texas communities together in this global celebration.”
On Dec. 11, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, receiving broad support from 177 member states. The day was chosen because it is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day of the year, which has symbolic importance in many traditions. Yoga itself originated in India thousands of years ago and combines physical postures, breathing techniques, and mindfulness practices. According to Pew Research, the percentage of American adults practicing yoga rose from 5% in 2002 to 16% by 2022, with participation reaching
approximately 18% (38.4 million) of the population in 2025.
A common theme of this annual celebration is that yoga is “for everyone,” regardless of age, culture, or fitness level. This year’s event will span a number of communities across Texas, with key events in Houston, San Antonio and Austin. Highlights in each city include: Houston:
On Saturday, June 20, The Consulate General of India, Houston will be hosting their main International Day of Yoga event at Midtown Park for a public gathering of yoga, peace and mindfulness from 6 to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, June 21, the Consulate supports various events with Fit Houston, UNIONisCREATION and Hindus of Greater Houston, the celebration will continue at George Bush Park starting at 7 a.m. with a yoga session and 5K
walk. There will also be over 30 other yoga events across the city at multiple locations, culminating in a final public yoga session from 6 to 8 p.m. at Discovery Green followed by Sunset Labyrinth Walk & Community Sound Bath from 8 to 9 p.m.
Additionally, during the month of June, there will be a series of virtual and in-person free sessions in Houston for all yoga levels, even including “chair yoga” for seniors, starting on Monday, June 1. More information can be found at SVYASA Houston, a registered non-profit organization dedicated to promoting health, happiness, and peace in society through education, research, and service in yoga. Finally, there will also be a Spanish-speaking yoga class for the public on Monday, June 15 at Discovery Green beginning at 6:30 p.m.
San Antonio:
The City of San Antonio will be celebrating International Day of Yoga one day early on Saturday, June 20 with support from local nonprofit iDoYoga San Antonio, who is offering free community yoga classes at Civic Park in Hemisfair starting at 7 p.m.
Organized under Sewa International, iDoYoga provides free yoga year round and are teaming up with all 10 City Council Districts, the Mayor’s Office, Metropolitan Health District and many other community partners for this special event which will feature a relaxing sunset yoga session. The public can join this free class to breathe, stretch, and find their inner calm in a vibrant outdoor setting.
Austin:
On Sunday, June 21, the Consulate will be hosting their International Day of Yoga event in Austin at the Texas State Capitol on the lawn near the south steps at 6:30 p.m. With the vision to bring Austin metro communities together in harmony and peace, the event will include guided yoga postures followed by a world peace mediation and live music. For the past eleven years, Art of Living Austin Chapter has presented this free familyfriendly event that has drawn more than 5000+ Central Texas yogis. The event is supported by their partner organization Yoga Bharati and sponsored by The Consulate General of India in Houston.
SVYASA celebrated IDY 2026 from May 31 to June 7.
HGH Plans Yoga Events Across Greater Houston for IDY 2026
By JuHi Varma
Houston: Houston’s vibrant and diverse yoga community is preparing for a packed schedule of events in honor of the twelfth annual International Day of Yoga, a global observance held each year on June 21 to promote awareness about the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga.
Nonprofits, temples, wellness groups and local governments have planned public yoga sessions, meditation programs, chair yoga workshops and wellness events throughout June.
“This year’s theme is ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’,” said Sharad Amin, Texas coordinator for IDY 2026. “This year we have two major community-wide events near downtown. There we would like to welcome large numbers of yoga beginners, enthusiasts and regular yoga practitioners.”
The largest Houston-area celebration will take place on Yoga Day itself, June 21 at Discovery Green in downtown Houston. Organized by Union is Creation with support from the Consulate General of India in Houston, the free public event will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and include lawn activities, yoga sessions and wellness programming. No prior yoga experience is required.
Another major event is planned for June 20 at Midtown Park, where the Consulate General of India in Houston, in association with Indo-American organizations, will host an evening yoga gathering from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bring yoga mats and water. All age groups are welcome.
“There is nothing more unifying than seeing people from very different backgrounds doing the same sun salutation under the same sky,” said Robert Boustany, a wellknown practitioner who has been teaching yoga for 56 years. “It’s a powerful way to bridge communities and at the same time share in improving physical health, mental well-being, and harmony between people and nature.”
The large number of events scheduled across the region reflects yoga’s growing popularity among Houstonians from a wide range of backgrounds and communities.
“Because Yoga Day falls on a weekend this year, participation is expected to be especially strong as residents gather to experience the many benefits of this ancient practice,” said Bharat Patel of Hindus of Greater Houston.
What is International Yoga Day?
June 21, 2026 marks the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY), a worldwide observance held annually on the summer solstice. Proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and officially recognized by the United Nations in 2014, the day celebrates yoga’s growing global influence and encourages people around the world to explore its benefits.
Since its launch, International Yoga Day has evolved into a global movement, with communities, studios and organizations hosting events that highlight yoga’s physical, mental and emotional benefits.
“We appreciate the Houston community for participation and inspiring organizers to raise the bar every year,” said Sharad Amin ji. “We have different organizations conducting session over three weeks in different area of town.”
According to Pew Research, the percentage of American adults practicing yoga rose from 5% in 2002 to 16% by 2022, with participation reaching approximately 18% (38.4 million) of the population in 2025.
Houston-area International Day of Yoga events
June 7, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. — SVYASA and Shri Krishna Vrundavana Temple will host a Yoga Day event at Shri Krishna Vrundavana Temple, 10251 Synott Rd., Sugar Land.
June 11, 4:45 p.m. — The Consulate General of India in Houston, in partnership with the Indian Doctors Association, will host a Yoga Day event at the Consulate General of India, 4300 Scotland St., Houston.
June 13, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. — Swasth Yoga and Gujarati Samaj of Houston will host an event at the GSH Event Center, 9550 W. Bellfort Ave., Houston.
June 13, 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.--Senior Sewa Sugar Land Group warmly invites you and your family to a special session on “Diabetes and Chair Yoga” at the Nancy and Clyde Jacks Conference Center, 3232 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land.
June 15, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. — Houston-based wellness community Union is Creation will host a Spanish-language yoga event, Yoga en Español, at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St., Houston.
June 16, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. — India House will host a Yoga Day session at India House, 8888 W. Bellfort Ave., Houston.
June 19, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — India House and Swasth Yoga will host a Yoga Day event at India House, 8888 W. Bellfort Ave., Houston.
June 20, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
— Hindu Temple of The Woodlands will host a Yoga Day event at 7601 S. Forestgate Dr., Spring.
June 20, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
— Hindu Yuva and HSS will host a Yoga Day gathering at Brazos River Park, 18427 Southwest Fwy., Sugar Land.
June 20, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
— Patanjali Yog Peeth will host a yoga session at Arya Samaj, 14375 Schiller Rd., Houston.
June 20, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
— Baytown Indian Community will host a Yoga Day event at the Baytown Community Center, 2407 Market St., Baytown.
June 20, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. — Swasth Yoga and Gayatri Temple will host a yoga session at Gayatri Temple, 20914 Parl Row Blvd., Katy.
June 20, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
— The Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston will host a Yoga Day event at 12379 Riceville School Rd., Houston.
June 20, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
— The Consulate General of India in Houston will host a Yoga Day event at Midtown Park, 2811 Travis St., Houston.
June 20, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
— iDoYoga San Antonio and several Indian organizations in San Antonio will host a Yoga Day celebration at Civic Park at Hemisfair, 210 S. Alamo St., San Antonio.
June 20, 21, 8:00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. (on both days) — The Isha Foundation is hosing Surya Kriya, meaning ‘sun inner energy process’ at India House, 8888 W.
Bellfort Ave., Houston. This is a powerful, 21-step yogic process to energize the system, improve focus and create inner balance.
June 21, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
— Sewa International and HSS will host a Yoga Session and 5K Walk at George Bush Park, 20150 Westheimer Pkwy., Houston.
June 21, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. — Patanjali Yog Peeth will host a yoga event at Arya Samaj of Houston, 14375 Schiller Rd., Houston.
June 21, 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. — The City of Fulshear and the Yoga Community of Fulshear and Katy will host a Chair Yoga session at the Irene Stern Community Center, 6920 Fulshear Katy Rd., Fulshear.
June 21, 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. — The City of Fulshear and the Yoga Community of Fulshear and Katy will host a “Yoga for All” session at the Irene Stern Community Center, 6920 Fulshear Katy Rd., Fulshear.
June 21, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. — ISKCON of Houston will host a Yoga Day event at Bhakti Urban Farm, 5415 Wheatley St., Houston.
June 21, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. — The Consulate General of India in Houston will host a Yoga Day event at the Texas State Capitol Building, 1100 Congress Ave., Austin.
June 21, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. — Union is Creation will host a Yoga Day celebration at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St., Houston. This is one of the largest Houston-area International Day of Yoga celebrations. It is a free public event will include lawn activities, yoga sessions and wellness programming. No prior yoga experience is required.
June 26, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. — Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers will host a Yoga Day event at Fort Bend Precinct 3, 151 Stadium Drive, Sugar Land.
June 27, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. — United Leuva Samaj Houston will host a Yoga Day event at the ULH Community Center, 331 United Leuva Cir., Houston.
June 27, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — VHP-A and IACAN will host a Yoga Day event at Independence Park, 3449 Pearland Pkwy., Pearland.
Delivering the Healing Power of Music to Homeless Animals
Wild Tunes and American Music Academy Join Forces to Bring Live Music and Calm to HoustonArea Shelter Animals
Houston: For homeless animals, a gentle song can offer comfort, calm, and connection. That spirit is at the heart of a new partnership between Wild Tunes, a Houstonarea nonprofit founded by Houstonian Yuvi Agarwal at age 10 and dedicated to improving the lives of shelter animals through live music, and the American Music Academy (AMA), a Houston-area music school.
Through this new partnership, Wild Tunes will draw on AMA’s pool of student musicians and their talented teachers to perform for animals living in local shelters, helping to better prepare them for fostering and adoption.
Laura and Wyatt Coleman, cofounders of AMA, are passionate about music and animal welfare. They say the partnership with Wild Tunes is an ideal fit for their mission.
“Partnering with Wild Tunes is incredibly special to both of us. Music and animal welfare are two causes that take up large spaces in our hearts, and we are thrilled to collaborate with local shelters for the betterment of our students and the animals who will be soothed by them,” said Laura. “The joy
of music should be known and experienced by all, including our canine and feline friends.”
Through the collaboration, AMA will encourage its community to practice their music at animal shelters and perform at various adoption events. Wild Tunes will host a monthly AMA performance series at a partner shelter, debuting under the title “Jazz for Paws.”
“Our mission is to encourage musicians of all ages and skill levels to use their talent to help reduce stress in homeless animals and create a more joyful, uplifting
shelter environment for everyone,” said Priyanka Agarwal, executive director of Wild Tunes and Yuvi’s mom. “This partnership connects us with an exceptionally talented pool of students who also care about animal welfare. I commend Laura and Wyatt for their community-driven vision and their willingness to channel their musical expertise to teach children compassion toward animals at a young age.”
Founded in the spring of 2023, Yuvi got the idea to create Wild Tunes after playing his keyboard
for his dog, Bozo. He watched as the music instantly calmed Bozo and changed the dog’s demeanor. That idea flourished, and three years later, Wild Tunes has a presence at shelters across 10 states.
“I’m so excited to work with fellow musicians at the AMA, who will help Wild Tunes touch more homeless animals with the magic of their music,” he said.
To formally kick off the partnership, Wild Tunes and AMA hosted a summer open house at two partner shelters to educate interested students in the program, allowing
them to experience it first-hand.
For more information about Wild Tunes, visit www.wildtunes. org and follow the organization on social media. Learn more about AMA at www.theamericanmusicacademy.com.
About Wild Tunes Wild Tunes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to soothing shelter animals through live music.
Founded by Yuvi Agarwal at the age of 10, the organization encourages volunteers to play musical instruments or sing at participating shelters to enrich the lives of homeless animals. The program helps animals build trust with humans, increasing their chances of being fostered or adopted. Originally launched in Houston, Wild Tunes now operates in multiple states, has more than 750 registered volunteers, and continues to expand nationwide. For more information, visit www.wildtunes. org.
Sewa: A Decade of Dancing Paves Road to Future through Education
Houston: Sewa International Houston celebrated the 10th anniversary of Sewa Dancing Stars (SDS), the flagship fundraising dance competition that has brought the community together through dance, service and philanthropy during the past decade. The event served as the official kickoff to a year-long recognition of SDS’s remarkable journey and honored the many individuals and organizations whose support has made the competition an indisputable success over the past ten years.
“This milestone belongs to every volunteer, donor, sponsor, dancer, teacher, judge, and supporter who has been part of our story,” said Kavita Tewary, Executive Director of Sewa International’s Houston Chapter. “For ten years, Sewa Dancing Stars has demonstrated how culture and service can come together to create meaningful impact. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has helped us dance for a cause and make a difference in our community.”
SDS brings together dancers, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters to celebrate culture while raising awareness and support for humanitarian and community service initiatives. At the heart of these efforts is the ASPIRE Program established by Sewa International to transform underserved communities by empowering their children.
The ASPIRE Out of School Time Program provides academic support, mentoring, STEAM curriculum, Social Emotional Learning, and other enrichment activities for children grades K through 5, with a new mentorship program for children in middle school beginning this year. By establishing learning centers directly in the communities where students live, ASPIRE ensures that all challenges to service are mitigated.
“When I started at la escuelita, I was 8 and shy, and I was like an only child because my brother was 15 years older than me. I didn’t have a lot of friends and at school I got bullied. At ASPIRE I made friends, I got to learned so much, and Miss C and Miss L taught me to be brave and believe in myself, and to focus on school “ —Angie (Today she is a straight A student in 11th grade at Alief Early College High School with long-term plans for a PhD in Education.
“In my country, I couldn’t go to school. Here in Houston, I can go to two schools and my favorite is the ASPIRE Center. I can learn math and science and reading and I can attend workshops about mental health. At ASPIRE, I can learn, learn, learn.”---Nazia (An active participant in all activities who aspires to become an US Air Force pilot or a police captain.
Over the last decade, SDS has become much more than a dance competition. A special highlight of the evening was the presence of Guest of Honor, Arpana Manjunath, whose inspiring remarks on
the symbiotic relationship between dance and education reflected the values of service, compassion, and community that have guided SDS throughout its journey.
“Dance is the purest form of embodied cognition where knowledge resides not only in the mind but also in the body,” said Manjunath
Sewa International’s mission is to serve humanity in distress, aid local communities, run developmental projects for underserved populations, and empower transformational change through the collective efforts of volunteers, donors, and partners. Its vision is to create a world where all people live in harmony, free from suffering, while serving selflessly and with compassion.
The celebration recognized the invaluable contributions of past and present donors, sponsors, dance teachers, choreographers, volunteers, judges, emcees, photographers, media partners, and community supporters who have helped shape SDS into one of Houston’s most impactful cultural fundraising events.
As SDS enters its next decade, it remains committed to advancing Sewa’s guiding principle: “Serving Humanity is Serving Divinity.” Together, the SDS community looks forward to continuing its mission of service, compassion, and positive impact for many years to come.
BUSINESS
IACCGH Small Business Series Hosts City’s Business Manager
By somdutta Basu
Houston: There is a door that thousands of Houston small businesses walk past every day without realizing it is open. It leads to city contracts, free legal guidance, bidding advantages, and a network of public agencies stretching across eleven counties - all accessible through a single certification process that, right now, costs nothing at all.
On the morning of May 20, 2026, the IACCGH Small Business Series convened at Elite Restaurant in Sugar Land to make sure that door was visible - and that as many business owners as possible knew exactly how to walk through it. Co-sponsored by Wallis Bank and the CenterPoint Energy Foundation, the event featured Alejandro Guajardo, MBA, USMC, Business Development Manager at the City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunity, who arrived with a straightforward mission: demystify a system that has the power to change the trajectory of a small business, but that too few business owners fully understand.
“I’m only doing this post for about six months,” Guajardo told the room with characteristic candor. “Bear with me as I give this presentation - I’m still learning.”
The self-deprecating opener drew warm laughter - but what followed was anything but tentative. For the next thirty minutes, Guajardo delivered one of the most practically useful sessions the series has seen.
A Mission Built Around the Underserved
The Office of Business Opportunity exists, in its own words, to cultivate “an inclusive and competitive economic environment in the City of Houston by promoting the success of small businesses” - with a particular focus on historically underutilized businesses and disenfranchised individuals. Its vision is equally unambiguous: to eliminate systemic barriers to prosperity across the greater Houston region.
It is a mandate that touches virtually every corner of the city’s economic life. OBO oversees certification, contract compliance, workforce development, the Houston Airport System program, and its External Affairs division - Guajardo’s department - which manages the flagship capacitybuilding programs designed to connect small businesses to opportunity before, during, and after the bidding process.
The Certification Advantageand It’s Free
For many business owners in the room, the most immediately actionable information centered on certification - and the news was good. The City of Houston is currently offering no-fee certification and recertification through OBO, making this one of the most accessible entry points for small busi-
nesses in recent memory.
The process begins with a precertification workshop, held on the first and third Tuesday of every month - the first, virtually, the third in person. From there, businesses complete an online application, move through preliminary screening, a desk audit, and where applicable, a financial audit goes back five years in accordance with SBA standards. The typical turnaround, Guajardo noted, runs 30 to 60 days. “There’s no expediting,” he said plainly. “You just have to go through the process.”
The certifications available span a broad range of designations. City-level certifications include the MBE (Minority Business Enterprise), WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise), SBE (Small Business Enterprise, which is race and gender neutral), and the PDBE (Persons with Disabilities Business Enterprise). Brand new for 2026 is the Veteran Small Business Certification - covering both service-disabled veterans and veteran-owned businesses - which can be applied for under a single application. “Make sure you check both boxes,” Guajardo advised.
At the federal level, OBO administers the DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) program for transportation-funded contracts, and the ACDBE for airport concession opportunities - though both are currently paused pending a reevaluation period. Houston also holds the distinction of being the first city in Texas to offer an LGBT Business Enterprise designation, established in March 2021.
One Certification, Many Doors
Perhaps the single most significant point Guajardo made - and
the one that drew the most visible reaction from the room - was about the reach of OBO certification beyond the City of Houston itself. Once certified through OBO, a business’s credentials are accepted by Harris County, Port Houston, HISD, Fort Bend ISD, Houston Community College, Houston First, Metro, and the Houston Airport System, among others.
“The easiest way to get certified is to go through the Office of Business Opportunity,” noted IACCGH Founding Secretary and Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia, who has shepherded many chamber members through the process over the years, “because they have the least cumbersome process. And once you’re certified with the city, all these agencies will accept your certification.” The implications are significant: one application, one process, and a business become visible to a network of public agencies spanning eleven counties and more than 5,000 existing certified vendors.
The competitive advantage is real. Through Houston’s Hire Houston First program, locally certified businesses receive a 3 to 5% bidding preference over nonlocal competitors - meaning a certified Houston business can win a city contract even when its bid is slightly higher, as long as it falls within that preference window. “You can win those contracts if your price is within 3 to 5% of the lowest non-local bid,” Guajardo explained. In a competitive procurement environment, that margin can be decisive.
Beyond Certification: Programs That Build Capacity Certification is the entry point, but OBO’s External Affairs division runs a portfolio of programs
tion Project - a program that provides free, limited-scope legal guidance to eligible small businesses, self-employed entrepreneurs, and nonprofits. Volunteer attorneys can assist with contracts, business structure questions, commercial leases, employment matters, tax questions, and intellectual property concerns. The service does not cover ongoing litigation or court representation, but for the everyday legal questions that can derail a growing business, it represents a resource that many owners in the room had not previously known existed.
“Just give us a call,” Guajardo said, “and we can get you in touch with an attorney.”
How to Find What’s Available
designed to help businesses compete - and grow - once they are in the system.
The flagship is Meet the Buyer, OBO’s largest annual event, held every December and now in its second decade. In 2025, the event drew more than 700 attendees and featured 63 exhibitor tables, bringing small businesses face to face with city procurement officers, government agencies, and prime contractors. “If you’re in the construction industry, this is the place to be,” Guajardo said. “There are a lot of decision makers in the room who want to meet prime contractors.”
For those earlier in their journey, the Turner School of Construction Management - a partnership with Turner Construction Companyprovides free training specifically for small, minority, and womenowned businesses. The Pillars for Success initiative are designed to help diverse Houston-area firms expand their scope and access new markets. And the Liftoff Houston competition offers an annual stage for startups to compete for resources and visibility.
Two newer initiatives round out the portfolio. Turnaround Houston connects the justice-impacted community with local employers through job fairs held every three to four months at rotating locations, with roughly twenty employers on site at each event. The Turnaround Entrepreneurship Program, a sixto-eight-week community-based initiative offering business mentorship and education, is slated to launch this summer.
Free Legal Help for Small Businesses
One of the session’s quieter revelations was OBO’s Houston Small Business Legal Consulta-
For business owners ready to start exploring city contracts, Guajardo directed the room to the city’s procurement portal — tx.gov/bis/biswithhoa — where open solicitations, bid categories, due dates, and contact information are listed publicly, with no login required to browse. Submitting a bid requires registration, and Guajardo strongly encouraged attending pre-bid meetings and site visits where available. “It gives you a better understanding of the scope of work and an opportunity to find out who else may be bidding,” he said. “And please - start the process early. Late bids are not accepted.”
A Changing Landscape, and a Chamber That Keeps Pace
The session closed with a candid exchange about the shifting policy environment - from changes to SBA lending eligibility for green card holders to the current pause on DBE applications - that has left many business owners uncertain about where programs stand today. It was Jagdip Ahluwalia who put it most plainly: “That’s why the chamber prides itself in bringing back our resource partners to keep updating you on where the landscape is today, because it’s a changing landscape.”
It is a statement that captures the purpose of the Small Business Series at its core. The information in any given session may shift. The policies may be revised. But the chamber’s commitment to keeping Houston’s Indo-American business community informed, connected, and ready - that, at least, does not change.
For Alejandro Guajardo, the message as he closed was simple and direct. “Please connect with me,” he said, handing out business cards to a line of attendees who had already begun forming. “Find me on LinkedIn. If you have any questions, give me a call.”
A room full of entrepreneursmany of them, for the first time, genuinely understanding what the City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunity could do for them - was listening.
A Tireless Community Volunteer, Smita Mehta, 68, Passes Unexpectedly
tHe Woodlands: A resident of The Woodlands, since 1988, Smita Mehta was known for tirelessly volunteering for her community, notably for The Woodlands India Association, Faiths Together, Seniors Forum, Memorial-Hermann The Woodlands Hospital, and the Hindu Temple of The Woodlands.
She was so devoted to her heritage and culture that she and her husband Dr. Snehal Mehta often opened up their beautiful home in The Woodlands to many community occasions, making many memories and friendships while also raising their children there.
She was proud of being a Gujarati American and an active participant in the busy Indian community in greater Houston.
Smita was known for an unmatched zest for life and her many hobbies: tending to the beautiful plumeria and vegetables in her thriving garden, singing, swimming, cooking for her friends and family, creating art and traveling around the world. Also known for her generosity and compassion, she cultivated deep friendships and meaningful connections throughout her life.
A month after coming back from a vacation, Smita suddenly and unexpectedly fell sick and succumbed to her illness on May 4, stunning everyone. She was 68 years old. She was born on February 11, 1958 in Dahod, in Eastern Gujarat, India and moved with her parents to the US at the age of 5. Smita graduated from Normandy High School in Parma, Ohio in 1976 and went on to complete her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston in 1980.
Smita Mehta (née Smita Girish Pandya) is survived by her husband of 46 years, Dr. Snehal Mehta; her two devoted children, Dr. Eshani Sheth (married to Neil Sheth) and Dr. Suril Mehta (married to Swati Mehta); and her four beautiful grandchildren Sarina and Sahil Sheth, and Sanvi and Seema Mehta, who were the absolute joys of her life. She is also survived by her beloved parents, Tanman and Girish Pandya, and her two dear younger brothers, Dr. Amit Pandya and Rajiv Pandya and their families.
Her family was the center of her world, and her legacy will continue through the love, traditions, strength, and joy she passed on to them. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who had a remarkable gift of making life fun. Holidays were magical because of her - filled with warmth, laughter, and the vibrant energy she brought into every gathering.
She will be profoundly missed by her husband, parents, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters-in-law, extended family, friends, and all whose lives were enriched by knowing her.
A funeral service was held for Smita on Friday, May 8 at Winford Funerals North with a follow-up memorial service with bhajans and dinner on Friday, May 15 at the Hindu Temple of The Woodlands.
The family asks that donations or acts of kindness be made in her honor to the Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute which funds lung transplant research and pioneering new techniques, amongst other areas of innovation: https//: tinyurl.com/2vm4p5jx.
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Maa Behen’: Sharp Satire on Male Patriarchy
By renuka VyaVaHare
Story: Set in the conservative north Indian Adarsh Colony, single and glamorous mother Rekha (Madhuri Dixit) makes a hysterical late-night phone call to her daughters, Jaya (Triptii Dimri) and Sushma (Dharna Durga), summoning them home after discovering the dead body of her nosy neighbour, Guptaji (Ravi Kishan), inside her house.
Review: As the estranged and constantly bickering sisters reluctantly reunite with their seemingly reckless mother, the chaotic trio scrambles to figure out how to manage the crime scene. But there’s a twist lurking around the corner that none of them see coming.
Director Suresh Triveni (Jalsa, Tumhari Sulu) uses humour layered with tragedy to hold up a mirror to a society that views women simply existing on their own with suspicion. The resemblance to actress Rekha and the long-standing gossip surrounding her personal life and marital status inevitably come to mind. How can women thrive without being subject to the watchful gaze of men? Society’s inability to process that question forms the heart of this sharply written story by Triveni and Pooja Tolani.
What makes this crime-comedy particularly refreshing is that it never turns into a pity party. These women choose joy, beauty and humour even in the face of adversity. They refuse to be miserable. The characters are wonderfully written and couldn’t care less about “log kya kahenge” because they have far more pressing concerns— like survival. The film delivers a stinging rebuke to the notion that if a woman isn’t a bechari or abla naari, she must automatically be labelled a daayan.
Lewd graffiti and taunts such as “Rekha ka Dekha?” are scrawled
across the walls outside their bungalow by neighbourhood gossips and rumour-mongers. The casual normalisation of this harassment and Rekha’s need to smile through it if she wishes to survive in the locality is one of the film’s most heartbreaking observations. It brings to mind the much-debated viral reel of a Rajasthani woman who asks, “Kapde ho gaye chhote, toh sharm kahan se aaye?”, taking aim at so-called modern women.
Maa Behen takes on this internalised patriarchy that compels women to police and shame one another. At its core, it is a reflection on society’s deep discomfort with women living without men. Similar themes were explored with remarkable sensitivity in Tribeny Rai’s Nepali-language drama
Shape of Momo, which examined how independent women are often treated as public spectacles open to scrutiny and judgement.
Set largely within the confines of a spacious but ageing house, this is far from a one-woman show. The banter between the three women keeps the narrative crackling.
Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri and Dharna Durga are an absolute riot together. Their chemistry is delightfully unhinged and electric.
The last time a female ensemble generated this kind of effortless camaraderie was in Crew. The madness is infectious, but so are the quieter moments when the film pauses to acknowledge the
pain, resentment and grief buried beneath the laughter. Every character gets their due, including Mrs Gupta, played with remarkable depth by Geetanjali Kulkarni. Madhuri is perfectly cast as the sweet seductress with a heart. Gorgeous in every frame, she nails both the comic timing and the north Indian dialect. Triptii shines as the fiercely protective daughter who is forced to hold her family together while constantly defending her mother’s unconventional choices. She establishes herself as one of the most formidable acting talents of today. Dharna makes a confident acting debut and more than holds her own despite sharing screen space with two established performers. Ravi Kishan lends strong support with his commanding presence.The film begins on a high, remains engaging for the most part, but does lose momentum in the middle as certain portions feel repetitive. Fortunately, it regains its footing and builds towards a powerful climax.
The final scene, in particular, leaves a lasting impression and lingers long after the credits roll. An entertaining crime-comedy, Maa Behen has no interest in reforming society’s self-appointed moral guardians. Instead, it offers women a far simpler solution: why care? If they insist on calling you chaalu, chhichori or worse, wear that lipstick, drape that sari and carry on anyway.-- ToI
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