Hindu American Foundation

Namaste Yoga Film Screening in NorCal
2024-03-09 16:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Vijay’s Sherawali Temple, 20789 Garden Ave., Hayward, CA, 94541, United States
Namaste Yoga is a 22-minute film about a 10-year-old boy in Australia, who is ashamed of being Indian and Hindu. When he gets into a fight at school, his only way to avoid suspension is by doing mandatory lunchtime yoga classes. Cue his teacher, who recently completed a 200-hour yoga course…Among many poignant themes, Namaste Yoga is about the cultural appropriation of yoga, and the effect that has on the self-worth of young Hindu kids.
This film speaks to the many of us who have grown up in a land and culture as a misunderstood minority. If you or your children have experienced the challenge of holding onto your roots while trying to assimilate into majority culture, this film will speak to your heart.
Join us for this incredible film and for a Q&A session with its producer Ravi Chand. After Q&A, please join us for Shivratri Havan, Katha, Arti, and Pritibhoj.
Agenda:
4:00 – 5:30 PM – Screening and Q&A
5:30 – 8:00 PM – Shivratri Havan, Katha, Arti followed by Pritibhoj
This is a free event, however registration is required. Ravi Chand, the founder of Warrior Tribe Films, is a TV and film producer, director, and writer based in Australia. His work is anchored in Hindu Dharma as an Indigenous knowledge with themes of intersectionality, belonging and identity. The recipient of several coveted Screen Australia and state government talent initiatives, Ravi is a passionate advocate for better representation on and behind the screen to create better pathways for other film creatives. Contact Ramya Ramakrishnan at ramya@hinduamerican.org

Namaste New Orleans!
2024-03-23 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago)
After the incredible response we received last year, we’re excited to return to NOLA in 2024.
Last year, we introduced you to our overall education and advocacy work at HAF. This year, we want to talk to you about some of the most pressing issues for Hindu Americans from problematic caste laws and policies to temple vandalism. Additionally, we’ll share our popular educational resources like our short animated videos on Hinduism.
Join HAF’s leaders, Priya Pandit and Mihir Meghani as we talk about these current hot issues impacting the community, and what you can do to protect the NOLA Hindu community.
This is a free event, however registration is required. Priya Pandit
HAF National Team Member Mihir Meghani
HAF Co-Founder and Board Member Please reach out to one of our host committee members

Piyush Maisuria | 504-388-7105
Snehal Patel | 909-952-8330
Kishan Shah | 225-354-6802
Daulat Sthanki | 225-892-0399
Manish Sthanki | 225-892-4181
C.V. Subramaniam | 504-432-5762
Kiran Zaveri | 504-905-1125

HAF's Annual Houston Gala
2024-04-13 18:00 - 21:30 (America/Chicago) | Gujarati Samaj of Houston Event Center, 9550 W Bellfort Ave., Houston, TX, 77031, United States
HAF’s 2024 Houston Gala is about a story. A story of an Indian tech manager on the west coast who was wrongfully accused of caste-based discrimination by a junior colleague. A story of an innocent man whose name was dragged through the mud by the state of California, anti-Hindu caste activists, and media outlets. A story of a multi-year, nasty legal battle.
And this is one story you won’t want to miss…because as more and more tech companies set up their base in Texas, this is a story that can happen to you.
Join HAF’s Executive Director Suhag Shukla as she speaks with Sundar Iyer about his incredible story to clear his name. Suhag and Sundar will also discuss what the Houston community will need to do when corporate caste policies come to Texas. 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 Suhag Shukla, Esq.
HAF Executive Director and Co-Founder Sundar Iyer
Technology Entrepreneur

A Dharma Dialogue: Suhag and Sundar talk about caste
2024-04-14 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Hackberry Creek Country Club, 1901 W Royal Ln, Irving, TX, 75063, United States
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And this is one story you won’t want to miss…because as more and more tech companies set up their base in Texas, this is a story that can happen to you.
Join HAF’s Executive Director Suhag Shukla as she speaks with Sundar Iyer about his incredible story to clear his name. Suhag and Sundar will also discuss what the Dallas community will need to do when corporate caste policies come to Texas.
Tickets will be available to purchase soon. Suhag Shukla, Esq.
HAF Executive Director and Co-Founder Sundar Iyer
Technology Entrepreneur

Namaste Yoga Film Screening in Sacramento
2024-04-28 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Laxmi Narayan Mandir, 7495 Elder Creek Road, Sacramento, CA, 95824, United States
Namaste Yoga is a 22-minute film about a 10-year-old boy in Australia, who is ashamed of being Indian and Hindu. When he gets into a fight at school, his only way to avoid suspension is by doing mandatory lunchtime yoga classes. Cue his teacher, who recently completed a 200-hour yoga course…Among many poignant themes, Namaste Yoga is about the cultural appropriation of yoga, and the effect that has on the self-worth of young Hindu kids.
This film speaks to the many of us who have grown up in a land and culture as a misunderstood minority. If you or your children have experienced the challenge of holding onto your roots while trying to assimilate into majority culture, this film will speak to your heart.
Join us for this incredible film and for a Q&A session with its producer Ravi Chand. Pizza and drinks will be provided.
Agenda:
1:30 – 2:00 PM – Pizza and drinks
2:00 – 2:30 PM – Film screening
2:30 – 3:00 PM – Q&A
This is a free event, however registration is required. Ravi Chand, the founder of Warrior Tribe Films, is a TV and film producer, director, and writer based in Australia. His work is anchored in Hindu Dharma as an Indigenous knowledge with themes of intersectionality, belonging and identity. The recipient of several coveted Screen Australia and state government talent initiatives, Ravi is a passionate advocate for better representation on and behind the screen to create better pathways for other film creatives. Contact Sangeetha Shankar at sangeetha@hinduamerican.org
