Dallas, June 27, 2013: The Hindu American Foundation, an advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year. The foundation’s broad objectives are to educate the public about Hinduism and to promote pluralism and mutual respect.

The Hindu population continues to grow in Texas and throughout the United States. According to the foundation, the Hindu American population now numbers about 2 million. But that doesn’t include the estimated 32 million who practice Hindu teachings such as yoga and meditation.

California is supporting legislation that will designate October 2013 as Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month.

Here in Texas, the foundation will hold a Dallas Awareness and Membership Drive dinner at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the DFW Hindu Temple, 1605 N. Britain Road in Irving. Speakers include Rishi Bhutada, SriVani Ganti and Jay Kansara. The event is free and open to the public. Contact Jiger Patel at 214-267-9284 or jigerster@gmail.com.

Pluralism event

Urdu-Hindi is the most commonly understood language among the Desis, or South Asians, according to Mike Ghouse, president of the America Together Foundation. To promote understanding of the language and also to come up with an Urdu-Hindi word for pluralism, Ghouse is holding a program on “Pluralism: Urdi-Hindi Poetry” from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Richardson Civic Center, 411 W. Arapaho Road.

FunAsia will broadcast the event live and filmmakers will tape the event for a documentary. Ghouse also plans to publish a booklet with poetry on pluralism from the event. To learn more, call 214-325-1916 or visit urduhindimushaeraonpluralism.blogpot.com.

Film festival

The Bangladeshi Expatriate Society of Texas recently held a film festival at FunAsia in Richardson that showcased five films about its culture. Society president Maya Nehal said it was the first time the organization presented a look at Bangla cinema in the area. She added that by sharing “these award-winning movies from Bangladesh, our goals were to promote the Bangla language, elevate the perception of Bangla cinema and connect our community members.”

The society was formed in 2010 to support the Bangladeshi community in North Texas. Visit bestdfw.org.

Thursday

The World Affairs Council presents “Global Beats and Eats” with Grammy winner Shane Shanahan at 6 p.m. at the Crow Collection, 2010 Flora St. in Dallas. $10-$25. dfwworld.org.

The Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber will hold a membership mixer from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency, 701 E. Campbell Road in Richardson. 972-241-8250.

Friday

The Fort Worth Japanese Society will hold a summer day camp for children from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Yamagata Center, 3608 Park Lake Drive. $20 and $25. fwjs.org.

Mumbai-based DJ Suketu will perform at 9:30 p.m. at Bawarchi Signature, 4460 Belt Line Road in Addison. $20 and up. 972-233-0111.

Saturday

The Sri Lankan Community of North Texas will hold a 99{+t}{+h} Birth Anniversary Celebration for the late Ediriweera Sarachchandra, the father of modern literature in Sri Lanka, at 7 p.m. at UTA’s Maverick Center, 500 W. Nedderman Drive in Arlington. The free event kicks off a year-long worldwide celebration by UNESCO. 972-841-5367.

A Baul Bangla Festival will be at 7 p.m. at Fairview Corral Barn, 3312 N. Central Expressway in Plano. $5 and $10. 972-422-2500.

Ongoing

An exhibit by Brookhaven College art professor Chong Chu continues through Aug. 3 at the Studio Gallery on campus, 3939 Valley View Lane in Farmers Branch. Free. brookhavencollege.edu.

Source: dallasnews.com, DT. June 27, 2013.