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, diversity sangeetha kowsik 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, diversity sangeetha kowsik

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.

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culture, desi american, cultures, cross cultures, compassion, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global cultures, global, hinduism, hindu temple, history, hindu, indian american, inclusion, inspiration, interfaith, language, languages, love, museum, my story, oneness, prayer, reflections, religion, religions, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil, tamil american, tamil nadu, temple, travel, world religions sangeetha kowsik culture, desi american, cultures, cross cultures, compassion, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global cultures, global, hinduism, hindu temple, history, hindu, indian american, inclusion, inspiration, interfaith, language, languages, love, museum, my story, oneness, prayer, reflections, religion, religions, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil, tamil american, tamil nadu, temple, travel, world religions sangeetha kowsik

Rahu - Friend or Foe? Solar Eclipses in Hinduism

Hinduism, the oldest living religion, embodies diversity and eternal truths, fostering unwavering faith and unity amidst life's challenges. Life is characterized by its cycles of good and bad experiences. Don’t blame the Navagraha or 9 planets in Vedic Astrology, have strength, show compassion, live fearlessly!

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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!

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activism, activist, appreciation, art, artwork, change, change in thinking, classical traditions, create the change, cross cultures, culture, cultures, design, diversity, distinctive, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, graphic design, hindu, hinduism, history, impact, inclusion, holiday, inspiration, interfaith, islam, language, languages, museum, my story, music, oneness, painting, religion, religions, prayer, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, travel, unique, unity, unityindiversity, travel diaries, reflections, world religions, islamic art, racism, Islamophobia, anti semitism, love, compassion, new york, nyc sangeetha kowsik activism, activist, appreciation, art, artwork, change, change in thinking, classical traditions, create the change, cross cultures, culture, cultures, design, diversity, distinctive, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, graphic design, hindu, hinduism, history, impact, inclusion, holiday, inspiration, interfaith, islam, language, languages, museum, my story, music, oneness, painting, religion, religions, prayer, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, travel, unique, unity, unityindiversity, travel diaries, reflections, world religions, islamic art, racism, Islamophobia, anti semitism, love, compassion, new york, nyc sangeetha kowsik

Interconnectedness, Hate, Love, & Ahimsa (Non Violence)

As a lifelong practicing Hindu who adheres to the principle of Ahimsa, which means “nonviolence” meaning not to harm any living creature with your words, thoughts, or physically.

it boggles my mind that the 3 great Abrahamic faiths of the world Christianity, Judaism, and Islam lived in relative peace and unity, and gave the world beautiful art, architecture, and an interconnected culture before someone drank CUCKOO juice, and decided to fill their minds/hearts/brains/souls with hatred and expelled Jews and Muslims, which led to the bloody Spanish inquisition of 1492!

These are my reflections of the interconnectedness, unity, inspiration, and beauty, I saw through religion, faith, culture, and art.

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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!

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appreciation, change, change in thinking, childhood, classical traditions, create the change, cross cultures, cultures, desi american, diversity, educate, education, friendship, global cultures, global, hindu, hinduism, history, impact, inclusion, indian american, inspiration, interfaith, islam, languages, museum, religion, religions, spiritual activism, spirituality, south asia, tamil, tamil american, travel, tamil nadu, unity, unityindiversity, faith sangeetha kowsik appreciation, change, change in thinking, childhood, classical traditions, create the change, cross cultures, cultures, desi american, diversity, educate, education, friendship, global cultures, global, hindu, hinduism, history, impact, inclusion, indian american, inspiration, interfaith, islam, languages, museum, religion, religions, spiritual activism, spirituality, south asia, tamil, tamil american, travel, tamil nadu, unity, unityindiversity, faith sangeetha kowsik

"Abrahamizing" Hinduism (NOT about Conversion)

As the Hindu Chaplain of NYU/Columbia Universities, I find myself explaining my faith in "Abrahamic terms"

Why so many Gods? What's with the half-naked priests? Why don't you have 1 book, the same ways of thinking or the same holidays?

I can’t dip you in water, smack you upside the head with a Veda or Gita and make you a Hindu! (and other thoughts…)

It’s very hard to generalize/compartmentalize/define Hinduism because practices vary dramatically by culture, family, demographics, communities, practices, etc.

It’s what I’ve always found fascinating and interesting about Hinduism, there’s always something new and unique to discover.

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art, museum, change, activism, activist, appreciation, change in thinking, create the change, cross cultures, cultures, desi american, design, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global cultures, global, graphic design, history, hometown, hindu, hinduism, indian american, inclusion, impact, language, languages, oneness, music, south asia, spirituality, travel, typography, unityindiversity, unity sangeetha kowsik art, museum, change, activism, activist, appreciation, change in thinking, create the change, cross cultures, cultures, desi american, design, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global cultures, global, graphic design, history, hometown, hindu, hinduism, indian american, inclusion, impact, language, languages, oneness, music, south asia, spirituality, travel, typography, unityindiversity, unity sangeetha kowsik

Brooklyn Museum Popup - My Customers are so DIVERSE! Grateful!

The world says “to define my customer base” Well I find that really difficult for me! My customers that day included Japanese Grandmas, Latino Boys, Young African American Gay Men, Hipsters, Hindu folks, Muslim folks, Arab families, Turkish families, and many more! My work appeals to a wide range of races, nationalities, ages, demographics, etc. I believe that art and design are the way to bring together diverse communities.

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