art history, museum, hinduism, religion, spirituality, faith, design, art, lineage, scripture, scholarship, education, india, south asia, hindu chaplain, hindu american, hindu temple, worship, arts, travel sangeetha kowsik art history, museum, hinduism, religion, spirituality, faith, design, art, lineage, scripture, scholarship, education, india, south asia, hindu chaplain, hindu american, hindu temple, worship, arts, travel sangeetha kowsik

Hinduism, AI, & that “Handsome” Shilpi (Artisan)

Sacred art in Hinduism is not content, it is lineage, discipline, and devotion. From temple sculptors who fast before carving a murti (not idol) to Arabic calligraphers who write as prayer, sacred art is an embodied act of reverence rooted in scripture and ritual. When AI reshapes deities to conform to Western beauty standards, it distorts theology and self-perception because algorithms may replicate form, but they cannot replicate lineage, love, or spiritual intention.

Read More
activism, activist, advocacy, appreciation, california, change, change in thinking, childhood, classical traditions, compassion, create the change, cross cultures, culture, cultures, desi american, distinctive, diversity and inclusion, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global cultures, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, hometown, inclusion, indian american, interfaith, islam, love, my story, oneness, religion, religions, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil, tamil american, temple, travel, tamil nadu, unique, unity, world religions, unityindiversity, female empowerment, patriarchy, be the change, empowerment, empower sangeetha kowsik activism, activist, advocacy, appreciation, california, change, change in thinking, childhood, classical traditions, compassion, create the change, cross cultures, culture, cultures, desi american, distinctive, diversity and inclusion, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global cultures, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, hometown, inclusion, indian american, interfaith, islam, love, my story, oneness, religion, religions, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil, tamil american, temple, travel, tamil nadu, unique, unity, world religions, unityindiversity, female empowerment, patriarchy, be the change, empowerment, empower sangeetha kowsik

Where Did Your Lady Balls Go?– South Asian Cultural Conditioning vs. Hindu Faith

Every day, I witness South Asian women weighed down by cultural expectations—pressured to conform, stay small, and stay silent.

Yet the Hindu faith we come from tells a different story.
Hinduism reveres amazing, fascinating, divine women.

Our goddesses are warriors, creators, leaders.

As a Hindu woman born and raised in the U.S., I have to ask:

Where did our courage go?

Where did our divine feminine strength—our lady balls—disappear to?

Read More
activism, appreciation, art, artwork, change in thinking, change, classical traditions, compassion, create the change, cross cultures, culture, cultures, desi american, design, diversity and inclusion, diversity, distinctive, educate, education, exhibition, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, impact, inclusion, indian american, inspiration, islam, language, languages, love, my story, oneness, prayer, religion, religions, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, temple, tamil american, tamil, travel, travel diaries, unique, world religions, unityindiversity, unity, sexuality, sensuality, museum of sex, museum, advocacy sangeetha kowsik activism, appreciation, art, artwork, change in thinking, change, classical traditions, compassion, create the change, cross cultures, culture, cultures, desi american, design, diversity and inclusion, diversity, distinctive, educate, education, exhibition, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, impact, inclusion, indian american, inspiration, islam, language, languages, love, my story, oneness, prayer, religion, religions, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, temple, tamil american, tamil, travel, travel diaries, unique, world religions, unityindiversity, unity, sexuality, sensuality, museum of sex, museum, advocacy sangeetha kowsik

LOVE IS LOVE or IS IT? Why We Fear the God of Love & Hindu Muslim Marriages

"Love—true, soul-deep love—is not just a human emotion, but a divine force."

"The Western phrase 'the birds and the bees,' used to describe love and sexuality, traces its origins back to Hinduism."

"Our ancestors—Hindu and Muslim alike—knew what we’ve forgotten: that longing and love are not sins. They are sacred paths to the Divine."

Sex, sensuality, desire, have all been erased or labeled as forbidden in modern times.

Why are Hindu-Muslim romances still taboo in the U.S., when our histories—and hearts—are so deeply intertwined?

Why is it acceptable for South Asians in America to marry white partners with no shared cultural roots—but controversial when two brown people from different faiths (Hinduism & Islam) fall in love?

"To love fully is to abandon control. To love is to surrender your heart to the Divine—who is love."

Read More
world religions, unityindiversity, unity, unique, temple, tamil nadu, tamil american, tamil, spirituality, spiritual activism, south asia, religions, religion, reflections, racism, prayer, new york, nyc, my story, oneness, love, interfaith, inspiration, inclusion, impact, hinduism, hindu temple, hindu, global cultures, global, friendship, faith, education, educate, diversity, cultures, cross cultures, create the change, compassion, classical traditions, change in thinking, change, appreciation, activism sangeetha kowsik world religions, unityindiversity, unity, unique, temple, tamil nadu, tamil american, tamil, spirituality, spiritual activism, south asia, religions, religion, reflections, racism, prayer, new york, nyc, my story, oneness, love, interfaith, inspiration, inclusion, impact, hinduism, hindu temple, hindu, global cultures, global, friendship, faith, education, educate, diversity, cultures, cross cultures, create the change, compassion, classical traditions, change in thinking, change, appreciation, activism sangeetha kowsik

Anti Racism from a Hindu Perspective - As demonstrated by a "Golu"

In Hinduism, racism finds no place, as the rich descriptions of deities' diverse skin tones and facial features illustrate emphasizes “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (Sanskrit language)” 

“The world is one family!”.

From the fair-skinned Goddess Saraswati to dark-complexioned Lord  Krishna, Lord Shiva's dreaded locks, Goddess Meenakshi’s “fish eyes”, Lord Muruga’s curly black hair, Goddess Lakshmi’s golden complexion etc. We even have major deities like Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesha, who do not possess human-like features, emphasizing our reverence and affection for all creation, recognizing that everything is an extension of the divine. Hinduism embraces the beauty of diversity. 

Read More
activism, activist, art, appreciation, create the change, compassion, change in thinking, classical traditions, education, educate, desi american, cultures, faith, global, global cultures, history, hinduism, hindu temple, hindu, indian american, impact, interfaith, inspiration, love, language, languages, museum, reflections, south asia, religions, religion, prayer, temple, tamil nadu, travel, unity, unityindiversity, unique, world religions, spirituality, spiritual activism sangeetha kowsik activism, activist, art, appreciation, create the change, compassion, change in thinking, classical traditions, education, educate, desi american, cultures, faith, global, global cultures, history, hinduism, hindu temple, hindu, indian american, impact, interfaith, inspiration, love, language, languages, museum, reflections, south asia, religions, religion, prayer, temple, tamil nadu, travel, unity, unityindiversity, unique, world religions, spirituality, spiritual activism sangeetha kowsik

Sex, Love, Intimacy, & that Book Kama Sutra (Yes it's a religious HINDU scripture)

Ancient Hindu society before the influences of western Faiths, Puritanism, and Colonizations was very free-thinking and progressive. The western world has managed to dumb down ancient texts such as the Kama Sutra to just a “sex position manual”, brand Eastern religions/faiths as vulgar/obscene, and this needs to stop. I had the honor of presenting at the Museum of Sex in NYC about Hinduism, Love, and the Kama Sutra.

Read More
activism, activist, appreciation, art, artwork, change, change in thinking, childhood, classical traditions, compassion, create the change, cross cultures, culture, cultures, desi american, design, distinctive, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global cultures, global, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, holiday, hometown, impact, inclusion, indian american, inspiration, interfaith, love, new york, music, my story, nyc, oneness, prayer, reflections, religion, religions, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil nadu, tamil american, temple, tamil, unique, unity, world religions, unityindiversity sangeetha kowsik activism, activist, appreciation, art, artwork, change, change in thinking, childhood, classical traditions, compassion, create the change, cross cultures, culture, cultures, desi american, design, distinctive, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global cultures, global, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, holiday, hometown, impact, inclusion, indian american, inspiration, interfaith, love, new york, music, my story, nyc, oneness, prayer, reflections, religion, religions, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil nadu, tamil american, temple, tamil, unique, unity, world religions, unityindiversity sangeetha kowsik

SELF HATING (Indian Americans). Loving HINDU TEMPLES. AUNTIES & UNCLE GUTS.

If Hinduism is such a DOPE OPENMINDED INCLUSIVE faith……then…

WHY DO SO MANY INDIAN AMERICANS GROW UP WITH SELF-HATRED, MAKING FUN OF HINDU RITUALS / PRACTICES, DEITIES, INDIAN ACCENTS, FOOD, DRESS ETC. & CONFUSE BEING “INDIAN” (WHICH IS A NATIONALITY/RACE) WITH BEING A HINDU (A FAITH THAT ANY PERSON OF ANY NATIONALITY/RACE CAN PRACTICE) ???

Read More
appreciation, art, california, classical traditions, compassion, cross cultures, culture, cultures, desi american, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, impact, hometown, holiday, inspiration, indian american, interfaith, islam, language, languages, love, music, my story, nyc, oneness, prayer, reflections, religion, religions, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil, tamil american, tamil nadu, temple, unityindiversity, unity sangeetha kowsik appreciation, art, california, classical traditions, compassion, cross cultures, culture, cultures, desi american, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, impact, hometown, holiday, inspiration, indian american, interfaith, islam, language, languages, love, music, my story, nyc, oneness, prayer, reflections, religion, religions, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil, tamil american, tamil nadu, temple, unityindiversity, unity sangeetha kowsik

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!

Read More
appreciation, art, california, change in thinking, change, classical traditions, compassion, cross cultures, culture, cultures, education, educate, diversity, design, desi american, friendship, faith, global, global cultures, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, hometown, impact, inspiration, interfaith, inclusion, indian american, islam, love, museum, my story, oneness, nyc, new york, reflections, religion, religions, spirituality, spiritual activism, south asia, tamil, travel, unique, unity, unityindiversity sangeetha kowsik appreciation, art, california, change in thinking, change, classical traditions, compassion, cross cultures, culture, cultures, education, educate, diversity, design, desi american, friendship, faith, global, global cultures, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, hometown, impact, inspiration, interfaith, inclusion, indian american, islam, love, museum, my story, oneness, nyc, new york, reflections, religion, religions, spirituality, spiritual activism, south asia, tamil, travel, unique, unity, unityindiversity sangeetha kowsik

A Muslim Musician wrote a MANTRAM!

A mantram can be repetitive (but doesn’t have to be) and is used for meditation, prayer, and maybe even to set your intentions/goals. For me, Alam Khan’s album Mantram is a true spiritual/religious experience. I LOVE every single track and I am in tears by the end of it, but happy tears because I’ve seen my beloved Lord. It reminds us that no matter how much crap and emotional turmoil we’ve all gone through in life, HOPE & LOVE is what wins at the end.

Read More
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.

Read More
appreciation, california, art, activism, activist, change, change in thinking, create the change, classical traditions, cross cultures, cultures, desi american, diversity, design, educate, education, hindu, hinduism, global, global cultures, history, hometown, inclusion, indian american, interfaith, islam, oneness, religions, religion, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil american, tamil, tamil nadu, unity, unityindiversity, my story, languages, language sangeetha kowsik appreciation, california, art, activism, activist, change, change in thinking, create the change, classical traditions, cross cultures, cultures, desi american, diversity, design, educate, education, hindu, hinduism, global, global cultures, history, hometown, inclusion, indian american, interfaith, islam, oneness, religions, religion, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil american, tamil, tamil nadu, unity, unityindiversity, my story, languages, language sangeetha kowsik

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!

Read More
appreciation, california, art, artwork, change, change in thinking, childhood, classical traditions, create the change, cross cultures, cultures, desi american, design, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, hindu, hinduism, history, inclusion, hometown, holiday, inspiration, interfaith, islam, language, oneness, religion, religions, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil, tamil american, tamil nadu, unity, unityindiversity sangeetha kowsik appreciation, california, art, artwork, change, change in thinking, childhood, classical traditions, create the change, cross cultures, cultures, desi american, design, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, hindu, hinduism, history, inclusion, hometown, holiday, inspiration, interfaith, islam, language, oneness, religion, religions, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil, tamil american, tamil nadu, unity, unityindiversity sangeetha kowsik

Hindu/Religious VS. Spiritual/Dharmic/Vedic - Gym, Puja, Design

Since when did the word “RELIGION” or “RELIGIOUS” start to freak people out? It boggles my mind.

If a Muslim says they are religious they are immediately branded as a “Terrorist”, If a Christian says they are religious they are immediately branded as a “Bible-thumping, right-wing, Trump lover”
If a Hindu says they are religious they are immediately branded as a “Cow piss drinking, right-wing, Modi lover”

Becoming Chaplain was the first time I ever spoke up about “Being Hindu”. It was never an identifying mark for me, not something I went around proclaiming, I’ve always lived my faith, I just WAS, Gym, Puja, Design, every single day!

Read More
design, diversity, cross cultures, classical traditions, global, friendship, faith, global cultures, hinduism, history, holiday, hometown, inspiration, islam, music, oneness, religion, travel, unity sangeetha kowsik design, diversity, cross cultures, classical traditions, global, friendship, faith, global cultures, hinduism, history, holiday, hometown, inspiration, islam, music, oneness, religion, travel, unity sangeetha kowsik

Arabic Ganesha Chaturthi

EVERYBODY LOVES GANESHA! I have many Muslim/non Hindu friends who love Ganesha. Musicians who travel with a small statue, Arabs girls who find him adorable, Yoga practitioners etc. His image is found across the world (Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, archeological evidence even shows ancient South America!) 🌏

His image is on Indonesian currency (a predominately Muslim nation) ☪️

Read More
cross cultures, design, diversity, classical traditions, childhood, california, religion, oneness, islam, unity, hinduism, global cultures, global, faith, friendship sangeetha kowsik cross cultures, design, diversity, classical traditions, childhood, california, religion, oneness, islam, unity, hinduism, global cultures, global, faith, friendship sangeetha kowsik

Krishna Janmashtami and The Prophet's (PBUH) sandal

Islam and Hinduism teach the unity of God / service to mankind — a message both Prophet (PBUH) and Lord Krishna taught.

Read More
diversity, classical traditions, cross cultures, faith, global, global cultures, hinduism, history, holiday, inspiration, islam, music, oneness, religion, travel, unity, childhood sangeetha kowsik diversity, classical traditions, cross cultures, faith, global, global cultures, hinduism, history, holiday, inspiration, islam, music, oneness, religion, travel, unity, childhood sangeetha kowsik

Maha Shivaratri : Lord Shiva & Arabic

God Sees all, even if you can't see him, he sees you!

Read More
design, diversity, cross cultures, friendship, faith, global, global cultures, inspiration, holiday, history, islam, oneness, religion, travel, music, unity sangeetha kowsik design, diversity, cross cultures, friendship, faith, global, global cultures, inspiration, holiday, history, islam, oneness, religion, travel, music, unity sangeetha kowsik

Ramadan Mubarak! : in 5 Languages

Here is my Ramadan Artwork/Design! Written in 5 Different languages : Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit (language of my faith Hinduism), Tamil (language I speak with my family) & Tamazight (language of the Amazigh people of North Africa)

Read More
design, cross cultures, diversity, childhood, faith, global, global cultures, hinduism, islam, inspiration, religion, travel, unity, oneness, history, holiday sangeetha kowsik design, cross cultures, diversity, childhood, faith, global, global cultures, hinduism, islam, inspiration, religion, travel, unity, oneness, history, holiday sangeetha kowsik

Ram Navami (Hindu Holiday) : in Arabic Language

Rama in Sanskrit means "one who gives joy to others/divinely blissful / the noble one"
Karim in Arabic means "generous/noble, one of the 99 names of Allah"

Read More
inspiration, friendship, diversity, faith, design, unity, hinduism, classical traditions, music, religion, islam, california, hometown sangeetha kowsik inspiration, friendship, diversity, faith, design, unity, hinduism, classical traditions, music, religion, islam, california, hometown sangeetha kowsik

Ali Akbar Khan + Goddess Saraswati + Shiva Vishnu Temple = Bay Area, California

All Indian Classical Music and Dance traditions are rooted in worship and are ways to connect to the divine. The father of Hindustani music was a Muslim, the 13th C Sufi poet/musician/scholar Amir Khusrow. The father of Carnatic music was a Hindu, the 16th C saint/poet Purandara Dasa.

Read More