KAGW Newsletter

Malayalam Movie Pavada.

Confirmed schedule starting Jan 29, 2016 at DC Cinemas 7291 Arlington Boulevard Falls Church VA 22042

1/29 Fri 8:00 PM
1/30 Sat 2:00 PM 5:00 PM
1/31 Sun 5:00 PM
2/1 Mon 8:00 PM
2/2 Tue 5:00 PM

Pavada, is a 2016 Malayalam film directed by G. Marthandan and written by Bipin Chandran, based on the story he co-wrote with Shibin Francis. It stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Anoop Menon, Asha Sarath, Miya George, Nedumudi Venu and Maniyan Pilla Raju. The film was produced by Maniyan Pilla Raju for Maniyan Pilla Raju Productions.

Click here for Youtube Trailer.

KAGW Rock n Roll – Thank you all

A big THANK YOU to our superb Entertainment team, wonderful choreographers, enthusiastic participants, volunteers and community members for supporting our X’mas /New Year celebrations. The event showcased multiple talents on stage in a very well-coordinated manner including an innovative Christmas theme – Christmas around the World. As always we delivered a very high quality entertainment program, much appreciated by all. The incoming KAGW Team 2016 was introduced, headed by President Mr. Raghu Nambiath. We look forward to a spectacular 2016 for KAGW under his leadership.

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KAGW DC SOUP KITCHEN

On 2nd January, KAGW organized a major volunteer effort for DC Soup Kitchen. KAGW along with HACSI association, donated a substantial amount to meet the DC kitchen food and produce expenses. Our volunteers also helped in preparing a healthy vegetarian meal. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful group of hardworking volunteers who went above and beyond expectations in co-ordination of the event as well as in collecting donations. Our sincere thanks to all our volunteers, especially event in-charge Binoy and the Social Services team for their spectacular job in making DC Soup Kitchen a remarkable success.

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Welcome to TALENTIME 2016!

Our much - anticipated, eagerly - awaited, 3 day literary and art festival celebrating YOUR talent is coming up in April 2016. This year we’re also announcing these four fabulous new events: Group Classical dance, Boy’s cinematic dance (single), DubSmash, Fancy Dress (Categories 1 and 2). Online Registration begins: Feb 6th 2016

Click here for details.

KAGW's First Ever Chess Tournament!

Announcing KAGW's first ever chess tournament! Will you be the one to call the final Checkmate?
Register and Play to find out!
Date - February 27th, 2016

Click here for details.

Inviting articles for our monthly newsletter

Unleash your creative spirit! We would like to showcase YOUR talent in our monthly Newsletter. Contribute literary /artistic work by the 15th of every month to be considered for publication. We invite quick reads (amusing anecdotes, short stories (200-250 words)), cartoons, high-quality photos on a monthly theme, sketches etc. Entries are invited from kids/adults. Youngsters are encouraged to share their India trip experiences.. Selected work will be included in this year's magazine.

Send email to editor@kagw.com.

OBITUARY

Dr George Joseph
It is with deep sadness, that we inform you of the passing of Dr George Joseph (Papachan), late President of KAGW during year 1988. Dr. George Joseph is survived by his wife Tessy, children Dr Roy Joseph, Paul, Karen, Anil and grandchildren.

The wake is at Saint Raphael Catholic Church (1513 Dunster Road, Rockville, MD 20854) from 6pm to 8pm on Friday, January 29, 2016, and the funeral is at 12 noon on Saturday, January 30, 2016, also at Saint Raphael Church. He will be buried at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20906 immediately after the funeral.
We convey our heartfelt sympathies to his family and pray to God to give them the strength to bear this great loss. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Mr P K A Nair
It is with deep sorrow, that we inform you the demise of Sri. P.K.A Nair(79Yrs) on January 16 at 8.00pm in Bangalore, India. Sri. P.K.A. Nair is the father of Smt. Rani Nair who is an active member in KAGW 2016 committee. Rani Nair had also served as the President of NSGW during the year 2013. Sri. P.K.A. Nair is survived by his wife Santa kumari (69), son Arun located in Dubai and two daughters Rani Nair from (Virginia) and Rajee located in(Bangalore) We convey our heartfelt sympathies to his family and pray to God to give them the strength to bear this great loss. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Smt Saradamma Sreedharan Nair
With deep grief, we announce the passing away of Smt.Saradamma Sreedharan Nair (84yrs) on January 13 at 8.30pm in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Smt Saradamma was the mother of Smt. Jayasree Vijayan Babu and mother-in-law of Sri.Vijay Parameswaran who is an active member of KAGW 2016 committee. Mr Vijay Parameswaran had also served as Vice President of NSGW during the years 2010-2012. Our condolences to the grieving family. Please keep the family in your prayers

India’s 67th Republic Day Celebration

The Indian American Community Organizations of the Greater Washington Metropolitan Region and the National Council of Asian Indian Associations (NCAIA Inc.) cordially invite you to celebrate India’s 67th Republic Day as a tribute to “Mahatma Gandhi” in the Spirit of “Love, Peace and Tolerance”. Admission is FREE. Date Jan 30, 2016 at 3:00 PM

Click here for details.

Chef Vinod vs. Iron Chef Bobby Flay

In TV’s reality shows, cook-offs /cooking competitions are in a class of their own. Imagine the excitement then in watching a local favorite compete in a cook-off against one of American TV's great Chefs. On January 14th 2016, local chef and restaurateur K.N.Vinod competed on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay. You know Chef Vinod or his art, if you have dined at his restaurants- Bombay Bistro at Rockville or Indique at Cleveland Park, both of which are on Zagat.com list of DC's Best Indian restaurants.

In the show’s first round, Chef Vinod competed against Chef Gavin Fine (co-owner- Fine Dining restaurant group, Jackson Hole, Wyoming) to make a dish using the special ingredient-peppers. It was Chef Fine’s Bell Pepper Croquettes versus Chef Vinod’s Indian-inspired quesadillas with a coconut pepper sauce. Despite judges being dubious of coconut in a quesadilla, Chef Vinod won the first round, for his creamy delicious dish!

As winner, Chef Vinod chose his signature dish- Fish curry- for the cook-off against Iron Chef Bobby Flay. He cooked sea bass with his own curry blend of South Indian spices , remarkably calm,despite the palpable tension in the studio. Chef Flay cooked halibut with his own off- the- shelf blend. In the nail-biting suspense of the blind taste test, Chef Vinod’s dish lost out because it lacked enough sauce. However, it can’t be denied he definitely taught everyone a thing or two about Indian cuisine .

Catch the action when the show airs again on Thursday, February 11th 10:30 EST and February 12th 1:30am EST.

Makara Vilakku Celebrations at Sri Shiva Vishnu Temple

Makara Vilakku is a famous festival at the Sabarimala Sri Dharma Sastha Lord Ayyappa temple,marking the culmination of the two month Sabarimala pilgrimage period. Held on Makara Sankranti-this year January 15th 2016 ( the first day of the Malayalam month, Makaram), Makara Vilakku celebrates the auspicious transition of the Sun from the constellation of Sagittarius to that of Capricorn (Makara).

For devotees in North America, Sri Shiva Vishnu temple at Maryland is the famous destination for Makara Vilakku celebrations. Despite the numbing cold, this year also grand celebrations pulled crowds of devotees. The 41 day Sabarimala ‘mandala kaalam’ fast and pilgrimage season had begun two months prior, on the first of Malayalam month-Vrischikam. Under the supervision of Head Priest and former Sabarimala temple Melsanthi, Sri Eeswaran Namboothiri, pujas had been held every Saturday and Sunday. On Makara Vilakku, these pujas were brought to a close. Devotees from all over US and Canada arrived to don the 'irumudi' (special abhishekam and puja materials) and climb the 18 steps reminiscent of the steps climbed at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.

The festivities included the Thiruabharanam procession following thaalapoli, shiveli (the idol in procession) and Petta Thullal. Thalapoli was organized by Smt. Lakshmikutty Panicker and the percussion ensemble, Chenda Melam performed by Hari Nambiar and group- Anil, Sreejith, Ranjith, Sanal Gopi, Siddharth Gopi, Surya, Ganesh Babu and Jay- added a characteristic gaiety to the occasion.

Winners of KCSMW Christmas Star

Hirschel and Marshal Nambiar won first prize in the Christmas Star competition organized by the Kerala Cultural Society of Metropolitan Washington. The Christmas Star competition was held for the first time at Park View High School, VA. The star was to be built from paper or cardboard. A lantern inside the star was not mandatory but carried bonus points. The winners made a 5 feet star that changes color. The Nativity scene was glorified at the center of the star. Non-stop Christmas music kept the star alive. Congratulations to Hirschel and Marshal Nambiar!

FOMAA Announcement

Miami beach is getting ready to host the 2016 FOMAA National Convention at the upscale Miami Oceanfront resort , Deauville Beach Resort - 7th through 10th July,2016. A 55 seater modern coach is arranged to carry attendees from DC area to the convention. Tentative schedule is:

Leaving DC on July 6th Wednesday night around 10 pm (two pick up points – Baltimore and Tyson’s area)
Return from Miami on July 10th Sunday night

More details can be finalized as reservation progress. The estimated cost is $ 250 per person round trip. The rate may vary slightly depending on participation.

Send email to fomaacapital2016@gmail.com Read more

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