The Indian American Forum’s annual community celebration brought together residents from across Long Island for an evening of cultural performances, community recognition, sports honors, and devotional music, highlighting the contributions and heritage of the Indian American community.
The Indian American Forum (IAF) brought together community leaders, elected officials, cultural performers, and families on June 13, 2026, for its annual cultural celebration at Eisenhower Park’s Lakeside Theatre area, highlighting Indian heritage, community service, civic engagement, and cultural unity.
The event, organized by IAF leadership including Chairperson Indu Jaiswal, President Vimal Goyal, and founder Dr. Bobby Kumar Kalotee, attracted strong participation from residents across Long Island despite the summer heat earlier in the day. The program featured community awards, cultural performances, sports recognition, devotional music, and opportunities for local leaders and organizations to connect with the broader Indian American community.
The event was attended by Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jen DeSena, park officials, members of the Asian American Advisory Board, and other community leaders.
The program opened with the U.S. National Anthem performed by Hanika Reddy Parvathala, followed by the Indian National Anthem sung by Bina Sabapathy, Indu Jaiswal, Dr. Bhavani Srinivasan, and Vimal Goyal.
Welcoming the audience, Jaiswal spoke about the importance of preserving cultural traditions while strengthening community ties. Dr. Kalotee introduced dignitaries and thanked local officials and supporters whose contributions helped make the event possible. Goyal echoed those sentiments and emphasized the value of community participation.
One of the evening’s highlights was the recognition of eleven community members honored for their professional achievements, volunteer service, and contributions to civic and cultural life. The honorees represented a diverse range of fields, including healthcare, education, business, technology, law, philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership.
The following individuals were recognized for their leadership, professional accomplishments, and commitment to community service:
- Karthikeyan Balakrishnan — Senior Program Manager at Tata Consultancy Services and a longtime volunteer and leader with the New York Tamil Academy.
- Nishant “Nick” Garg — Entrepreneur, business leader, mentor, and advocate for workforce development, electronics recycling, and community empowerment initiatives.
- Archna Gautam — Banking executive, former Rotary Club president, and active community leader dedicated to charitable fundraising and public service.
- Dincil George — Team Leader at the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities and president of several community organizations.
- Dr. Anuj Goenka — Vice Chair of the Department of Radiation Medicine and Director of Radiation Oncology for Neuro-Oncology at Northwell Health.
- Sri Srinivas “Shankar” Jayashankar — Immigration attorney, community leader, and cultural ambassador known for preserving and promoting Indian traditions through educational and cultural initiatives.
- Manmeet Kaur — Entrepreneur, business leader, and community advocate representing Villager’s Farmer Market.
- Kishore Malik — Veteran travel industry professional and active supporter of numerous community and cultural organizations.
- Yogini Oza — Founder of the Indo-American Lions Club of Long Island and a dedicated volunteer committed to serving underserved communities.
- Raj Tyagi — Technology professional, community leader, and active member of several Indian American organizations.
- Anand Prakash Velayudhan — Engineering manager and longtime volunteer with the New York Tamil Academy, where he has served in multiple leadership and educational roles.
The event also celebrated local sporting success as HCC Lions, winners of the 2026 Spring Cup organized by the New York Tennis Cricket Ball League (NYTCBL), were recognized on stage. Team members received citations and plaques from community leaders and elected officials.
The cultural segment featured performances representing the diverse traditions of India. Under the coordination of Bina Sabapathy, the program showcased classical Bharatanatyam, Punjabi Bhangra, Bollywood, and regional dance forms from across the country.
A standout performance came from Guru Sadhna Paranji and students from Sadhnalaya, whose presentation received enthusiastic applause from the audience. Singers Gautam Chopra and Jyoti Gupta, along with several student performers, helped maintain the festive atmosphere throughout the evening.
Attendees also enjoyed complimentary snacks and pani puri, which proved especially popular among guests. The venue was decorated by IAF volunteers, creating a colorful setting for the celebration.
The evening concluded with a community bhajan session featuring performances by Jyoti Gupta, Dr. Jag Kalra, Dr. Bhavani Srinivasan, Bina Sabapathy, Indu Jaiswal, Vandana Kumar, Dr. Neeru Bhambri, Harvinder Bhatia, Asha Dua, and Gautam Chopra.
Closing the event, Jaiswal thanked attendees, volunteers, sponsors, members of the media, and photographer Ruchita Kaul for their support and expressed hope for an even larger gathering next year.
