Two hundred people attend Lotus magazine’s Yoga Day event on Long Island

More than 200 people attended a devotional Yoga Day celebration on June 14, 2026, organized by ALotusInTheMud.com, wellness and spirituality magazine.

The lamp-lighting ceremony included Renu Jain, Kamlesh Mehta, Ravi Bhooplapur, Prof. Indrajit Singh Saluja, Anil Jain, and Abhishek Mishra besides the panelists. ALL PHOTOS: Courtesy Parveen Chopra

The program at the Vedic Heritage Hanuman Temple in Hempstead, NY included meditation, movement, music, dance, dialogue, and community engagement. Padma Bhushan recipient Dr Dattatreyudu Nori was the Chief Guest. The Indian Consulate, New York, was represented by Mahesh Yadav, Consul, a press release from Lotus said.

The centerpiece of the program curated and moderated by Lotus Founder and Editor Parveen Chopra was a panel discussion with the theme, ‘Devotion as a Superhighway to Spiritual Evolution.’ He said that according to Indian philosophy, there are four paths to self-realization: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Gyan Yoga and Raja Yoga. The path of bhakti is the sweetest and accessible to all.

Parveen Chopra (right) moderated the panel discussion. Lama Aria Drolma, Yakub Mathew, Nayan Kisnadwala, and Sharon Epstein were the esteemed panelists.

The four panelists were: Ordained Buddhist nun Lama Aria Drolma, author and banker Yakub Mathew, finance executive and artist Nayan Kisnadwala, and yoga teacher Sharon Epstein. They agreed that devotion is both a gift that is received and a discipline that must be cultivated. And that personal effort walks hand in hand with divine grace.

Dr. Nori, a renowned oncologist, who has also founded three Shirdi Sai Baba temples in NY-NJ area, reflected on the deeper dimensions of yoga and meditation in his address.

Consul Mahesh Yadav and Parveen Chopra honored Dr Dattatreyudu Nori, the Chief Guest of the program.

“Being the witness keeps you away from all the problems,” he said, emphasizing the yogic practice of observing thoughts and emotions without identifying with them.

He also recommended cultivating equanimity, noting that “dualities of life are apparently contradictory, but inherently complementary.”

Consul Yadav described yoga as “one of India’s most profound gifts to humanity” and said devotion strengthens the yogic journey by nurturing “humility, compassion, surrender and a deep connection with the divine.” He commended A Lotus in the Mud for sharing such spiritual messages with a growing global readership.

A ceremonial lamp-lighting accompanied by of Vedic mantras by Ashok Vyas, began the evening. It was attended by panelists and presenters as well as community leaders including Ravi Bhooplapur, Anil and Renu Jain, Kamlesh Mehta, Prof. Indrajit Singh Saluja and Abhishek Mishra.

Lama Aria led a Loving-Kindness Meditation for world peace.

Anne Moffatt led a chair yoga session, and Ribbon Dance afterwards.

Cultural performances included devotional singing by Budh Prakash Jasuja and his daughter Nanki, and Radha-Krishna themed dance items by Preya Patel and students of her Vivarta Arts. Anne Moffatt (Aanya Prarthana) engaged participants with Chair Yoga and a Ribbon Dance session.

Prominent people in the audience included Dr Unni Mooppan, Animesh Goenka, Jasbir Jai Singh, Gobind Munjal, Indu Jaiswal, Nilima Madan, Rashmin Master, Sharanjit Singh Thind, Varinder Bhalla, Jyoti Gupta, Bina Sabapathy, Sushma Kotahwala, and Paresh Raval.

Chopra acknowledged monetary contributions by Mukund Padmanabhan, Abhishek Mishra, and India Association of Long Island. He thanked Vedic Heritage Inc for allowing him to hold the program in Pandit Jasraj auditorium, and the media for covering the event.

Above: Preya Patel enchanted with her solo dance performance.
Below: Budh Prakash Jasuja and daughter Nanki rendered bhajans.

A charity auction of artworks by Nayan Kisnadwala conducted by Renu Jain, concluded the evening, with the proceeds intended for Lotus magazine and Vedic Heritage Inc. Piya Jyoti Kachroo served as master of ceremonies. All those attending enjoyed a vegetarian meal outdoors after the program.