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Shivratri editors’ meet spotlights interfaith dialogue in NJ
The Edison luncheon brought media and community leaders together.
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Staff Reporter - Wed, 25, Feb 2026
- 15:30 EST
- 19
45 people, including media and community leaders and spiritual explorers, joined the Shivratri-beyond-rituals event / Courtesy: Kripa Ranjan Prasad
Media professionals, spiritual explorers, and community leaders came together for a dialogue on spirituality and interfaith harmony in Edison, New Jersey.
The editors' luncheon, presented by the spirituality web magazine 'A Lotus In The Mud,' was held at the Akbar banquet hall on the Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri.
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The program, hosted by community member Abhishek Mishra, was curated and moderated by Parveen Chopra, founding editor of ALotusInTheMud.com. Discussions centered on faith, unity, and shared purpose.
Chopra said 'A Lotus in the Mud' was pleased to associate with Abhishek Mishra’s initiatives to promote belief in God, noting that all religions advocate good deeds. Mishra shared details of his personal spiritual journey, including what he described as a miraculous manifestation of Lord Shiva’s images in his home. He said dharma, defined as the righteous way of living, differs from organized religion.
Ashok Vyas, producer, ITV Gold, and founder, Heramba Studio, recited a devotional Shiv Stotra during the program. Upendra Chivukula, the first Indian elected to the New Jersey Legislature and a member of the NJ Board of Public Utilities, spoke about civic engagement and community responsibility.
Veteran community leader Peter (Pradip) Kothari, founding president of the Indian Business Association (IBA) that organizes the annual India Day Parade on Oak Tree Road, urged unity within the Indian community and reflected on progress since the Dotbusters incidents of the late 1970s.
Harish Goyal, CEO of Zee TV Americas and Yo1 health resort in Upstate New York, said the presence of God often becomes clearer during moments of despair and shared his experience learning meditation while running Yo1. Adam Rizvi, editor of The India Observer, cited historical examples of interfaith harmony in India.
Shrenik Shah, author of 'Practical Spiritual Life,' discussed integrating meditation, compassionate living, and a whole-food plant-based lifestyle to promote healing and inner growth. Sarada Chiruvolu, author of 'Home at Last,' spoke about her spiritual journey.
Soma Rao, head of the New Jersey chapter of One World, One Family, introduced the organization founded by Sri Madhusudan Sai, a direct disciple of renowned Indian spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba, and described its humanitarian initiatives worldwide.
Media personalities Pritpal Kaur and Pia Kachroo / Courtesy: Kripa Ranjan PrasadAn interactive segment allowed members of the media and community to share perspectives. Jyoti “Pia” Kachroo, anchor of ITV Gold; Pritpal Kaur of Preetnama media; and Shashi Airi addressed the audience. Ginsmon Zacharia of JaiHind Vartha, Sunil Tristar and Urmila Thirumani of India Life and e-malayalee, and Vishnu Raja of NRI Tamil were recognized.
Edison Councilman Ajay Patil, IBA secretary Sharad Agarwal, and networker Khazan Gowda also attended the event. Namita Mishra delivered a vote of thanks and shared her husband’s advice, “If what you want happens, that is good. If it does not, that is even better.”
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