Dakshini

Dakshini Bengali Association of California, a nonprofit, nonpolitical, charitable, educational, and cultural organization was formed in August 1985 in Torrance, California, and is incorporated as a nonprofit tax-exempt organization since July 1986. It conducts, coordinates, and promotes the community, cultural and social activities among the people of Indian origin in the USA and the people of other cultures on behalf of the Bengali community.

In 2003, Dakshini organized the North American Bengali Conference (NABC 2003). Several artists from India was our guest of Honor in the program.

Dakshini holds a number of major programs each year, which include:

1) Saraswati Puja - one full day celebration with lots of children’s programs and various cultural programs.
2) Bengali New Year celebration, 
3) Shravan Sandhya - Dakshini begins summer with a tribute to the art and culture by organizing a cultural evening with seasoned artists from Calcutta, namely Geetashri Sandhya Mukherjee, Soumitra Chatterjee, Mamata Shankar, Swagata Lakshmi Dasgupta, Sabitri Chatterjee, Late Anup Kumar, etc., 
4) Annual Picnic, Indian Independence Day celebration under FIA (Federation of Indo American Association) - fund-raising activity through Dakshini Food Booth in the fair organized by FIA.
5) Durga Puja - three days of celebration with puja, prasad, lunch, dinner, and a variety of cultural programs and live performances from eminent artists from India.
6) Lakshmi Puja celebration with puja, prasad, dinner, and cultural programs.
7) Holiday Party celebration for children, youth, and family in December

Dakshini conducts a Bengali school to teach the Bengali language to children and as well as to provide students with the integrity of the Eastern Indian culture and philosophy through study, observation, and participation.
With over 1000 families involved today, Dakshini has grown considerably in these 27 years and continues to serve the people in America as well as the people of their home state in India with its honest, dedicated intentions and spirit into the next millennium.

The Dakshini platform is the fastest and the most exciting way to soak in the cultural flares from the Indian subcontinent, and stay connected to friends and family sharing common interests in culture, dialect, education, and volunteer opportunities.