A student lights a lamp at a condolence meeting for Minal Panchal at the Rizvi Educational Complex in Mumbai, India, Thursday, April 19, 2007. Panchal, 26, a first-year masters' student in the Faculty of Architecture was among the 33 killed in this week's shooting rampage at Virginia Tech. According to news reports, she was a very lovable person who often visited her relatives in Mimbai and Gujarat, including her grand parents who are extremely distraught over this loss. We offer our heartfelt condolences. Why is it that everytime there is a global tragedy, the almighty always chooses an Indian or Indians to be a part of it? If you recall, over 250 innocents of Indian origin perished in the September 11 attacks.

Aishwarya's Abode

Bollywood star and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai's apartments 'La Mer' is seen lit with decorative lights ahead of her wedding to Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, April 18, 2007.

DoorDasha (the sad state of things)

Doordarshan, a television network in India, has launched two channels: DD India and DD news in the UK . So, finally, they are living up to what we called them growing up: Door Ka Darshan!

Sunil Shetty, no relation to Shilpa Shetty!

Three signs, a Bollywood star's career is sagging:

1. He is dropped as a co-star by Akshay Kumar

2. He starts pawning clothing lines

3. The only images you see of him are attending weddings (like this one of the sangeet reception for Ash-Abhi)

Sanjaya, we hardly knew ya!

Are we desis happy to see Sanjaya booted off the Idol Island? At least I am. For starters, Sanjaya brought the wrong kind of attention for Desis in the US. The last thing we want to be known for is singing! Our prowesses lie in other talents and pursuits and one less MJ-lookalike won't dim our prospects at the gold in any singing marathon. Also, what's up with adding an "A" to his name? Not sure if any media outlet explored this, but I would say there's something wrong with a Desi Man if his name ends with an "A" wouldn't you say? At least I can't recall growing up with any guys named Ajaya or Vinaya or Rajiva, have you? Yeah, the current trend is to add an alphabet so it rrings true (no pun(dit) intended), but this alphabet soup I can't comprehend. Any thoughts anyone?

Hottest Desi Wedding on the Planet!

Aishwarya Rai will wear a traditional hand-embroidered sari with intricate goldwork on her wedding day, the actress' favorite designer said Tuesday.
Rai, a former Miss World, will marry actor Abhishek Bachchan on Friday. Bachchan, 31, comes from a famous Bollywood family _ his father, Amitabh, and mother, Jaya, are among India's best known actors.

A red-and-blue air-conditioned tent with huge mirrors was being readied in a garden adjoining the Bachchan's suburban family home for what is billed as India's "wedding of the year."
Bachchan and Rai, 33, became engaged in a private ceremony in January. Family friends have asked the media to respect the families' wish for privacy.
Designer Neeta Lulla said she created the sari and a red-and-gold embroidered flowing skirt and cropped blouse for Rai to wear at a mehendi ceremony Wednesday. In Indian weddings, mehendi, or henna, is applied in elaborate tattoos on the bride's hands and legs.
Lulla told Mumbai-based DNA newspaper that while she has designed some of Rai's outfits, the actress would also wear a sari created by famous Indian designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla.
Both Rai and Bachchan have been practicing a dance routine they plan to perform before a group of relatives and friends during a musical ceremony Thursday, the daily newspaper said. Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan is expected to entertain guests.
In India, it is common for the couple and their families to perform choreographed dance routines during pre-wedding ceremonies.
Bachchan and Rai have appeared together in several films.
In their latest hit movie, "Guru," Rai plays the supporting wife to Bachchan, who portrays a man from a small Indian village who strives to become a top industrialist. The film is based on the life of Dhirubhai Ambani, founder of Reliance Industries, one of India's top conglomerates.

The parents and family members of G V Loganathan, one of the victims in the shootout at the Virginia University in the United States, are going to the university campus to attend and perform the last rites, one of the family members said। Loganathan, a native of Karatadipalayam in Gobichettipalayam in Erode district of Tamil Nadu, had expressed his wish that his body should be buried in Virginia itself, if something happened to him there, Palanivel, brother of Loganathan said. Though the ministry of Exernal Affairs expressed its willingness to bring the body to India, the parents, in order to fulfill their son's wish, wanted to go there, he said. Besides the parents, three brothers, their wives and Loganathan's father-in-law would go to Virginia as early as possible. Since the parents and two of the family members have no passports, Erode District Collector has been approached to provide necessary help for the onward journey, he said. अल of us in the local Washington area community mourn this loss, as well the the sudden loss of the 33 students who were killed in this merciless act by a crazy gunman. See the complete list of those who died at Virginia Tech here: Killed:<
_ Ross Abdallah Alameddine, 20, of Saugus, Mass., according to his mother, Lynnette Alameddine.
_ Christopher James Bishop, 35, according to Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany, where he helped run an exchange program.
_ Ryan Clark, 22, of Martinez, Ga., biology and English major, according to Columbia County Coroner Vernon Collins.
_ Jocelyn Couture-Nowak, a French instructor, according to her husband, Jerzy Nowak, the head of the horticulture department at Virginia Tech.
_ Daniel Perez Cueva, 21, killed in his French class, according to his mother, Betty Cueva, of Peru.
_ Kevin Granata, age unknown, engineering science and mechanics professor, according to Ishwar K. Puri, the head of the engineering science and mechanics department.
_ Caitlin Hammaren, 19, of Westtown, N.Y., a sophomore majoring in international studies and French, according to Minisink Valley, N.Y., school officials who spoke with Hammaren's family.
_ Jeremy Herbstritt, 27, of Bellefonte, Pa., according to Penn State University, his alma mater and his father's employer.
_ Emily Jane Hilscher, a 19-year-old freshman from Woodville, Va., according to Rappahannock County Administrator John W. McCarthy, a family friend.
_ Jarrett L. Lane, according to Riffe's Funeral Service Inc. in Narrows, Va.
_ Matthew J. La Porte, 20, a freshman from Dumont, N.J., according to Dumont Police Chief Brian Venezio.
_ Liviu Librescu, 76, engineering science and mathematics lecturer, according to Puri.
_ G.V. Loganathan, 51, civil and environmental engineering professor, according to his brother G.V. Palanivel.
_ Daniel O'Neil, 22, according to close friend Steve Craveiro and according to Eric Cardenas of Connecticut College, where O'Neil's father, Bill, is director of major gifts.
_ Juan Ramon Ortiz, a 26-year-old graduate student in engineering from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, according to his wife, Liselle Vega Cortes.
_ Mary Karen Read, 19, of Annandale, Va. according to her aunt, Karen Kuppinger, of Rochester, N.Y.
_ Reema J. Samaha, 18, a freshman from Centreville, Va., according to her family.