OXFORD, MA — For 25 years, Sarva Dev Mandir has served as a spiritual and cultural home for the Indian-American community in Central Massachusetts. On September 26, the Oxford temple will celebrate that milestone with an evening of music, devotion and community called “Samarpanam – An Evening of Devotion.”
The program will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Sarva Dev Mandir, 6 Main St., Oxford, MA 01540, and will feature acclaimed Indian-American vocalist Anuradha “Juju” Palakurthi, along with students from Swararati Music School, students of Sarva Dev Mandir and a talented group of accompanying musicians.
The evening’s musical ensemble will include Hirak Modi on keyboard, Pranav Swaroop on harmonium, Nitin Mitta on tabla and Vedant Lele on pakhawaj.
For Sarva Dev Mandir, the event is more than an anniversary celebration. It is an opportunity to reflect on 25 years of building a community around faith, culture, music, education and shared traditions.
An evening of Indian music
Palakurthi brings to the evening a musical journey that spans Indian classical traditions, film music and contemporary performance.
Raised in a home filled with different musical influences, she began learning music as a child and later studied Carnatic music with vocalist Geetha Murali. She also pursued Hindustani classical music under Vidushi Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar. Over the years, she has performed and recorded with some of India’s leading musicians and singers and has become known for bringing Indian music to diverse audiences in the United States.
Palakurthi is also the founder of Juju Productions, through which she has produced and presented Indian music projects in the United States. Her work has included classical music, Indian film music and collaborations that explore the meeting point between Indian and Western musical traditions.
One of her notable projects is Symphony Masala, which reimagines beloved Bollywood songs for Western symphony orchestras. The project has been performed with orchestras in several American cities, introducing the richness of Indian film music to audiences beyond the traditional South Asian community.
She is also closely connected to the New England Indian music scene, serving as chairperson of MIT’s Heritage Arts of South Asia (MITHAS), an organization dedicated to presenting and preserving South Asian classical music.
For an evening centered on devotion, her classical background and broad musical experience make her a natural choice to lead the celebration.
Twenty-five years of Sarva Dev Mandir
Sarva Dev Mandir was founded through the dedication, vision and generosity of community members who wanted to create a spiritual home for a growing Indian community.
Over the past quarter-century, the temple has grown into a vibrant center for worship, learning, cultural programs and community gatherings.
Its mission includes promoting spiritual growth, preserving and celebrating Hindu traditions and values, providing religious and community services, supporting educational and cultural activities, and strengthening unity and connection within the community.
That mission is reflected in the anniversary program itself.
Alongside an accomplished vocalist, the evening will feature students—both from Swararati Music School and Sarva Dev Mandir. Their participation underscores one of the most important roles of a cultural institution: passing traditions from one generation to the next.
Music, in that sense, becomes more than entertainment. It becomes a form of preservation.
A familiar raga, a devotional composition or a song learned from a teacher can connect a child growing up in Massachusetts with a musical tradition that originated thousands of miles away.
A celebration of community
The word “Samarpanam” means an offering or an act of devotion. It is an appropriate theme for an institution celebrating 25 years of service.
For those who helped establish Sarva Dev Mandir, the evening will be a chance to celebrate a journey that began with a vision and grew through the support of an entire community.
For younger members, it will offer an opportunity to experience that heritage through music and performance.
And for everyone who attends, the evening promises to bring together the elements that have sustained the temple for a quarter-century: devotion, music, culture and community.
Event Details
Samarpanam – An Evening of Devotion
Celebrating 25 Years of Sarva Dev Mandir
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 6–8 p.m.
Location: Sarva Dev Mandir
Address: 6 Main St., Oxford, MA 01540
Featured Artist: Anuradha “Juju” Palakurthi, Vocalist
Performing:
- Chorus and students of Swararati Music School
- Students of Sarva Dev Mandir
- Hirak Modi — Keyboard
- Pranav Swaroop — Harmonium
- Nitin Mitta — Tabla
- Vedant Lele — Pakhawaj
