CRY Holi 2026
Celebrate the joy of childhood with CRY America
The artist Shuvankar Maitra was born and raised in a semi -urban area in West Bengal, known for its natural beauty. Formally educated in art, he has participated in many solo and group exhibitions all over India. When the sun’s rays peep through the trees and fall on the ground, his heart blooms with the joy nature brings to him. Known for the vivid exciting colors in harmony used in his paintings, for the artist, trees bring out a powerful message, which symbolizes stability as an inspiration to the human race.
Title: Landscape
Size: 24 x 36 inche
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Murali Nagapuzha’s art is a favourite for many art lovers. Brought up in a family of traditional artists, his paintings reflect his deep connection and childhood memories of the joy of lush flora and fauna of Kerala with fresh flowers, butterflies, birds in vibrant hues. His unique art is enjoyed at exhibitions in major cities all over the world, as well as in private collections of foreign ,famous celebrities and industrialists. We thank Murali for his continuous support to CRY for many years.
Artist: Murali Nagapuzha
Title: The joy of spring
Size: 28 x 31 inches
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Year: 2026
Sree Sreenivasan is CEO of Digimentors, one of the leading social, digital and AI-training companies in NYC. He is also co-founder of SAJA, the South Asian Journalists Association and co-host of the annual Nobel Prize Peace Conference in Oslo. In 2004, Newsweek named him one of the 20 most influential young South Asians in America, alongside director M. Knight Shyamalan, singer Norah Jones and a rising politician named Kamala Harris.
Judge Manpreet Singh, a Houston native, assumed office in 2022 as the Judge of the Harris County Civil Court at Law #4, making history as the first elected Sikh Judge in the US. With over two decades of legal experience, she specialized in trial advocacy. She is also a certified ad litem and mediator, since 2002.
Committed to advancing diversity and empowering women, Judge Singh holds directorship positions in the South Texas College of Law, Sikh National Bar Association, Texas Lyceum and the Sikh Coalition. She previously served on the board of the ACLU Texas and has been recognized for her advocacy efforts. Her accolades include being honored as a Diversity Champion by the State Bar of Texas and receiving both the Distinguished Member award and the Public Service award from the South Asian Bar Association and a company-wide award celebrating her Passion for Excellence.
In addition to her legal contributions, Judge Singh engages in various community endeavors. Most recently, she founded the Sikh National Bar Association. She serves as a Chapter Representative for ABOTA Houston, completed the FBI Citizen’s Diversity Academy, and is a graduate of both the American Bar Leadership Academy and the Harvard Leadership Program. Moreover, she has conducted numerous Continuing Legal Education sessions on topics ranging from ad litem duties to effective litigation. Beyond her professional endeavors, Judge Singh dedicates herself to community outreach, collaborating with Interfaith Ministries, educational institutions, and law enforcement agencies.
Meera Jaipur is a one-stop destination to get your hands on the finely manufactured silver. Their skill and proficiency have been acknowledged in European markets as well. Understanding the challenges faced by artisans, Director Siddarth has been supporting their children with scholarships to organize training programs that enhance technical skills. Collaborating with organizations like CRY strengthens their resolve to create a lasting impact by nurturing talent and ensuring access to education for the young minds shaping tomorrow.
Product description:
Handmade silver necklace made of 925 silver
Kranti Ponnam is a highly accomplished executive with over 20 years of diverse experience across the Business, Technology, and Real Estate sectors. He is the founder and Chairman of the Board of kipi.bi, where he oversees the company’s strategic direction and market expansion opportunities.
Additionally, Kranti serves as the President and CEO of SoftHQ, leading strategic initiatives and expansion efforts. He is also an advisor and Director at Sydata Consulting, focusing on sales, recruitment, and operations processes. As the General Partner of Seroda Equity Partners, he plays a vital role in portfolio company acquisitions and provides advisory services.
Kranti is involved in raising capital and investor relationship management as the Director of Capital at Four Oaks Capital. He has been recognized for his expertise by being accepted into the Forbes Business Council, a prestigious community of influential business leaders and executives.
Vijayalakshmi Silks and Sarees has a long and illustrious journey of over nine decades. Vijayalakshmi has mastered the art of balancing, blending and innovating the traditional splendour of attire passed down from the yesteryears with modern day trends and tastes. Vijayalakshmi Silks is very closely knit and almost everyone managing it are a part of the family
Product description:
Handwoven Kanchi Silk Saree
Molly May, Marquam Auction Agency Benefit Auctioneer, boasts an impressive pedigree. Having graduated from Willamette University with honors, she is a graduate of the Worldwide College of Auctioneering, a member of the National Auctioneer’s Association and a Benefit Auctioneer Specialist. She has years of experience as a corporate event planner, a marketing communications career with Microsoft and currently – VP of marketing and communications for a global nonprofit.
Molly is what we refer to as an Event Architect; crafting the master blueprints for organizations’ events to succeed. She then masterfully executes the strategic plan for proven results. Molly has a true passion for onprofits and social justice, is charming, kind, endlessly energetic and one of the most fun-loving people you’re likely to meet.
A native Oregonian, Molly lives in beautiful Bend with her two daughters. She loves mountain views, travel, live music and dancing!
Tarini Narula Designs bring heritage techniques, artisan empowerment and timeless designs to the forefront. She has collaborated with leading textile and fashion designers, including Bina Rao, Manish Arora, Jenjum Gadi, and Hemant & Nandita to create bespoke accessories, many of which have been showcased at India Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. Having received coverage in publications such as Vogue, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, India Today, Femina, HT City, Business Standard and leading fashion blogs, her designs have also been covered on television on NDTV Good Times.
Hand block printed chanderi silk stole with zari border, crafted using natural dyes through the traditional mud-resist process with hand-carved wooden blocks practiced in Bagru, Rajasthan
iTokri is one of India’s leading platforms for handmade textiles and craft-led products. iTokri works directly with artisan clusters across India to bring handwoven, hand-printed, and naturally dyed textiles into contemporary, everyday life with focus on textile traditions such as Jamdani, Ajrakh, Chanderi, Ikat, Kantha, Bagru, Kalamkari, and many others across apparel, stoles, sarees, home textiles, accessories, and art.
Multi strand necklace made in silver plated alloy and adorned with enameled floral motifs & pastel pink enamel representing the Pink City – Jaipur.
The well-known Tribe Amrapali brand, budding out of the famous mother brand ‘Amrapali’ creates exclusive jewellery which has strong Indian cultural heritage roots with Indian modernity, primarily focusing on gold-plated silver, silver and fashion jewellery in superior quality. Tribe Amrapali jewellery has been spotted on famous Indian celebrities like Kareena Kapoor, Karishma Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit, Alia Bhatt etc who love the Indo- ethnic dramatic style
Born in 1982 in Aurangabad, the artist Somnath Bothe lives and works in Pune, Maharashtra. He has had a formal art education and won many prestigious awards. His work reflects a deep commitment to both his rural and urban experiences. The artist uses abundant talent with a strong fondness for iconic locations in India especially Benaras and has exhibited his work all over India and abroad. His paintings feature shades of vibrant hues of reds, oranges, yellows and other colours which signify the time and life of the city, colourful and nostalgic.
Product description:
Title: Holy Banaras
Size: 21 x 18 inches
Medium: Charcoal and Acrylic on canvas
Year: 2026
Sachin Sagare has been deeply influenced by the passionate and hardworking women he observed while growing up. He paints expressing the intimate relationship between women and flowers – being symbols of natural beauty and fertility. The prominent aspect of his art is the vivid play of light and shadow across his subjects, in rich beautiful colours. The popular artist has received many awards and had several solo and group shows with customers all over India, America and Europe.
Product description:
Title: Morning Blessings
Size: 15 x 15 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Year: 2025
Prakash Deshmukh – Born in 1975, the Mumbai based artist, studied in Latur, Mumbai and Pune for his Art education. Prakash Deshmukh’s works are primarily with the subject of women, with great attention to detail, stylization of large dream -like Indian expressive eyes with vibrant earthy colours. His work is a celebration of simplest and happiest moments. This popular artist has had many successful solo and group exhibitions all over India, Singapore and America
Title: Boy immersed in music
Size: 30 x 24 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Priya Priyadarshini is the Corporate Vice President, HR for one of Microsoft’s largest and most mission‑critical engineering organizations—the Experiences + Devices (E+D) division. This global team of more than 35,000 employees builds many of Microsoft’s most iconic products, including Windows, Microsoft 365, Surface, Office, Teams, and the AI‑powered Copilot experiences.
Her work focuses on aligning people priorities with business outcomes—guiding organizations through complexity and change, stewarding leadership development, and strengthening a culture grounded in inclusion, care, and accountability. At the heart of her leadership is a deep belief that technology is only as powerful as the humanity behind it.
Priya’s journey began nearly 20 years ago at Microsoft as an intern. Since then, she has grown through a wide range of HR leadership roles.Originally from Bihar, India, Priya’s roots deeply shape her values. She is a strong advocate for girl empowerment and access to education, believing that when we invest early and intentionally in girls and young people, we unlock possibility not just for individuals, but for entire communities. This commitment to equity, dignity, and opportunity carries through both her professional work and her philanthropic efforts.
Beyond Microsoft, Priya serves on the board of Youth Care and has supported organizations including Birthday Dreams, Apprenti, and the University of Minnesota. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in technology from India.
Outside of work, Priya is a mom, a philanthropist, a lifelong reader, and a wannabe chef. She enjoys hiking, camping, and foraging for mushrooms. She lives with her husband Rakesh and 14 yr old son Riyansh in Woodinville, Washington.
She is guided by a belief captured beautifully by Rumi:
“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal.”
Venkatesh “Venky” Harinarayan is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, philanthropist, and co-founder of the cricket team San Francisco Unicorns. He has founded several successful technology companies and now leads a venture capital firm that supports founders building transformative, world-changing businesses.
Originally from Chennai, he studied computer science at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, earned an M.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a PhD from Stanford University.
Beyond entrepreneurship, he actively supports several prominent nonprofit organizations doing impactful work around the world, including long-standing support for CRY, and continues to champion philanthropic initiatives focused on improving opportunities for children and communities globally.
Sandy Santana serves as Executive Director of Children’s Rights, a preeminent advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights of children impacted by government systems. Since assuming leadership in 2015, Sandy has spearheaded a period of transformative growth, more than doubling the organization’s geographic reach to over 20 U.S. states and impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of children nationwide. Under his direction, Children’s Rights has pioneered a holistic advocacy model that pairs high-stakes impact litigation with deep policy reform to address the root causes of systemic failure. His tenure is marked by groundbreaking initiatives to secure mental health access, dismantle structural racism within the child welfare system, and safeguard the rights of immigrant children. Previously, Sandy served as Managing Director of Legal Outreach, expanding educational access for first-generation students. He began his career in corporate law at Goodwin Procter LLP and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, specializing in international finance and private equity. Sandy holds a B.A. from Harvard College and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.
Subrat Tripathy serves as the Chief Segment Officer of Process (Sustainability) at L&T Technology Services, a global leader in digital engineering and R&D Services. He is a member of LTTS’ leadership team and provides business leadership, market direction and strategic vision to the company’s business. In his current role, he leads business development in major client markets & global delivery for Plant Engineering including Oil & Gas, Chemicals and CPG industries. His charter is to pursue growth and expansion plan for Plant engineering as part of LTTS’s Sustainability Business Segment.
Abhinav Bindra is former Indian sport shooter. He is an Olympic gold medalist as well as the first and one of only two Indians to win an individual Olympic gold medal. With more than 150 medals in his 22-year career, he is the recipient of the Padma Bhushan from the Government of India and is one of the top influencers of sport policy in the country. In 2018, Abhinav was bestowed with the prestigious Blue Cross, the ISSF’s highest honour.
Product description:
India Jacket worn by Abhinav Bindra at the world cup when he qualified for the Rio Olympics.
Sourav Ganguly is a former Indian cricketer and captain of the Indian national team. Currently, he is appointed as the honourable President of the CAB and President of the Editorial Board with Wisden India. He is regarded as one of India’s most successful captains in modern times, and one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time. In the 1999 Cricket World Cup, he was involved in a partnership of 318 runs with Rahul Dravid, which remains the highest overall partnership score in the World Cup tournament history He also presently holds the post of being a member of the Indian Premier League governing council.
Product description:
Cricket bat autographed by former Indian cricketer and captain of the Indian national team Sourav Ganguly
Meera Jaipur is a one-stop destination to get your hands on the finely manufactured silver. Their skill and proficiency have been acknowledged in European markets as well. Understanding the challenges faced by artisans, Director Siddarth has been supporting their children with scholarships to organize training programs that enhance technical skills. Collaborating with organizations like CRY strengthens their resolve to create a lasting impact by nurturing talent and ensuring access to education for the young minds shaping tomorrow.
Product description:
Handmade silver necklace made of 925 silver
Anita Dongre’s designs showcase Indian aesthetics in a contemporary language inspired by Rajasthan and India’s rich craft tradition. Founded in 1995, the Anita Dongre label offers breath-taking, curated looks in bridal, couture and menswear. The Anita Dongre Foundation has given countless rural women an equal voice by providing them with livelihood opportunities and skill training.
Product description:
SRAVYA BENARASI SAREE in purple color threaded onto rich Benarasi silk with a 0.80-meter length of fabric for the silk choli & 2.5 mts of viscose Petticoat fabric
The artist Sachin Jaltare is one of the most sought after and respected artists from Hyderabad, India. He combines figurative and abstract elements fluidly, to weave an engrossing narrative that is both authentically Indian and contemporary, with silhouettes of beautiful men and women, from Hindu mythology. Jaltare, has participated in over 35 group and solo exhibitions in India and internationally, with a career spanning more than 30 years.
Product description:
Size: 18 x 18 inches
Medium: Mixed media on Canvas
Year: 2022
The artist Paramesh Paul, is one of the finest artists depicting scenes of Benaras. Originally from West Bengal, the artist now lives and works from Mumbai. Being greatly inspired by his journeys, his paintings depict enigmatic voyages of peacefulness and spirituality, colourfully capturing the beauty of the Ganges with beautiful light and reflections. Paramesh Paul has exhibited in many solo and group shows in India and abroad
Product description:
Title: Banaras
Size: 14 x 18 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Year: 2021
Mohan Naik is a much loved and popular artist from Goa. Well educated in art, he remains passionate and dedicated. Being very sensitive to nature, he is easily receptive to the nuances and expressions of his pristine surroundings, which is reflected in idyllic scenes in his paintings and he works mainly with rich earth tones. Mohan Naik has participated in several solo and group exhibitions and his work is to be found in collection in India and abroad
Product description:
Title: Girl with her friend
Size: 22 x 22 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Year: 2023
Born in West Bengal and raised in Jharkhand, India, Monlisa’s style of painting is both romantic and classic. Inspired by lush landscapes and the serene beauty of nature, animals and family bonding, she paints in vivid earthy colours, with the warmth of intricate bonds of human relationships. Monalisa lives and works in Kolkatta, and she has exhibited vastly.
Product description:
Title: Serenity
Size: 18 x 18 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Escaping child marriage to become a Police Officer
From facing pressure to marry early, Asha defied expectations by staying in school with support from CRY America’s KMAGVS project. Her determination paid off when she became the first female police officer in her village, proving that with perseverance, dreams can become reality.)
Overcoming malnutrition with timely intervention
Aditya, born prematurely at 7 months weighing only 1.2 kilograms, faced challenges due to his father’s daily wage labor and his mother caring for three daughters. CRY’s Project Vikas Samvad Samiti intervened with comprehensive measures including nutrition support, IYCF practices, hygiene, therapy, kitchen gardening, vaccinations, home visits, and counseling. Today, at 21 months, Aditya is thriving with a healthy weight of 9.8 kilograms.)
Defying tradition and inspiring change through education
Chandni defied family tradition of commercial sex work by pursuing education with CRY America’s support. Despite initial objections, she enrolled in a residential hostel, completed her BTech, and is now preparing for UPSC exams. Chandni’s journey inspires her community, where she helps children return to education for brighter futures.)
From being a drop out to – teaching in a school
Once a school dropout and newspaper distributor to support his family, Aman’s life transformed when he joined Project SSRF’s Child Activity Center. With dedication, he bridged his learning gap, completed a computer course, and now serves as a Computer, Math, and Science teacher at a public school)