Acclaimed chef Vikas Khanna created a children’s book, Festivals at the Bungalow, with support from the recently chartered Rotary Club of South West Florida District 6960. The club raised $20,000 from U.S. and Indian Rotarians, other individuals, and businesses to print 2,000 copies of the illustrated book that are being distributed free to Rotary-led literacy initiatives.

The book “takes children on a journey across India, showcasing how families come together to decorate, cook, and celebrate,” says Priya Ahluwalia, who helped start the club with her husband, Mohit Pohani. “The combination of stories and recipes makes it both educational and engaging, sparking curiosity while fostering cultural appreciation.” On 15 August, Rotarians joined Khanna in ringing the closing bell of the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York City to mark the book’s publication.