India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: It was the eighth anniversary of the Indian Association of Los Angeles and the Indian community celebrated it with gusto during the week of India's 60th Year of Independence .The venue was the sprawling verdant grounds of Pierce College, in the San Fernando Valley. Chief Guest, Congressman Brad Sherman, a beloved friend of the Indian Community said with glee to India Post, "Eat your heart out Artesia, this is where it's all happening."

Artesia has been hosting Independence events over the years with the community from the Valley commuting over the free ways to attend. Brad Sherman also told India Post that he "was always thrilled to be part of the Indian community and hoped to visit India soon." He later presented the Indian Association a flag that was flown atop the dome of the Washington Senate building. The Valley for the last eight years has prided itself on organizing colorful and vibrant festivities and this year crowds went up to a staggering high of thousands.

The event was hosted by President Nirmal Jain, along with founders Kumar Jawa and Inder Singh. The Executive Committee comprised Yogi Raj, Vandana Kumar, Virender Jain, Vasdev Singh, Rajesh Saini, Manjeet Wahi, Raj Thakkar, Bobby Kumar, Dr Bhama Sridhar, Deepi Singh, and Nalini Natarajan, Karen Kukurin from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's office brought greetings, while Greg Smith, Council member said he was delighted to participate on this momentous occasion. VP of Publicity, Nalini Natarajan, said this year there were around 75 booths.

For five hours the booths were swarming with Indians as well as people from diverse ethnicities as they sifted beautiful Indian fabrics, kurtis, skirts, shawls, decorated their hand with mehndi, received information about marble, tiles, real estate, phone services, browsed through literature on spirituality and participated in a Health Fair headed by Dr Bhama Sridhar and Deepti Singh, which included eye screening, blood pressure checks and reading material on cholesterol and diabetes.

The first booth was manned by eager volunteers from Brad Sherman's office with the Congressman standing nearby, answering queries from people with his easy affable charm, and wit. To my question as to why he had not visited India, he replied, "I fear if I did, I would find it very difficult to return." An interesting giveaway was a small unbreakable comb with the Congressman's name and contact number.

The smoldering, oppressive heat of the day had waned and it was pleasant to saunter to other booths offering everything from music CDs to spicy dal mot. Film Asia , owned by Pebbles Singh and wife Prema tell me that their shop on Lindley Ave is a one stop shop for all Bollywood, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Pakistani CDs and DVDs, movies, awards and stage plays. Their wedding accessories for bride and groom were being offered at discount prices.

They also sell movie tickets, posters, film magazines and designer clothes as well as jewellery. And to add flavor to the visit to the booth they were selling delicious fresh meetha paan and holding a raffle of Rahman's CD Vande Mataram signed by actress Celina Jaitley. Ziba Beauty Salon has just opened in the Topanga Mall and the volunteers were giving away Ziba the glossy in-house magazine. "We are open seven days of the week," said one of the young ladies in the booth.For five hours young girls and boys entertained the wildly appreciative crowd with classical, folk and Bollywood dancing with Vandana Kumar as the compere. Round tables and chairs under the boughs of the spreading trees offered a welcome resting place for those who had selected a choice variety of snacks form the many booths selling foods ranging from gol guppas (Chatpata India,) plump bathuras and cholay (India Sweets and Spices), halal and Pakistani specialties featuring roasted chicken and biryanis, vegetarian cuisine (Annapurna) whipping out gargantuan dosais off the griddle, spicy vadais and delicious soft as butter iddlis. Krishna, the young dosai maker from Madurai and a graduate of the Hotel Management School in India tells me he is an expert at dosais and I endorse it after feasting on one. Cold drinks and a variety of teas, including Assam tea were in great demand as the twilight hours brought a coolness.

The community newspaper booths were attracting a number of subscribers while volunteers manned religious booths (there was a Bible story session in one) and immigration lobbying tables. Calling themselves immigrationvoice.org the young professionals urged people to influence lawmakers. At another table, the Vibha group promoted their organization which has reached over 110,000 children through 165 projects in India. A Run /Walkathon is planned for Sunday, October 7 at Lake Balboa Park (dreammile.org).

South Asian Network, a grassroots community based organization recommended immigrants to know their rights at home and work. Member of The International Society of Divine Love (Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, Barsana Dham) spoke of their work which provides free medical services for disadvantaged adults and children in rural India. Fashion Accessories, designer tunics, Victorian jewellery, hand embroidery Pashmina shawls were displayed by Kareena and Ashkara. Jumping Genius.com was an interesting concept. Like the packaged program, Chuck E Cheese, this company organized party packages in a 5,000 sq ft facility the perfect place for 20 kids jumping and screaming, eating cake and pizza and having the time of their lives.

As we left the darkening college campus in Woodland Hills, we felt a resurgence of pride in India, our home country, as once again we had bonded with India's culture. In the words of visitor Rachel Saran, who wore an elegant Indian brocaded skirt and blouse, "I come every year to connect with food, culture and the people of India."