India Post News Service

NORWALK: With no end in sight after 28 years of putting on India Independence Day celebrations, the FIA of Southern California pulled off a rare two day mela that carried the spirit of India's independence through the entire August 25 and 26 weekend at Excelsior High School. "We were very pleased with the turnout and we had over 50 booths on Saturday and nearly 15 booths still operating on Sunday and over 1000 people reveling in our entertainment," said FIA Executive Vice President Dilip Butani proudly. Larry Caballero representing the district's state assemblyman Tony Mendoza bestowed several recognition awards on past chairmen and members of the organizing committee and he also placed Butani and the current FIA Chair, Kewal Kanda, on a special advisory board for South Asians.

"We're very excited by this new advisory board," explained Butani, "because it will give Assemblyman Mendoza important feedback about issues that affect the Indo-American community in this district." Key speakers for the Saturday night event included veteran Bollywood director Sawan Kumar Tak and Cypress City Council member Dr. Prakash Narain. 15 cultural dancers from different parts of India performed routines that represented India from north to south. "Sunday's event featured entertainment from three famous poets from India: Hasya Kavi Sammelan," explained Butani. "We were open from seven to ten at night Sunday night with lots of refreshments and fun and everybody had grand time."

India Post Bureau chief of Southern California, Shashi Trivedi, accepted a special award for journalistic excellence and President Dinesh Bhargava, FIA VP Sam Bhogal, Anju Garg, Ajay Mer Singh and Ravinder Verma also received recognition awards. The FIA completed their awards by presenting plaques to sponsors and certificates to participants. Moha Roy who was a first time visitor to an Indo-American Independence Day mela, said she really enjoyed the festivities. "It's like being back in India even though I'm in America so I really like it," she said while enjoying a meal from Ashoka Restaurant. "Sort of home away from home," she said fondly.