ST LOUIS: India Association of St. Louis (IAS) celebrated India’s 69th Independence Day on Saturday August 15 at Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center (MGC) in a grand style keeping up its 47 year old tradition.
The flag hoisting followed by the talks by invited special guests was attended by a large number of Indians. As the flags were unfurled, American and Indian national anthems were passionately sung by all present at the ceremony.
The chief guest for the event, the Missouri State Senator Jill Schupp was welcomed by the president Sharath Rao, who stressed the need for more social improvements in India.
Senator Ms. Schupp traced the similarities between the two great democracies, and recognized the strides made by the Indians in America. She honored the India Association of St. Louis with a framed proclamation from the office of Missouri State, and presented a Missouri State Flag.
The Keynote address was delivered by Dr Kamal Yadav, an industrialist and the founding member of Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center of St. Louis. In his address he talked about the wide opportunities provided by American industrial system. He was inspirational for those who venture to set up their own corporations.
IAS has recognized two local students, Anisha Gururaj for being elected a Rhode Scholar, and Gokul Venkatachalam, for achieving first place in National Scripts Spelling Bee competition. They were presented with a plaque at the festival. The occasion was also graced by State Senator Scott Sifton, representing south county of St. Louis.
Ms Jill Schupp then inaugurated a colorful fair (Mela), exhibiting about 20 local vendor stalls where prominent businesses, local families and volunteers displayed a variety of Indian food delicacies, jewelry, sarees, dresses, and arts and crafts from different parts of India.
In the evening IAS hosted a variety of competition for children of various grade levels in essay writing, painting and flower arrangement. Winners of these competitions were awarded with certificates of merit and gift-cards.
A cultural program was conducted in which over 50 children participated to bring up a colorful and vibrant grand-finale of the Independence Day celebrations.
The participants of varied age groups presented patriotic, classical and folk themed cultural dances and presentations. The cultural program was attended by more than two hundred members of the community while the daylong event attracted over 600 attendees. The festival ended with certificate distribution to all the participants.
The festival was meticulously planned and executed with the help of volunteers and the Board of Directors of IAS – President, Sharath Rao; President-Elect, Meera Jain; Secretary, Shailee Saran Varanasi; Treasurer, Vijaya Lakshmi Buddhiraju; Directors- Smita Parikh, Gayatri Chintakuntha, Vijaykumar Buddhiraju, Sendil Rathinasabapathy and Krishna Rao Moharir.
Ashwin Patel
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