Photo Credit: AB24.live
VIDYA SETHURAMAN
India Post News Service
FREMONT, California: Thousands of people from the Indian diaspora were part of the spectacular 27th annual Festival of India Mela in Fremont, California. The event was held August 17-18 at 39439 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont, California.
For the past 27 years, the FIA-organized Festival of India has come to symbolize the unity, integrity, culture and the best of things that are hallmark of the Indian community in Bay Area.
Celebrated over two days, this festival has many popular and well sought after segments such as wellness fair, vendor booths, kids’ corner, and food stalls. This year Bollywood celebrity Vivek Oberoi was the Grand Marshal. Kids talent contests, cultural programs representing a cross section of India and a fair that featured the best the Indian community had to offer were among the highlights of the event.
On a hot weekend with temperature soaring over 85F and summer coming to a close, 27th Festival of India opened with a bang. Festival of India Mela in Fremont organized by the Federation of Indo Americans (FIA) of Northern California is the most awaited event of California.
It started as a local event some 26 years back and has now grown manifold. It showcases the perfect blend of fun, entertainment and national integration.
“Today it has become a national event attracting participants from as far away as East Coast,” said Dr Romesh Japra, Convener of FIA.
“Due to unfortunate incidents, the parade in Paseo Padre was cancelled. We will host a bigger and better parade in 2020,” Dr Japra added.
The celebrations kicked off with a flag hoisting ceremony August 16 at the San Jose City Hall. The event was hosted by Council member Sylvia Arenas and Assemblymen Ash Kalra. Dr Japra spoke about what the flag raising ceremony meant to him,
“Every year, it keeps getting better and bigger. I think we realize how fortunate we are to have this freedom, unlike many others. This flag hoisting makes us proud and makes us realize who we are and what we are.”
The event was co-ordinated by Rajesh Verma, President, FIA.
The festival opened August 17 at 10 a.m. in Paseo Padre Parkway with a “Free Health and Wellness Fair”. The Health Fair had about 20 Indian-American physicians and other medical professionals providing free medical services and follow-up.
A candle light vigil was organized in remembrance of the victims of recent mass shootings.
Grand Marshal Vivek Oberoi led the festivities with FIA Chairman Dr Japra and chief guest Sanjay Panda, Consul General of India in San Francisco. Welcome speeches were given by Consul General Panda, Dr Japra, Rajesh Verma and Yogi Chugh.
Vivek Oberoi addressed the gathering, honored the sponsors of the event and interacted with his fans. While addressing the gathering and answering questions on his essaying the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vivek said, “Narendra Bhai is one of the tallest leaders in the world and to bring his personal qualities on screen was an incredible challenge.”
The fair area were resplendent with the Indian tricolor and reverberated with chants of ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Jai Hind’. An Indian dressed as Mahatma Gandhi was seen walking down the area with a wooden stick alongside a caravan of exuberant Indians.
Consul General Panda in his remarks said: “We in India are proud of our friendship with the United States that has evolved in a global strategic partnership. California has played a special role as the India-US story unfolds.”
Referring to the 150th birth anniversary of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, he said: “It’s time to recall Gandhian values of non-violence and peace, that has more relevance today than ever before.”
Panda also urged the Indian-American diaspora to attend the “Howdy Modi” event September 22 in Houston.
“I invite you to join and welcome the Prime Minister in this historic event which will be attended by 50,000 NRIs,” he said
BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and Dr Bizoy Sonkar Shastri, BJP spokesperson, were also part of the festivities and were honored at the event. The parade festivities were coordinated by Deepak Chhabra, Parade Chair and there were about 14 groups showcasing the rich culture and heritage of India.
Many local ethnic groups such as Uttar Pradesh Mandal of Bay area, Kashmir Hindu Foundation, FOG Odisha, FOG Telugu, FOG Bengal, Brahma Kumaris, Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sanasthan, Hindu Swayamsevak took out colorful floats and held entertainment programs highlighting various Indian states’ culture and heritage.
The cultural events were spread over two days under different categories of groups and solo in both Indian and Western dance forms co-ordinated and executed by Jyotsna Sharma, FOG Cultural Chair and FOG Telugu President. She is an actress and software professional based in Bay area. Over 800 kids and adults participated in the competitions.
The Festival of India, besides having the entertainment factor, is the best platform to market businesses. The festival offers an opportunity for businesses to provide support, patronage and encourage events that increase and strengthen the cultural diversity and community involvement. There were around 120 trade booths and nine food booths.
The trade booths catered to a wide range of businesses, including fashion jewelry, clothing, decor, mehndi designers, real estate, insurance, and credit union among others. There were stalls carrying multi-colored and elaborately patterned fabrics of saris, shawls and kurtas, intricately designed bangles, toe rings, anklets and earrings.
Sponsors who made this event possible are Bank of the West, Air India, Wells Fargo, Astro Vastu solutions by Vaneet Sharma, Hot Star, Towne Plaza suites, Incredible India, Xfinity, Bay 101 casino, Visitors Guru, Keen Learners Montessori, Dr. Monika Chugh, Young explorers, Anthem realty by Deepak and Karishma Chandani, Bharat Bazar, T Mobile, Gurus education, Synergistic IT, Timothy Crofton real estate, CEFCU, Provident credit union, State Bank of India, A2 Milk, BBVA Compass, Charles Schwab, Raymond James, Saregama Caravan, Tracy Hills, Verma law firm, AC Transit, Prudent Prospera financial services, My Tax Filer, Art of Problem Solving, iGen Learning, Keller Williams real estate, Golden 1 home loans, Travel Oregon, and Parmeet Randhawa.
Commenting on the success of the Festival, Rajesh Verma, President of FIA, said, “This is our way of passing on the torch of our pride in our traditions to the future generations of Indian-American youth.”
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