Holi Utsav 2002

The Alumni Hall at Brown University in Rhode Island had a festive colorful look on 28^th April as an enthusiastic crowd of desis gathered together to celebrate Holi Utsav 2002. The event was sponsored by Hari, Vidya Bhavan, the Hindi school along with India Association of Rhode Island, Brown South Asian student Association, India Museum and Heritage society.

Lokvani team of Nirmala Garimella and Chitra Parayath braved the inclement weather and the long drive to make it to the cultural program that included popular film dance numbers classical music and dance and a heart wrenching song and ballet for peace and unity executed with emotion by Dr.Surendar Sharma, President IARI and a group of young kids. An appropriate inclusion, we thought, especially with the current communal turbulence in India.

The highlight of the afternoon was a graceful ,well choreographed Kuchipudi dance ballet rendered to the Telugu semi classical song ‘Jaya krishna mukunda murari’. Prafulla Vellury, a dance teacher at RI told us that she spent seven months practicing and motivating the children. The piece clearly indicated the effort. Beguiling young dancers (gopikas) pranced around the adorable Krishna, resplendent in glory and the effect brought a standing ovation from the audience.

The event also featured a painting exhibition of an artist from Pune, India titled ‘Promila’. Her daughter, Loveena Leonardo, a resident of Rhode Island tells us that an exhibition of her paintings will be held this summer.

The Holi Bhoj catered by a local restaurant was delicious and we caught up with some of the organizers of the event.

Mr. Ram Gupta of HARI said “ We are looking for Hindi teachers for our school. We are active in imparting Indian culture to the kids in RI and are  ably supported by Brown University students.”

Everyone involved in organizing the event, representatives of various Indian groups in RI voiced one common theme. That Indians, in the region, should come together and work at integrating all the associations. Only then, they emphasized, will we have a powerful lobby for issues close to our hearts.

“ IARI strives to bring the Indian population of RI together”, said Dr, Sharma. “While Holi is organized by HARI, IARI traditionally sponsors and supports the Diwali Cultural program in RI.

Mr. Kulbhushan Choudhary is spearheading the initiative to start a new Museum of Indian Artifacts under the auspices of the Heritage Harbor Museum foundation. Said Mr. Choudhary “The India Heritage museum will be one of the nineteen partners of the Harbor Heritage Foundation and will be located in downtown Providence. We hope to have Indian artifacts displayed with meaningful themes that will attract both young and old.”

The group currently owns a building in Providence, which was donated by Mahendra and Santhosh Paul.  Rent from the building serves as a source of income for the association.

|