Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
July brings cheer to most Americans as the nation celebrates Independence Day with fireworks, banners and buntings, in town squares and cities, backyard parties and picnics at the park, and when the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner” resonates from coast to coast. For Indian-Americans, it spells even more — a time for people from different states of India to celebrate another kind of multiculturalism, renew their bonds within their communities and steep themselves in their roots. July is “Convention Month” for Indian-Americans.
“These conventions bring some kind of fresh air to our daily life, especially for people who live more on memories of days they spent in India, but made U. S. their home for one reason or the other,” noted a veteran member of the community.
Though most of the conventions fall on the July 4 weekend, they are celebrated through the month. This year at least 5 conventions representing 5 of the 29 states of India were held, but more are in the offing.
Classical Dancers Mesmerize Global Odiya Conference in Washington D.C.
Three Odishi dancers of the renowned classical dance style from Odisha, performed to a capacity crowd at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. during a two-day convention earlier this month. This was the first time a global conference attracting people from India and other countries was organized.
Chief Guest Chandrabhanu Satpathy, a writer and social reformer, inaugurated the global conference lighting a ceremonial lamp. A separate inaugural ceremony was held for the annual convention, an organizer said.
The global inaugural was marked by a choreographic exposition of vibrant traditions of classical dance, music, paintings, architecture, literature and scientific endeavor of Odisha. Among those who attended was Nisha Desai Biswal, assistant secretary of State for south and central Asian affairs.
Forty dancers from Odisha and the U.S. showcased several art forms in one composition, presenting what the organizers said was an essence of India’s cultural mosaic.
India’s Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Tourism Minister Ashok Panda, Congressman Jim McDermott, D-Washington, and Padma Bhushan Bhakta Rath were among the high profile attendees. In his speech at the inauguration, Pradhan highlighted the business opportunities in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, agro-biotech-seeds and other knowledge based industries in Odisha. Panda stressed the importance of non-resident Odiyas staying connected with their motherland.
“The global conference is an effort to congregate people of Odisha origin from around the world in one place where they can discuss and create value propositions for Odisha,” Odisha Society of the Americas President Tapan Padhi said in his inaugural address. The primary focus was to plant a seed for think-tank based groups or forums to explore how Odiya talent around the world can help the state, he added. Chandra Bhanu Satpathy, ardent devotee of Sri Sai Baba, invited people to come up with fresh ideas for that state’s development.
“Overall, with discussions focused on issues such as business, health, higher education, literature and tourism and a conscious effort to have the second generation connect to their motherland, and its culture and tradition through recital of classical dance and discussions on literature, I am sure people went back home with their minds full of good memories and hearts filled with emotions,” Deepa Parija, one of the organizers, told News India Times.
20th TANA Conference in Detroit Draws Over 12,000 People
More than 12,000 people from all walks of life passed through the corridors of Cobo Hall in Detroit July 4th as the 20th North American Telugu Association conference began. They got to see some 100-plus cultural and other programs showcasing Telugu culture and tradition. The two-day conference was attended by people from all over North America. Some 200 invitees came from India as well.
The conference formally began with a grand Banquet July 2 evening. The main proceedings were on July 3rd and July 4 when more than 85 cultural programs showcased artists from around of the world. Performances by Drummers from Shiddartha Degree College, India; Shivathandavam by Perini Dance Troup, India; unique sand art by sand artist Kanth Risa, Telugu Kala Vaibhavam by members from Telugu Association of Greater Boston charmed the guests.
At the inauguration an impressive procession by artists, presenters, organizers, and the leadership of TANA walked into the hall amid chanting by priests from the Detroit Metro area’s various temples. They carried Poorna Khumbha Kalasam through the halls of the Cobo Center to the main stage to herald an auspicious beginning for the celebration.
The inaugural dance ballet “TANA Seva Samskuthi” presented by the more than 85 students of Natya Dharmi, Foundation for Performing Arts was impressive as were dances to groovy movie songs, classical dances, elaborate dance dramas, comedy acts by cine comedians and appearances of Telugu film actresses on the main stage. Local youth put together a tribute for actor Venkatesh, performing dances to the actor’s peppy songs. Venkatesh himself joined the youth and danced along.
While several artists came from India, many were Boston, Mass., Columbus, Ohio, and California.
TANA also held its signature program – the finals of the Dhim Tana dance and singing competitions where winners of the 16 preliminary competitions faced off. Guru Ramachari and famous music director Mani Sharma presented trophies to the winners. The Dhim Tana competition included a beauty pageant where women competed for the Teen TANA, Miss TANA and Mrs. TANA crowns. Several celebrities also attended the Dhim Tana programs and presented mementos to the winners.
Several high profile political personalities from India including Bharatiya Janata Party leader M. Venkaiah Naidu, Andhra Pradesh State Ministers Ayyanna Patrudu, Kommineni Srinivas, along with leader of the farmer community Yalamanchili Sivaji attended the conference. Farming experts such as Subba Rao Yarlagadda, Lakshmi Makina, Janayya Kota and several others presided over various panel discussions. Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasad, Member of Parliament C.M. Ramesh, and former MP Yalamanchili Sivaji also came. Alumni groups form prominent medical and engineering colleges from Andhra Pradesh shared their experiences and knowledge during panel discussions. There were several forums on spirituality and immigration as well as discussions on women’s role in Telugu literature and Telugu cinema.
Several programs and events were organized to engage the youth including a river boat cruise that attracted many movie stars including actor Victory Venkatesh. The highlight of the concluding day of the conference was the broadcast of a video message by Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Nara Chandrababu Naidu.
Bollywood Singer Shreya Ghosal Rocks Houston Bengali Convention
A two-and half hour concert by singer Shreya Ghosal kept an estimated 5,000-strong audience glued to their seats in Houston GRB Convention Center as the Bollywood diva belted out popular numbers in both Bengali and English during the 2015 Banga Sammelan July 10 to 12. The three-day convention was organized by the Tagore Society of Houston.
Bengalis’ penchant for art, music and culture was manifest as dance, music and literary discussions took centerstage at the convention that also saw performances by sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his two sons, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan. Ronu Majumdar’s flute, and classical vocal recital by Aswini Deshpande. A dance recital by Tanusree and her troupe was a big hit.
Organizers also presented “Bishwer Sera Bengali Puraskar” (World’s Best Bengali awards) to Prabir Roy, one of the founding members of the Cultural Association of Bengal, as well as to actress Kankana Sen Sharma and Shreya Ghosal, among others.
The CAB also recognized people who have made extraordinary contributions to the propagation of Bengali culture, literature development of the community at large. Among them was Kajal Sarkar, known for his cultural, theatrical and philanthropic work in the Indian-American Community in North America; Sumita Roy Choudhury who has been working for the benefit of Houstonians; and Sarbari Gupta for her literary work.
Organizers said that besides major U.S cities Bengalis also came from Canada and Calcutta to attend the three day cultural jamboree. Among the guests were Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, D- Texas, Professor Krishna Basu, director of Netaji Research Center in Kolkata, her son Professor Sugata Bose of Harvard University who is a Member of the Indian Parliament, vice consul of India in Houston Rakesh Sharma and entrepreneur Swadesh Chatterjee of Maryland.
The 2016 Banga Sammelan will be held in Madison Square Garden in New York City, the organizers announced on the last day of the convention.
Business & Investment Issues On Front Burner At Marathi Convention In Los Angeles
The three-day biannual convention of the Brihan Maharastra Mandal of North America was held in Anaheim, California, ending on a high note July 4th. An estimated 4,000 Maharashtrians gathered to hear a hard-sell by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and that state’s Industries Minister Subhash Desai. Their ‘Make in Maharashtra’ call to investors and entrepreneurs urged non-resident Indians to channel their money and talent to the Western Indian state, one of the most industrialized in India.
“We want businesses, partnership in Maharashtra as Maharashtra has top notch infrastructure, youth talent and our cabinet has reduced bureaucracy tremendously,” Desai said. “We are not competing with other states in India, but with other countries as we have progressed really well,” he added.
But the convention was not all about doing business in Maharashtra. Drawing the attention of the guests were classical singers, famous Marathi music director Avdhoot Gupte and cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle. There was a musical treat on Bal Gandharva by Anand Gandharv and Marathi stage artists as well. Indian-American businessman Vivek Randive, a Marathi by origin, and owner of Sacramento Kings basketball franchise, was also present.
The ceremony began with national anthems of America, Canada and India in that order and 100 local artists presented a Swagat Geet.
For the last 33 years, the BMM has been engaged in raising the flag of Marathi culture across the world and bringing people together. It also awards many achievers and celebrates their success in the field of art, science, social work, business, and culture as it did in this biannual convention.
The post Going Ethnic: Indian Americans Celebrate Culture And Traditions appeared first on News India Times.