In the first such joint celebration both Gujarat Day and Maharashtra Day, which fall on May 1, were observed through colorful dances and music in Times Square May 1.
The two-hour event on the corner of 47th Street and Broadway was organized by Jai Bharat Dhol Tasha Pathak USA and Non-Resident Gujarati Community of USA. “Since both the Gujarat Day and Maharashtra Day fall on May one, we thought about organizing a joint celebration,” Manisha Madhavi,’ one of the organizers who conceived the idea of the joint celebration along with Srujal Parikh from the Gujarati community, said.
On a cold and misty afternoon women and children in colorful traditional attire performed Garba and Dandiya dances choreographed by Miki Patel as also folk dances of Maharashtra like Ganesh Vandana and Koli dance. Accompanying the dances was heart-throbbing dhol- tasha music. Chants of ‘Jai Gujarat!, Jai Maharashtra!, Jai Hind! and Jai Bharat!’ filled the air.
The idea, the organizers said, was to showcase the unity and diversity of India’s rich culture and heritage at Times Square. The organizers said that tourists and bystanders watched the cultural extravaganza with avid interest. The evening ended with felicitation of dignitaries and light snacks.
Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Day was separately celebrated at the Indian Consulate before the groups joined hands in Times Square to mark the day.
Consul General Riva Ganguly Das and Deputy Consul General Manoj Kumar Mohapatra sent best wishes and support for the celebrations.
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