From America with love

Glittering and shimmering lights surrounded the casual visitor as he made his way through food stalls that showcased a variety of mouth-watering delicacies on October 16. Sari-clad girls and women silently rehearsed their steps readying their Bharatnatyam performances. Pandemonium everywhere, one could almost smell Di wali in the air between 2 pm and 9 pm at the Square. There was just one little difference. This was not happening in India but in the heart of the Big Apple—Times Square to be precise—where the Festi val of Lights was being celebrated. Clay oil lamps burned all night long bringing out the beauty and diversity of India in all its glory. Neeta Bhasin, the organiser of these festivities said she was witnessing the scene for the third time. The NRI, who has her own event management group, said that Diwali was a way to present a glimpse of her country to the world.

Organising the show 

“I was born and brought up here in New York. I have friends from America as well as other countries and they have all had this curiosity for Indian culture and festivals. This was when the idea of organising Diwali came to me. I thought, what could be a better place than Times Square to showcase the real India,” said Bhasin.
The idea was wonderful and noble in theory but very tough to put into practice. Bhasin explained how there were layers of permission required before a festival of such magnitude could be organised.

Foreign appreciation

But their efforts paid off. New York which is said to be home to almost 150 different cultures some of whom were a part of the festivities, thrummed to life with the sparkling  colours of different lights. People from various parts of India joined together as one for Diwali celebrations, as visitors were treated to a glimpse of its secular culture.

High energy dance performances through streets that had been especially cordoned off for the event, kept the festivities and the party spirit going on. LED lights and digital fireworks showcased on some of Time Square’s biggest and brightest screens attracting huge cheers from the crowd.

Pooja Krishna, an Indian, who had been staying in New York for more than a decade, got busy explaining the concept of Diwali to other nationals who had gathered there. Looking radiant in Indian attire and a sparkling diamond nose pin, she bubbled with energy as she explained why Diwali mattered so much to India and Indians all over the country and the world. Curious onlookers and keen cultural observers listened to her intently while others gathered to witness the fun and joy that is ‘Deebali.’

Sylvia wati Gunawan, an Indonesian, and mediaperson by profession, said she was simply stunned by the festivities, “I had no idea of this festival but the song and dance sequences are just superb. I have brought my children along with me so they may see it too.”

People from Turkey, Spain, Switzerland, London, Egypt, Germany, France, Finland, Taiwan, China and Pakistan flocked to the centre.

While most may not have been able to sing Bollywood songs, they enjoyed the beats of Watt Laoli from the film Bajirao Mastani. Some even tried to match a step or two with fellow Indians.

A heart-warming performance

The eight-hour festival started with a floral tribute to Ganesha as physically challenged child prodigy Sparsh Shah, who lives in the US, belted out the Ganesh Vandana and Jai Ho (a song from Slumdog Millionaire) and won hearts with his performance. Shah’s parents who were there to support him said it wasn’t easy for them initially but they were determined that he sing at the Square. “We put in all our efforts to carve out an identity for Sparsh that would make him feel no less than others. He is good at singing and song writing and has been giving public performances for quite some time now.” Television actors such as Shabbir and Sriti from Zee TV’s Kumkum Bhagya appeared on stage for a short while, much to the delight of the audience, while main screen actors such as Ranbir Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra and Aditya Roy Kapoor got the crowd swaying. Indo-American dancers put up a Bhangra fusion that was much appreciated. Singer Shaan performed at the event much to everyone’s delight.

Food for thought

Then came a whole street dedicated to Indian food. Lamb seekh kebabs, eggplant bharta curry, cucumber raita (yogurt), medhu vadai dal, chicken biryani and chicken tikka. There was food everywhere.There were also stalls set up displaying saris, lehengas, and kurtas. Alex Abdel Hakam of Egypt, who makes his living by drawing the sketches of tourists at Times Square, said: “I find this extremely entertaining and I am thrilled to be a part of these festivities. I would really love celebrate it every year just like the Indians do.” Clearly, whether one was Indian, Indonesian or Egyptian, the Diwali festivities, definitely created a chain of brightness that burnt a memory into everyone’s hearts and minds.