April 24 :
On Sunday, April 21, 2024, the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) Chicago, a 501(c)(3) organisation, held a vibrant Holi celebration at the Mall of India in Naperville, Illinois. The event showcased Indian culture through music, dance, Thandai, a special milk drink, tasty food, and singing. The stage was exquisitely decorated. A news release from the organisation states that around 600 individuals were present.
"Dhol Tasha," an ensemble piece by Maharashtra Mandal, got everyone on their feet as the ceremony got underway. Scott Wehrli, the mayor of Naperville, got down on one knee and mastered the routine. Sanskriti Sharma and Secretary-General Nilabh Dubey presided over the event, which featured presentations by Sunil Shah (FIA Chairman and Founder), Pratibha Jairath (President), and Vinita Gulabani (Past President).
The following individuals were greeted by Shah: Somnath Ghosh, Consul General of India, Mayor Wehrli, Congresswoman Michelle Mussman, Mayor Larry Herman of Oakbrook, and Alderwoman Shweta Baid of Aurora. Dr. Bhupinder Beri, Sushma Bhanot, and Pinky Thakkar were also present as members of the Advisory Board.
Wehrli discussed the role of the Indian diaspora in making Naperville what it is today and why it is consistently named the best city to live in the United States. The joy of applying the colours, Herman said, united everyone like a family. Mussman, who was making his ninth Holi celebration appearance with FIA, remarked on how the organisation exemplifies the idea of unity in diversity by bringing together people from different parts of the world. The Indian community, according to Baid, is known for its warm hospitality, which facilitates assimilation no matter where one lives.
CG Ghosh extended his congratulations to the dynamic Indian diaspora for their positive impact on economic development in their various homes. As the new government's election got underway, he went on to call India the "world's great democracy." Tomorrow, 1.4 billion people will cast ballots to choose their representatives. All the dignitaries were given custom-made Holi T-shirts as gifts. Naresh Shah of Rely Care Services and Ghoman Group of Maratt were acknowledged by the organisers for their sponsorship.
Hosted by Richa Chand was the cultural programme. Jitendra Bulasara and Shaila Khedkar were among the performers who signed patriotic and special Holi songs. Pika Munshi's Prerna, Kabita, and Trusha; Anita Rotiwar's Bollywood Beatz; Falguni Rana's Suhani Dance Academy were among the many dance studios that showcased their students' abilities.
Director Falguni Rana, together with Dolly Bansal, Sonika Khandelwal, Sanskriti Sharma, and Falguni Sukhadia, surprised everyone with a dance performance. With the performance of "Dholida Pankhida" by the Garbha team, which included Jigna Pathak and Jitendra Bulsara, hundreds of audience members got up and danced along. The audience was on their feet dancing when Richa Chand and Nilabh Dubey summoned stage chairman Sunil Shah and executive director Rita Shah to sing a lively duet. Taking place outside, the last part of the programme was the real color-playing. The colours were generously sponsored by Pratibha Jairath and were freely distributed to all 600 guests who attended the delightful celebrations.
The Executive Vice President, Anu Malhotra, made Thandai, a traditional drink made with milk and dry fruits, for all the Holi participants. The Indian munchies and a unique Holi T-shirt were distributed by Dinesh Kapoor, Anu Khetarpal, Smitesh Shah, and Hemendra Shah before everyone went outdoors to play Holi. Neelam Jai set up both the stage and the exterior. As the Holi festivities got underway, Sunil Shah, Pratibha Jairath, Vinita Gulabani, and Sudhir Agrawal threw colourful powder 25 feet into the air. The sound of DJ and the Dhol crew got everyone pumped up.
