Triangle Residents Celebrate Diwali

By Alka Srivastava

The theme for Cary Diwali 2007 was Kalanjali - A Tribute to Art. Congressman David Price inaugurated the festivities by lighting the traditional lamp. In this family event, visitors enjoyed an array of art from India , including dance and music presentations by local youth and artists throughout the day. There was also an exhibition of artwork from India , a handicrafts bazaar, and a variety of Indian cuisine for the visitors to enjoy. In a manner befitting this year’s theme, the exhibition was a tribute to India ’s rich artistic heritage. The exhibits included a hand-painted jhoola, unique paintings, classical dance costumes and jewelry, sculptures, and clothes from different parts of India . One section was devoted entirely to elephant statues and cleverly displayed many different ways in which elephants are decorated in India .

A record number of vendors participated in the handicrafts bazaar, giving visitors of all ages an opportunity to shop for clothes, jewelry, and artwork. In a change from past years, there were a total of five food vendors – Bamboo Garden , Bombay Grille, Saffron, Sitar India Palace , and Spice N Curry - all local Indian restaurants. In addition to increasing the variety of food offerings, this helped keep the food lines moving faster. The mouth-watering food items up for sale included samosa, chat, biryani, chili chicken, dosa, tandoori chicken wrap, and many other traditional favorites.

The morning show consisted of a cultural program in which a large number of local artists displayed their dancing and singing skills. In a significant increase from the previous year, the morning program showcased the talents of 412 performers and 48 choreographers. The audience was amazed and thoroughly entertained by the array of talent displayed. The artists were talented Triangle-area residents ranging in age from five years to adults in their fifties. Seven charismatic emcees kept the show going and had the audience engaged and enthusiastic all day long.

The chief guest for the evening program was Congressman Bob Etheridge. The highlight of the evening program was a foot-tapping performance by India ’s first and only boy band, A Band of Boys. The Mumbai-based band consists of Karan Oberoi, Chin2 Bhosle, Siddhaarth Haldipur, and Sherrin Varghese, all four of whom hail from music and showbiz backgrounds. The Band started the show by performing many of their original hits, including Nain Katari, Meri Neend, and Gori, all of which had the youngsters in the crowd on their feet. The Band went on to rock the night by singing and dancing to Hindi movie hits of the 70s and 80s. The audience was particularly entertained with their performance of some Amitabh Bachchan super-hits. Following the band’s performance was a spectacular display of fireworks. The lake-side fireworks lit up the night sky and amazed young and old alike.