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AMERICANNewsline

24 MARCH 03, 2023

Bhangra, Garba, Bollywood and ‘Amrita’:

Brazil swoons to Indian beats in Carnival

The street carnival of Indian community in São Paulo featured ‘Amrita’ — a special
tribute to Indian women and their contribution

OUR BUREAU
Sao Paulo

loco Bollywood returned to
Rua Augusta street on Febru-
Bary 18, Saturday, after a gap of
two years, with an explosion of colors,
drum rhythms, dances and music,
turning it into the biggest celebration
of Indian culture in the entite Latin
America. In 2021 and 2022, the street
celebrations were cancelled due to
the pandemic.
But as the bloco (street carnival)
of the Indian communiy hit the street
again on Saturday a large number
of people – Indians and Brazilians –
began to gather at the corner of the
iconic street. They came dressed in
the most colorful costumes. While
some were dressed as maharajas, a
few came as sadhus and the women
came in dresses representing differ-
ent parts of India – from Punjabi sal- (From L to R): Juily Malani, SVCC director Dr Jyoti Kiran Shukla, Indian Consul General in Sao Paulo, Ms Manisha Swami, and Disha Malani
war-kurta to South Indian sarees to
lehanga-cholis from Gujarat.
While the street began to rock
with Bhangra beats, Bollywood mu-
sic and rythmic steps of dancers as
early as 11 am, the bloco was formal-
ly declared open by MC Vijay Bavas-
kar with the playing of “Deva Shri
Ganesha” from the massive speakers
of the float, locally known as trio or
sound truck. As the popular song
bounced from the buildings on both
sides of the street, a group of drum
players joined in as they played the
Indian beats on their Brazilian in-
struments.
With thousands of people walk-
ing behind the float, which was
adorned with beautiful banners, the
Consul General of India in Sao Pau-
lo, Ms Manisha Swami, joined the
event as she climbed up the float to
address the gathering. “It is a matter
of pride for us that so many of you
have joined the celebration of Indian
culture, which is all about including The ‘Amrita’ presentation by the SVCC team. Photo by Elza Cohen Iara Ananda of Bollywood Brasil at the bloco. Photo by Elza Cohen
all. It is also a very special occasion
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