Page 30 - The Indian EYE 041522

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline APRIL 15, 2022 | The Indian Eye 30

FIa – chicago celebrates Indian Heritage night

with windy city Bulls for the 5th consecutive year

CHICAGO, IL

he Indian American communi-
ty organization Federation of
TIndian Associations (FIA) of
Chicago, celebrated Indian Heritage
Night for the 5th consecutive year,
at the Now Arena (previously Sears
Center) where the Windy City Bulls –
the official NBA G League affiliates
of the Chicago Bulls, took on the Col-
lege Park Skyhawks.
FIA Chicago is a 501 (c)(3) sta-
tus, non-profit umbrella organization
of other Indian Associations in the
Chicago land and Midwest repre-
senting in excess of 300,000 culturally
diverse but united together Asian-In-
dians. FIA has been actively engaged
in serving the Indian American com-
munity for the past 12 years and has
been instrumental in promoting Indi-
an culture.
The Indian Heritage Night cel-
ebrations began, as the Chairman & Team FIA celebrating Indian Heritage Night during Windy City Bulls Game on March 27th at NOW Arena (From L to R: Altaf Bukhari, Onkar
Founder President of FIA Sunil Shah,
along with wife Rita Shah, President Sangha, Sunil Shah, Brad Seymoure, Rita Shah, Neil Khot, Hitesh Gandhi, Richa Chand and Vinita Gulabani)
Hitesh Gandhi, and Founder & Past
President Onkar Singh Sangha, Exe. Indian fusion dance performance by
VP Vinita Gulabani, General Secre- the Dancing Diamonds group. (Per-
tary Richa Chand & Cultural Secre- formers: Anika Sharma, Samiksha
tary Pika Munshi, representing Team Joshi, Saanvi Gubba, Niyati Parashar,
FIA and all Indian diaspora, proudly Urvi Chirapu, Charisma) Team FIA
stood on the court holding the Indian presented a Certificate of Appreci-
Tricolor and the tricolor was also pro- ation to all the performers. The pro-
jected on the huge NOW arena mon- gram coordinators were Richa Chand
itors during the beautiful rendition (FIA -Chicago) & Logan Robben
of the Indian National Anthem by (Windy City Bulls). Other FIA mem-
Ananya Ghosh. Immediately followed bers who attended and supported
by it, the American National anthem, the event were Abir Maru, Neelam
was sung by Nitya Nair. It was a very Jai, Harry Sidhu, Pratik Deshpande,
special experience for all. The spirited Vibha Rajput, Dr Afroz Hafeez, Sub-
crowd cheered for both India & USA. bu Iyyer, Julie Thakkar, Hemendra
Longlive India! Longlive USA!! Shah, Peenal Shah, Chandni Kalra,
A Certificate of Appreciation was Kavita Rawla, Aparna Khot, Chandini
presented Brad Seymore, President, Duvuri, Deepa Sharma, Dr Ramesh
Windy City Bulls, to Team FIA - Chi- Brad Seymoure, President Windy City Bulls with Hitesh Gandhi, President FIA -Chicago. Nair, Manoj Rathod and Suresh Bod-
cago for their participation and cele- iwala and their friends and families.
brating five years of Indian Heritage game between the competing teams, formers: Anyraa Singh, Alak Shuk- Also enjoyable was a fun zone
Night. The honor was received by the highlight of the evening was the la, Aamukta Chilukuri, Avika Patni, with Windy City Bulls obstacle course
Sunil Shah, Rita Shah, Hitesh Gandhi, exquisite dance performances, by Sahasrika Moganti, Sataakshi Joshi, and basketball hoops, one of the main
Onkar Sangha, Neil Khot, Vinita Gu- Chicago Dance Varsity Group led Shreeja Sonavane, Aaliya Khanum attractions in the arena. Gus T, Live
labani, Altaf Bukhari, Richa Chand by Puja Joshi, showcasing the Indian Mohammed, Hiral Shah, Pooja Gi- mascot of Bulls entertained the cheer-
on behalf of Team FIA. When asked, Dance forms, during the pregame and roh, Ruchi Sharma). ing crowds. The “Catch the T-shirt”
Chairman Shah said, “We promote quarter breaks that enthralled the au- During the quarter breaks, there act further energized the attendees.
& motivate our youth to participate dience. was a sensational Garbha folk dance Last but not the least, FIA greatly
& perform during the Bulls games.” The Pregame Dance perfor- by Magic Feet group ( Performers: appreciates its sponsors and support-
President Gandhi added, “We strive mance by Dancing Divas & Little An- Mahi Jain, Agalya Saminathan, Suri- ers. FIA Media coverage by: Suresh
for a culture, rich & diverse, and this gels group on Bollywood Instrumen- ya Soni, Ridhima Singh, Apurva Vi- Bodiwala & Subhash Mantri, Asian
is one of the ways we can do it.” tal followed by freestyle Bollywood nodkumar, Riva Rithesh, Ahana Cha- Media.
Besides a very exciting basketball Dance stole everyone’s heart. (Per- ranpahari ) There was also a beautiful --Asian Media USA

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