Page 26 - The Indian EYE 060421

NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline JUNE 04, 2021 | The Indian Eye 26

Fia chicago hosts

colorful holi extravaganza along with

india covid relief Fundraiser

richa chand
Chicago IL

he Federation of Indian
Associations [FIA] Chica-
Tgo, a premier community
umbrella organization -- host-
ed a spectacular event to mark
the festival of Holi amid gaiety
interspersed with music, dance
and singing that was awash with
the vibrancy of colors and gal-
lant exuberance at the Mall of
India in Naperville, Illinois on
Sunday May 23, 2021. The Holi
celebrations attracted a large
community attendance which
was bolstered by the presence
of several high-ranking elected
officials and dignitaries notable
among them include Congress-
man Raja Krishnamoorthi and
Congressman Danny Davis, sub-
urban Mayors and host of Indian
American elected officials.
This spring festival of Holi
was hosted with a principal mis-
sion to bring awareness of the
raging pandemic and the com-
pelling need to lend expeditious
assistance to India; and in this
direction FIA took a major lead
in mobilizing resources, oxygen
concentrators, portable ventila-
tors and other life-saving med-
ical equipment and shipping
them to save lives afflicted by
Covid in India.
With the warm weather com-
plimenting the festivities, the af-
ternoon celebrations catapulted Bollywood hits. followed by a live singing session and Saloni Shah Dance Group.
into joyful exuberance spilling Mistress of ceremonies Ri- from Mir Ali and Introduction There were more songs pre-
out in the outdoors of the Mall cha Chand, Vinita Gulabani and of FIA Board, directors, Advi- sented by Jitendra Bulsara and
where the actual Holi celebra- Pratibha Jairath charmed the sory board and FPMA members. Pratibha Jairath that brought
tions kicked in high gear with audience throughout the festive The Dhol Tarasha performance the audience to its feet, and ev-
the high-pitched DJ music and celebration with their captivat- presented by Maharastra Man- eryone started dancing in enthu-
the sprinkling of ‘gulal’ color ing eloquence marked by im- dal of Chicago left the audience siasm. On a solemn note, Suresh
powder on each other ensuring promptu quips in between. enthralled. There were several Bodiwala also shared his mes-
no one is left without the touch The event kicked off with energetic Bollywood inspired sage about Covid & Life Partner
of color on them - each celebrant an invocation dance presented folk, fusion and modern group launch. Throughout the pro-
sprung into spontaneous danc- by Anjali Verghese from Kala dance performances by the stu- gram, there were several Shar-
ing to the reverberating beats of Padma Bharatanatyam School, dents of S R Dance Academy Continued on next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE .com