Page 28 - The Indian EYE 082925

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline AUGUST 29, 2025 | The Indian Eye 28

IACFNJ Celebrates India’s Independence Day

with Colorful Event in Central Jersey

OUR BUREAU

Somerset, NJ
he Indo-American Cultural
Foundation of Central Jersey
T(IACFNJ) hosted its annual
India’s Independence Day Celebra-
tion on August 16, 2025, at Shree
Swaminarayan Temple, Vadtal Dham,
in Somerset, New Jersey. The event
featured vibrant cultural and patriot-
ic dance performances, singing, and
greetings from local elected officials
who joined the community to com-
memorate the occasion.
This year’s Independence Day
celebration was organized in collab-
oration with Shree Swaminarayan
Temple, Vadtal Dham in Somer-
set and included a wide variety of
family-friendly activities, live music,
singing, NBT SKIT regional and
cultural performances by talented lo-
cal singers and dance groups. South
Brunswick Mayor Charles Carley
and Councilwoman Archana Grover,
South Brunswick Veteran School
Board Member for the last 23 years
Barry Natahnson, North Brunswick
Councilman Rajesh Mehta and New
Jersey’s former Assemblyman and
first elected state official of the state
and Deputy Speaker and current
Commissioner on the New Jersey
Board of Public Utilities Upendra
Chivukula were among the elected
officials who attended the event to
grace the occasion and extended
their best wishes to everyone and
congratulated on India’s Indepen-
dence Day. There were more than
20 dance and singing performances
and a special performance from the
visually impaired group of singers served as Master of Ceremony and surrounding towns. Over the years, arships at North Brunswick High
from India who sang patriotic songs. did an outstanding job in hosting the IACFNJ has built a strong reputa- School were presented in memory of
IACFNJ team members, com- entire event. Live Music was pro- tion for organizing highly successful IACFNJ leaders Murthy Yerramilli
munity members along with Pres- vided by DJ Ankur and the entire community events such as Navratri (Trustee) and Sunil Shah (Treasur-
ident Dr. Tushar Patel welcomed event was choreographed by Naina Garba, summer picnics, Indepen- er), who passed away in 2020 and
everyone for the event and con- Goel of Dance4ever as the IACFNJ dence Day celebrations, spring fes- 2021, respectively. The scholarships
gratulated everyone and expressed event Chair. IACFNJ appreciated tivals, and holiday parties that bring were awarded by Darshan Shah, son
his gratitude to the community and support from Vadtal Dham Temple people of all ages together. of Sunil Shah and Mahendra Patel
the Shree Swaminarayan Temple for management for their wonderful In addition to cultural and social during the Senior Awards Night on
their contributions to the event’s hospitality in providing the venue activities, IACFNJ continues to pro- June 3, 2025, and by the IACFNJ
success. He remarked, “We are for- and delicious food. mote education by sponsoring schol- President Dr. Tushar Patel and Dim-
tunate to live in the USA and cele- IACFNJ has been a leading arships for deserving high school ple Patel at South Brunswick High
brate two of the world’s top democ- community organization in Central students. In 2025, IACFNJ awarded School on June 11, 2025.
racies—India, the largest, and the Jersey for more than two decades, a total of seven scholarships to stu- Looking ahead, IACFNJ’s next
USA, the oldest. As we celebrate, engaging the younger generation dents from South Brunswick and major program will be its signature
we must remember the sacrifices of of Indian Americans and the large North Brunswick High Schools in Navratri Garba, a mega event sched-
freedom fighters.” The young and South Asian population in South recognition of their academic excel- uled for September 2025. Details will
energetic teens Daivik & Sarayu Brunswick, North Brunswick, and lence in various subjects. Two schol- be announced soon.

www.TheIndianEYE.com