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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline OCTOBER 03, 2025 | The Indian Eye 18

AIA-NY announces move of

38th Deepavali Festival to Long Island

The iconic Indian community event on Oct 11 near Jones Beach in Babylon will include all the features it is known
for: fireworks, cultural performances, Meena Bazar, and ethnic food, promises AIA-NY President Beena Kothari.

AIA NY President Beena Kothari and her team took oath of office in March 2025. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman speaking at the AIA-NY benefit gala in June 2025.

OUR BUREAU quins will beckon visitors to the photo
booth. To welcome visitors from dif-
Hicksville, NY
ferent communities, their women will
he annual, iconic Deepavali be dressed in colorful saris. Visitors
Festival, organized by the As- can participate in Rangoli and art
Tsociation of Indians in Ameri- competitions.
ca (AIA), New York chapter, will be People can still purchase tickets
held this year at the Overlook Beach to the VIP dinner scheduled for 5:30
near Jones Beach on Long Island’s pm in an enclosed area. Purchase of
south shore. raffle tickets may win you exciting
AIA-NY’s 38th Deepavali Festi- grand prizes.
val in Babylon on October 11 is being Main sponsors of the celebration
held under the leadership of Beena include Bolla Oil, Mount Sinai, New
Kothari, who has a record of success- York Cancer and Blood Specialists,
fully organizing major community Cheap-o-air, Navika Group, ICICI
events, including the India Day Parade Bank, and Ranju & Ravi Batra.
in Hicksville twice. She has become At gala 2025 - Beena Kothari with her husband, Navneet Kothari, immediate AIA President Dr Global TV channels, Zee and
a proud pioneer now as she guides Sony, will show highlights of AIA
the move of AIA’s Deepavali Festi- Jagdish Gupta and Treasurer Dr Bal Gilja. Deepavali 2025. Local media sup-
val from Manhattan to Long Island. porters include Parikh Worldwide
Inviting everyone to the all-day in previous years at the South Street A Special Fashion Show by Media, TV Asia, Radio Zindagi, Jus
celebration of India’s most beloved Seaport) and will last 20-30 minutes. Prashant Goyal, Celebrity Designer, TV, The South Asian Times, The In-
festival, Beena Kothari mentions that The most significant event will and a surprise Bollywood star appear- dian Panorama, The Indian Eye, Hum
they have planned an exciting lineup of be the 30-minute Ramayana Musical ance will add glamor to the evening. Hindustani, and Bollywood Insider.
programs highlighting our rich culture Live Dance Drama. A presentation Kids Corner, from 12:00 to 4:00 AIA is the oldest Indian commu-
and heritage to entertain and engage about Ram Setu has also been planned. pm, will offer games and fun activi- nity organization in America, set up in
everyone in the family, from kids to Jains’ Diwali connection will be cele- ties, including henna painting. 1967 with the motto of ‘Indian Heri-
seniors. Admission to the public event brated - on this day Bhagwan Maha- Adults can head out to the Health tage American Commitment’.
is free, she confirms. Overlook Beach vira attained liberation in 527 BCE. and Wellness Zone and try out free AIA-NY President Beena
in Babylon is conveniently located and Many lawmakers, dignitaries, in- Yoga and Zumba sessions. Kothari highlights that the chapter’s
easily accessible from Nassau and Suf- cluding the Consul General of India, Retail and corporate booths will achievements include New York
folk counties, as well as Queens. Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, and celeb- be set up in a tented area. Women City’s official recognition of Diwali as
The fireworks show, the most rities will grace the festivities in big will be seen thronging Meena Bazar. a holiday starting in 2024, the 2013 re-
exciting part of the AIA Deepavali numbers. Food stalls will serve Indian cuisine lease of the USPS Diwali stamp, and
celebration, is scheduled for 7 pm on Entertainment includes Indian and masala chai. celebrating the festival at Gracie Man-
the shore (instead of on the water, as classical and folk dances. Maharaja and Maharani manne- sion and the White House in 2006.

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