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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 25, 2022 | The Indian Eye 20

GOPIO’s CT chapter hosts

Diwali celebrations at Ferguson Library

OUR BUREAU
Stamford, CT
erguson Library, Stamford in
coordination with The Con-
Fnecticut Chapter of the Global
Organization of People of Indian Or-
igin (GOPIO-CT) celebrated Diwali
the Festival of Lights, on Sunday,
Nov. 13 2022.
th
The program started with a
welcome address by the Library
President Ms. Alice Knapp, who
thanked GOPIO for initiating this
celebration and all the attendees
for their show of support by their
participation. Ms. Knapp also said
that the library looked bright and
very colorful with all the decora-
tions and was thrilled to hear that
there were more than 80 perform-
ers at this year’s cultural show. This
is the second year that the Library
and GOPIO-CT have organized this
event. At last year’s event, the Indi-
an Consulate in New York had do-
nated books for the “India Corner”
at the library.
A traditional lamp was lit by Ms.
Knapp, Ms. Klompus, Mr. Prasad
and other GOPIO members present.
GOPIO Executive Vice-Presi-
dent Prasad Chintalapudi said that
there is so much to learn from the
Diwali festival. He said that the
Devas and Asuras both gain knowl-
edge and power but Devas use it for
purpose of community growth and
Asuras use it for destruction. Diwa-
li festival is celebrated all over the
world including at White House ev- through the Sewa Diwali initiative.
ery year. This year New York May- Roushan Ahmed, a gifted local
or Adams declared Diwali to be a henna artist applied intricate and ex-
school holiday in 2023. quisite Henna designs for everyone.
The event was chaired by GO- Following the ceremony, In-
PIO Jt. Secretary Mahesh Jhangiani dian American dancers including
and Yelena Klompus the Library’s children performed Indian clas-
ELL, Citizenship & Cultural Pro- sical, folk and Bollywood dances
grams manager. Prachi Narayan, representing the different regions
Anita Mathur, Ashvini Persaud, of India. Unity in diversity was the
and Shilpa Bhakta made the audi- theme for the afternoon. Yashasvi
torium colorful with all the deco- Jhangiani and Prachi Narayan kept
rations. Darshana “A glimpse into the audience engaged and the cul-
Hindu civilization” traveling exhibit tural program flowing smoothly.
was on display, offering an oppor- The auditorium was packed, and
tunity to learn about various topics this promises to become one of the
ranging from yoga and divinity to library’s more popular celebrations.
mathematics and administration. After the cultural show light Indian
Non-perishable food items were snacks and pizza was served to at-
also collected for local food banks tendees.

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