Friends Of India Las Vegas Marks India I-mDay With Cultural Celebration

India-West News Desk

LAS VEGAS, NV – Las Vegas shimmered in saffron, white, green and navy blue on August 16 as Friends of India, Las Vegas (FOILV) brought together more than 300 people to celebrate India’s 80th Independence Day.

Held at the Clark County Library Auditorium, the program combined dance, music and a Tricolor parade, with participants from different regional communities showcasing India’s cultural diversity.

FOILV president Saroj Chatterjee led the celebration.

The centerpiece of the afternoon was a dance competition featuring groups representing the many regional communities that have made Las Vegas their home. Dancers ranging from young children to adults brought the colors, rhythms, traditions and artistic expressions of different parts of India to the stage.

The performances went beyond choreography, with dancers using music, movement and expression to portray India’s freedom struggle, sacrifices, triumphs, cultural heritage and spirit.

The dance competition was followed by a parade featuring young dancers carrying the Indian Tricolor. FOILV’s cultural secretary Nirmalya Chatterjee added to the patriotic atmosphere with a live rendition of a patriotic song as the children made their way through the auditorium.

The musical finale featured two of India’s best-known patriotic compositions, ‘Sampurna Vande Mataram’ and ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha.’

Las Vegas musician Gopal Venkataraman led the presentation, bringing together as one, an ensemble of 28 singers for the performance.

The singers appeared in coordinated costumes in saffron, white, green and navy blue, turning the ensemble into a visual representation of the Tricolor as they performed the two patriotic songs and brought the celebrations to a close.