India International Impact Introduces Holi To Opinion Leaders In SoCal
India-West Staff Reporter
LOS ANGELES, CA – On March 21, India International Impact held an event to introduce the festival of Holi and the culture of India, it said, to “influential people” in the Los Angeles area.
The lineup included live dance and music, along with videos showing Holi celebrations from Bollywood movies and from recent visits to New Delhi by American Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
In the room were representatives of two of the Quad countries: Consul General Kenko Sone and Consul Mayumi Tsubakimoto from Japan as well as Kelly and Kershyn from the Australian Consulate in Los Angeles.
Attorney Navneet Chugh spoke about philanthropist Dr Navin Doshi and presented him with a plaque recognizing his support of India International Impact.
The crowning component occurred when guests and hosts showered one another with large amounts of colorful flower petals in to simulate the bacchanalia of joy that the festival of Holi represents. One of the hosts, Gunjan Bagla, was in mid-speech when Christine Peterson, Director of the International Office of Mayor Karen Bass and Roopa Masten joyously rushed him with flowers.
Guests included David Abel who runs the Verde Exchange Conference and his wife Brenda Levin, a celebrity architect who has restored the Griffith Observatory, Grand Central Market and Dodger Stadium, all icons of Los Angeles.
Alisssa Bernstein, Associate Director of the American Jewish Committee attended as did two senior representatives from the City of Long Beach, the second largest municipality in LA county. The CEO of the World Affairs Council of Orange County, Richard Downie was present as well.
Held on the campus of Loyola Marymount University, the guests for the March 21 event included the Dean of the Business School, Dayle Smith and the Senior Director of Business Development & Strategy, Nola Wanta. Professor Chris Chapple who runs the Yogic Studies Program at LMU, made brief remarks.
The program chair and emcee for the event was community leader Smita Bagla, former President of TiE Southern California and co-founder of the Women’s Initiative Network. Julian Leuthold, who studied at JNU in Delhi years ago, and is known for his Get Global Conferences volunteered his time to locate attendees and organize the celebration.
India International Impact promotes a better understanding of India and US-India relations for mainstream Americans and the international community in Southern California. Its 20 hosts and volunteers include Indo-philes and Indian Americans from all walks of life and many of them were present for this event.
