IACRF Seniors Celebrate Diwali & Thanksgiving
Contributed By - Dr. Prakash V Kotecha and Bhagubhai Patel
Diwali Celebrations
There was exuberance of joy at the center for Diwali Festival Celebration. Everybody was treated with delicious Diwali special refreshments of Chevda, Mathia, Ghughara and hot masala chai upon arrival. Guests and Members were dressed up in their traditional Indian outfits. Melodious music played in the background and 28 different Diwali Greetings were displayed on the display TV. The stage and the hall was decorated with Diwali lamps with IACRF Seniors banner at the center. The Rangoli table in front of the stage consisting of ornaments only, prepared by Sarla Dave was glorious. Sarla Dave was also the leader in organizing Diwali program.
The entertainment and cultural program started with the welcome address in Hindi by Dr. Prakash Kotecha covering the importance of Diwali and celebration at Ayodhya for Bhagwan Ram returning to Ayodhya and how the entire Universe joined in the celebration. He then linked the celebration to the event and asked members to join the celebration by enjoying the Diya Dance.
Diya Dance: Excellent Unique performance by members
Choreography and Dance Direction: Sarla Dave and Saroj Amin
Performance: Dr. Prakash Kotecha as Shri Ram and Meena Kotecha as Sita, dance performers were Sarla Dave, Meena Bhavsar, Deepa Bagai, Usha Gautam, Bhagubhai Patel, Lalitbhai Patel, Pinakin Dave and Ratilal Javia. Mani Ba, Vijaya Ba, Amba Ba and Darshan Dewan were the ladies with Diya. The audience appreciated it with long applaud and cheers.
Musical Program:
The musical program by Frank’s Group ‘Sur Sangeet’ started with prayers. Frank, Suchi Mishra and Kishor Ganatra along with our own member Mahesh Dewan were the artists. Lots of mesmerizing Bollywood songs inter twined with hilarious jokes entertained audience. Some songs took people to dancing floor and they enjoyed it thoroughly. Program ended with last song of Chalte Chalte sung by Vinod Shah and Bhagubhai, Lalitbhai, Usha, Mahesh Dewan joined the group in singing suggesting symbolic of our eternal enthusiastic group.
Bhagubhai delivered the vote of thanks to all those who dedicated their time and efforts to make this function a grand success. They were: Bhadrikbhai Patel and Kaly Paramanadam for Attendees’ Registration, Dr. Prakash Kotecha for music and video and Mahendra Devgania for photo video, Sarla Dave and Saroj Amin for organizing Diya Dance, Usha Gautam for Master of Ceremony and Suraj Gautam for stage management, Vinod and Kokila Shah, Rasikbhai Patel and Mahesh Dewan for Food Service, Champaben and friends for catering, Alma for decoration of the hall, Frank and his group for Entertainment. Everyone appreciated Bhagubhai Patel for orchestrating and organizing the whole Diwali Program.
Technical Presentation - All of Us
A technical Presentation on “All of Us” a research initiated by National Institute of Health was made by Dr. Prakash Kotecha. He wished everyone a Happy New Year on 15th November morning and then explained the concept of Precision Medicine and based on that how National Institute of Health has come out with a prospective cohort for future studies covering one million people staying in USA who are above the age of 18. It’s a unique program because it will shape the future research in an advanced way.
He shared handouts for those who want to enroll themselves for the studies and recommended them to visit the websites https://allofus.nih.gov for more information and https://www.joinallofus.org/en for joining the program. Members appreciated the presentation.
Celebrating Jalaram Jayanti, we had lunch for the day consisting of Khichdi, Naan, Eggplant & Potato shak, plain Yogurt, onion & tomato salad, Ganthia and pickle. Dessert: Ice cream and Barfi. Sweet Boondia Prasad was brought by Meena Kotecha and barfi by Jayaben Patel. Lunch sponsors for the month included Kishorbhai Vyas and Tara Patel and Mannubhai and Shardaben Patel and Asian Pacific Community in Action. Diwali special lunch was prepared by Champaben Patel and friends.
IACRF Seniors meet every Thursday at 9-30 AM at IACRF Hall, 2809 W Maryland Ave, Phoenix. For more details email to pvkotecha@gmail.com.
Photographs by Manilal Devgania and Pradyumna Kshatriya.