Dancers clad in brightly colored, glittering clothing captivated the crowd on August 16, during Newton’s sixth annual India Day Celebration, outside the Hyde Community Center.
“It’s really nice for [my children] to get exposed to their culture,” said Ashita Gurnani, whose five-year-old son Ved Ballaney waited patiently as his face was painted with a rainbow butterfly. Funds paid to the face-painting and henna booths were donated to the Newton Food Pantry.
“It’s a great way to build community,” said Shreya, who asked not to use her last name. A recent transplant from California, she was excited to meet Newton-area residents at the cultural event hosted by the Indian American Community of Newton (IACON).
People of all ages, many dressed in silk outfits made in saturated hues, visited tables featuring information from various nonprofit organizations. Others perused shiny, bejeweled earrings and necklaces for sale by vendors or patiently waited for freshly made goodies from Chennai Eats in Watertown.
After reaching the end of the line, hungry attendees were rewarded with hot and crispy dosas, expertly made by cook Sridhar Periyasamy. He swirled an incredibly thin layer of batter onto a circular griddle, creating a tasty pancake that could be filled with potatoes and dipped in sauces. Workers at the popular stand estimated they fried up hundreds of dosas by the end of the event.
While munching on the vegetarian fare and sitting in the sun, attendees watched children and adults dance to classical and new music, while others played instruments or sang. They also heard positive messages from Mayor Marc Laredo and Deputy Consul General of India Shruthi Purushotam.
While many sat and watched the entertainment, a large crowd of women ran to the front of the seating area and grooved along with BollyX dancers Radha Muthian and Lana Israel, as they demonstrated steps inspired by Bollywood dances.
Overall, organizers were pleased with how the day went.
“It was a great success! One of the things we were most excited about was seeing the breadth of Indian culture represented on one stage,” said Heena Bhatt, who helped organize the annual event. “It was especially meaningful to see so many children and young people participate and connect with their Indian roots. We had performers across age groups, giving the next generation an opportunity to share their culture with the wider community.”