Colourful India Fest begins at ISC Abu Dhabi amidst food, fun and frolic

By Alphonse Mendonsa/Thomas Sequeira
Team Mangalorean, U.A.E

Abu Dhabi, 03 Feb 2012: India Social and Cultural Centre Abu Dhabi is one of the premier organization of U.A.E. was filled with packed crowd on a windy, cold weather to witness one of the most entertaining and amazing cultural event India Festival 2012.  H. E. Mr. M.K. Lokesh, Ambassador of India to U.A.E. inaugurated the Festival accompanied by Title Sponsor Mr. K.P. Ganesh Babu  - Managing Director of Gemini Building Materials and Main Sponsor Mr. Humayun Alam – Asst. General Manager Al Massood Atomobiles and ISC officials and dignitaries on dais .  Despite the harsh weather conditions, large number of people enjoyed the evening with loads of food put out by all the major food outlets and restaurants of Abu Dhabi put up at the roof top of the center and amazing entertaining by various world renowned musicians and artists arrived from India, Indonesia and Egypt.

 

Earlier H.E. Mr. M.K. Lokesh took a tour of all the stalls put up at the entire premises of ISC accompanied by Ms. Anuka Chakravarthy - Cultural Secretary – Cultural Wing, Embassy of India who was instrumental in bringing cultural troupe from India along with Mr. Sudhir Kumar Shetty (CEO Global – U.A.E. Exchange Centre) and ISC officials Mr. Ramesh Panicker (Hon. President ISC), Mr. Yogesh Prabhu (Hon. Treasurer), Mr. Jayaram Rai (Hon. Auditor).   Mr. Ambassador and Mrs. Chakarvarthy enjoyed the various delicacies of Indian cuisine by tasting the food from various outlets.

 

Mr. Ashok Kumar (Hon. Entertainment Secretary) welcomed the dignitaries to the dais for the inauguration of the India Festival 2012. The festival was inaugurated at 8pm by H.E. Mr. Lokesh by lighting of traditional lamp accompanied by ISC officials and main sponsors.  MR. M.A.Salam welcomed the dignitaries on dais, ISC Board of Governors.  Mr. Ramesh Panicker in his presidential speech thanked the ambassador for visiting and inaugurating the festival and also organizers for putting up such a huge show.  He also remembered former Hon. President Mr. Thomas Varghese who initiated the first India Fest 2011 and conducted successfully.    He also announced that 5% of earnings of the festival shall be allocated to charity purpose of Indian Community and last year a substantial amount has been sent to India for this purpose.  He requested all to enjoy the full three days of food, fun and entertainment.

 

 

H.E. Mr. M.K. Lokesh also spoke on the occasion and commanded the efforts and hard work put up by ISC and in particular Festival organizing committee.  He too remembered Mr. Thomas Varghese, who organized this festival for the first time in ISC and thanked him for his vision.   He also thanked Ms. Anuka Chakravarthy for her efforts in arranging visa and travel of 25 cultural troupe members from India who will be performing for three days.

 

Mr. Panicker felicitated all the dignitaries on dais on the occasion with floral bouquets.

 

The most marvelous entertainment show was presented by Mr. Mohammed of Egypt who presented a brilliant revolving dance performance and received a huge applauds from the crowd.  Also the world renowned Pandit Daya Shanker along with his musicians presented a wonderful Shehnai  (aerophonic (wind) instrument) and mesmerized the gathering.    At the end of the playing of Shehnai, Pandit Daya Shanker and his troupe was felicitated by ISC Hon Auditor Mr. Jayarama Rai with roses as an appreciation from Indian Community.

 

A world renowned Qawwali singer Mr. Jameel Ahmed from India along with his 8 member troupe sang beautiful qawwali numbers and enthralled the crowd.  Prior to closing of day one, there were other two items were presented by Indonesian dance troupe namely, couple dance and peacock dance which also appreciated and applauded by the crowd.

 

The entire entertainment part was compeered by emcees of the day Danush and Aparna with a lot of fun and jokes and kept the audience entertained all the time.