A record number of 375 members and guests in colorful garbs befitting the Diwali festival started arriving in droves from 11:00am to celebrate the gala party. After savoring delicious appetizers which awakened their taste buds, they filled up the banquet hall which was packed to its capacity.

The kick off of the party started with the usual prayer by Mrs. Ashaben Dharawat in her melodious voice. While welcoming and wishing everyone a happy Diwali and happy, healthy and prosperous New Year, President referred to the unprecedented demand by our members for attending today’s event and thanked profusely sponsors for their generosity which enabled us to provide deep discount in admission fee to seniors.

The musical extravaganza led by versatile Ms. Varsha Joshi with assistant singer Mr. Nisarga Choksi, supported by musician Mr. Sunil Joshi, entertained the audience with a variety of songs beginning with hits from 1950s and ending with dhamaka songs which rocked the banquet hall. Ms. Varsha Joshi won the accolades from the audience. Attached pictures are a worth thousand words.

Glittering Bollywood dances by doyennes Manjari Parikh and Sona Brahmbhatt revved up the audience and were greeted with a thunderous applause. Congratulations to both the dancers.

Manjari, the veteran Bollywood dancer, has countless number of awards under her belt such as Miss Bollywood New York 2018, Miss Teen Bollywood USA 2017, winner of American pageant-Miss Teen New York International 2017, Miss Teen Talented Miss Bollywood USA 2017, Miss Teen India New York 2015 and Miss Talented Miss India New York and USA 2015. She has been a judge for talent shows, is a model, an anchor, a singer, and performer of classical Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Bollywood and hip-hop. She has been exclusively invited recently to perform and interview by Latino American TV channel in Staten Island.

Sona, a professor at SUNY State University in Farmingdale, is a lead software engineer and hedge fund consultant at Fidelity. She is a niece of our members and renowned dancers Mr. & Mrs. Chandrakant and Renuka Shah.