Saarey Jahaan se Accha, Hindustaan Hamara, the collective sentiment of about 15,000 people at India Day 2003 seemed to suggest. Organized annually by the India Association Of Greater Boston ( IAGB) India Day at the Hatch Shell has become an enduring Boston Tradition.

On Sunday, August 17, the Esplanade was awash with the hues of the Indian tricolor, the stage was bustling with activity as various cultural groups prepared to perform for this record crowd. The sweet sounds of paayal mingled with the lusty throated Bhangra cries (Chak de Phatte) and the crowd roared it’s approval when the American and Indian National Anthems were sung by the talented students of the Learn Quest Music Academy.

The program started with a welcome speech by Ms. Usha Vakil, Vice President, IAGB and was followed by an invocation by Dr. Vinod Chungi, Director, IAGB. After the national anthems were sung, Mr. Ram Voruganti, President, IAGB gave an impassioned speech, urging all Indian Americans to set aside petty differences and come together as a stronger community. Ms. Alka Gupta of Saheli and IAGB then spoke about the Women’s support group Saheli.

The chief guest of the evening was the Honorable Michael E. Capuano of the US House of Representatives (8th Congressional District of Massachusetts) and the guest of Honor was Mr. Paramathesh Rath, Consul General of India, New York.

The theme for the cultural program this year was ‘Peace and Democracy in the World’ and the ambience was one of peace and love!

The Emcees for the evening Alka Gupta and Hiren Patel ushered in the first act of the program, Sangeeta Kanjilal’s group who sang, most melodiously, Bande Mataram and Chal, chal, chal. Next up Neelima Chaturvedi’s group sang Shanti Geet Gaaye Ja, followed by the boistorous group from Rhode Island, students of Ms. Prafulla Vellury who sang, with great gusto, Batchu Sarojini Devi’s Telugu song ‘Telugu Bala Veerulam’.

The dance segment of the evening was kicked off by the Bharathakalai School of dance, when Jayshree Bala Rajamani’s students performed a scintillating Bharathanatyam ballet Aaduvome. The choreography was breathtaking and the performance reflected the considerable talent of both the teacher and her pupils.

Guru Neena Gulati’s students from the Triveni School of Dance were very adept in their rendering, in Kuchipudi style, of Jathiswaram while Praffulla’s students presented an endearing folk dance set to the old but charming song “Undhi le Manchi Kaalam”. One’s senses were by then awash with the pride and glory that love for one’s nation and it’s culture alone can induce.

As the program on the stage went on, folks walked about chatting, catching up with friends and visiting the various booths set up all around the esplanade. The Restaurant group One World Cuisine and IAGB’s sister organization, Saheli kept hunger at bay with tasty snacks and yummy meals.

Choreographed by Sanjeevani Kukreja, the song and dance from the Hindi film Lamhe’ Morani baga me bole adhi raat ma’ charmed the audience as did Bani bani Prem Diwani by the Sharon Group led by Monisha Prakash.

The piece de resistance of the evening, a ballet in Kuchipudi style by the students of Sudhakiran Totapally had the audience mesmerized and in awe of the emerging talent of each young dancer.

The next segment had music Ajitabh Ranjan and his group ' The magnificent seven' with a recital of the song Phagun ke aail Mahina and Yeh Desh hai veer Jawaano ka , the fast paced song from Naya Daur. Ajitabh Ranjan wrote and composed the song 'phagun ke aail mahina' in which he tried to outline a Bihari folk song theme with the able support of his team members (specially Santosh Late) giving the song final shape.

The classic rendering of the Rig Veda, Samgachhadvam followed, led by Mr. Bijoy Mishra.

Very soon the stage saw young dancers, from Eastern Rhythms in colorful ghagra cholis dance enthusiastically to the popular song Thoda sa pagla from the film ‘Aur Pyaar Hogaya”. Tarana, choreographed by the talented Ms. Sutanuka Basu had graceful dancers move to some of the most popular, unique film songs which did leave the audience nostalgic for days bygone.

Thiruvathira was performed around the traditional Kerala tall lamp (Nelavellaku) by a group of Malayalee women, looking graceful in their mundu neriyathu's and lending a sense of class and dignity to the evening’s program. Choreographer Veena Pillai was complimented by all present for the performance.

Jasmine Shah’s students danced to the popular number from Devdas ‘Sheese se sheesha takraaye‘ with the crowd joining in clapping and cheering.
The evening’s program was drawing to an end and one could sense the palpable sense of excitement and anticipation for the grand finale, the Bhangra dance. When the Bhangra group from MIT and the town of Lexington filled the stage, the crowd surged to the fore. The performance was electrifying, contagious in spirit and this writer spied many in the audience, young and old, shake an enthusiastic leg to the boistorous Punjabi beat. The dance ended but cries of ‘encore’ filled the air and the young dancers, with a commendable spirit of good-will, obliged the audience with an encore presentation.

The vote of thanks presented by Ms. Rita Shah, of Saheli and IAGB, acknowledged the various individuals and organizations who contributed to the events success.

What an evening! The only regret at the end of it was that we have to wait a whole year to have so much fun again! The one consolation is that we can anticipate IAGB presenting a similar show, on a smaller scale, for the Indian Republic Day in January!

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