IAMV is pleased to announce it celebrated yet another successful Diwali Mela 2018 with a strong attendance of 740 people at North Andover Middle school. This was 24th year of IAMV celebrating different festivals and events in the Merrimack Valley region. I am proud to say that it is going full steam ahead as our members increase year over year. IAMV started as a very small community gathering which in turn today is full-fledged Organization celebrating India's tradition and culture. We normally celebrate Holi festival and Diwali festival every year both in very different ways.

What makes our events different from other organization is that we focus heavy on the cultural side specially performances of the kids. We have a great access to great choreographers and dance enthusiasts who produce a very diverse cultural program ranging from 6 years all the way to 50 year old participants. We were also lucky to have local Merrimack singing stars perform 2 very special singing items for us as well. 

IAMV is also very focused on the commerce side of things also as evident with all the Vendors that we had in the past as well as this event selling all kinds of goods and services ranging from musical school programs, tuition programs to rangoli items, clothing, jewelry etc.  We were also thankful to Turkish Airlines for free Airline Ticket sponsorship and Hindi Manch (Hindimanch.org) for donating 5 tickets for Diwali raffle.

IAMV Diwali Mela 2018 had the most variety of food this year than any year before. Mayuri restaurant from Acton provided South Indian Cuisine , P N D Mart in Lowell came with Sugarcane Juice, Paan and Falooda, Unnati's cafe sold fresh homemade sweets and Mirch Nation from Marlborough sold Indo Chinese - Punjabi food. Our focus was very much in providing what was missing so many years which were the novelty items which were big hits among the attendees. This was not only about selling food but building relationship with vendors and having them market their establishments some who are only opened since 3 months. IAMV is very focused on letting small establishment get a chance to build relationship with us and also advertise to people who might otherwise not know they exist.

We have strong support from the Town of North Andover, MA and without their assistance none of this can be possible. We like to thank them a lot for all the support throughout the past years and many more years to come. We also like to thank all the choreographers, participants and their families, Volunteers, Board members and the committee members who take time out and make this kind of events possible. Our main goal is for everyone to come and enjoy our programs, socialize, build new relations and above all a stronger community where we can make a difference.

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