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“Indians love celebrations and the year is filled with innumerable fairs and festivals. Almost everyday marks a religious or social event celebrated by the diverse religious or local communities, where ritual fasting and feasting go hand in hand. Some festivals are linked to the pantheon of gods and goddesses, others follow the changing seasons and mark pastoral occasions.”
– Ghose, A., (2002), India Through The Year, Dorling Kindersley Ltd, London, p.34
The beat of a dhol in Leicester marks a new dawn, for which people all around Britain eagerly await. Thousands of our Gnati members gathered for almost a month of action packed celebrations with Dairo, Navratri, Sharad Purnima, Diwali and Bestu-Varsh Sneh Milan. Such celebrations preserve our unique culture and its emblematic rituals while generating a fun atmosphere. The sheer joy in the form of a smile on blushing faces of five year old fancy dress participants’ account for the fun and this in itself is a valuable outcome. Children experiencing and learning new things, questioning themselves and reflecting on our rich heritage is certainly a benefit to the environment.
This year, Leicester Maher Community Association was fortunate enough to re-invite Tarang Orchestra from Porbandar. The festive season started with Kanthiawadi vocals that drew a huge crowd to Dandia-Raas, Garba, Tran-Tadi, Heench, Ranjanyu, Rail-Gadi and Sanedo throughout Navratri.
With the nine-nights of fun falling over two weekends, the first day attracted many visitors from all over the U.K. Colourful costumes and ornamental jewels were at its all time best during the traditional wear weekend and for the second year running, the team have introduced Shervani for the Gents and Rajwadi wear for the ladies. One of the best and proudest moments of Navratri was watching forty young lads perform the traditional Maher Dandia-Raas in front of the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Gary G. Hunt and Britain’s former Secretary of Health Patricia Hewitt.
Following Navratri, Sharad Purnima brought with it an evening of full moon during which many of our community members got together to celebrate it with friends and family. It was pleasing to see many of our brothers and sisters’ supporting the event as it is only with their support such events can take place.
With the festive season being almost a marathon, Diwali gathering was a further success at our community centre, attracting hundreds of people to meet and greet. The evening honoured many achievements within our community and gave an opportunity to young children to perform cultural dramas and dances.
This year, there are many other towns and cities where similar events organised by our community members took place. This is a proud fact in itself to say the least as it shows how much we value our culture and the effort we are putting to preserve and promote to young people all over the world.
On this note, please check our community website www.maheronline.org for latest photographs and video footages of the festivities. We await eagerly the season to return in 2008! ‘Subh Dipawali ane Nutan-Varsh na Abhinandun!’
Dilip Karavadra
The Leicester Maher Community Association