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Manisha Koirala & Gulshan
Grover, movie stars participated at the celebration
of India's Independence Day
on Aug. 22, 2009
Los Angeles, Aug. 22, 2009
By Ashok Pat Patnaik/
Founder/Trustee
Excelsior Union High School grounds based in the City of Norwalk
was the scene of a colorful India's Independence Day Mela when more
than 8000 people congregated on Saturday, August 22, 2009. The celebration
was replete with cultural programs, songs and dances performed by
the local artists and talent.
The excitement reached peak high when famed Bollywood stars, Gulshan
Grover and Manisha Koirala were brought on the stage via the grounds.
This led to added excitement and proved to the residents of Southern
California that we (UFICA) do what we say and say what we do - means:
UFICA's tradition is to always have Bollywood stars.The entire ground
was adorned with booths that included restaurants, jewelry items,
clothing items, non profit organizations and service companies such
as the banks, insurance and escrow. According to the organizers
the number of booths exceeded 80 despite the recession and the economic
down turn. The crowd witnessed young artists perform on the huge
stage. Performances included music artists, Bhangra, Garba, South
Indian dances and items from Eastern part of India. Two giant screens
helped people to see the program with clarity.
Both Gulshan Grover and Manisha Koirala regaled the audiences with
speeches and short dialogues from their movies. Anaheim council
member, Harry Sidhu , pro-tem mayor, Joseph Cho along with the representatives
from the Congresswoman's office, Linda Sanchez and Tony Me4ndoza
handed over the congressional certificates to the UFICA members
and also to the Bollywood stars.
According to the organizers everything was put together in a record
six weeks time and the program was unanimously hailed by each and
everyone present at the grounds that the Mela was of the highest
quality.
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