India
Association of the Inland Empire Celebrates Independence Day
on Sunday, 24th August, 2008
Riverside, California, Aug 24, 2008
Gary Singh
India Independence Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm and
fanfare on Sunday, 24th August, 2008 (2pm-5.30pm) at California
Baptist University, Riverside. The highlight of the annual celebration
was the cultural program showcasing India's rich heritage of classical
dances, the new wave of film song-and-dance and ever popular folk
dance Bhangra. The program was made livelier by one of the emcees,
Harvir Bhatti, introducing various items in his Americanized Hindi-Punjabi.
India Association of Inland Empire has been organizing India's
Independence Day celebrations for the last 15 years. This year,
Hindu Society of Inland Empire, Redlands High School Desi Club
and Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Inland Empire also partnered
the joint celebration.
India Association was founded by Raj Pakianathan who continuously
has been supporting the succeeding presidents of the association.
This year, President Suma hareesh provided able leadership in
organizing the gala celebration with the help of her team including
Baljit Toor who was president of the association from 2005 to
2007.
At this 15th anniversary of the association, founding president
Raj Pakianathan thanked Inder Singh, currently president of the
Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), an international
body of NRIs/PIOs, for convening and chairing the first meeting
and persuading him to start India association for the annual celebration
of India's Independence Day and other national events. President
Suman Hareesh also thanked Inder Singh and presented him a plaque
for his continued support of the association for the past fifteen
years.
