Colorful Vaisakhi Celebrations by the Indo American Forum of Fort Bend

By Sanchali Basu

SUGAR LAND: The serene, picturesque locale of the Sugar Land Country Club provided the setting for the celebration of Vaisakhi by the IAF, Fort Bend. The evening was bustling with gorgeous women clad in their exquisitely beautiful Punjabi suits with Phulkaaris and men in their ethnic Kurtaa Pajamaas and Punjabi Juttis. One was met at the registration desk by helpful volunteers and the evening began with delectable appetizers provided by Bombay Brasserie. Wine and drinks flowed freely as the guests gathered to mingle and socialize.

DJ BJ Josan invited the guests in and the festivities started with the Jaago, a welcoming dance number performed by members of all age groups including some members of the Board. Hardeepak Munday, the Event Chair and IAF Board Secretary explained the significance of the Vaisakhi celebration, which is not only a celebration of the Punjabis to mark the end of the harvest season, the birth of Khalsa, the solar new year, but is also celebrated in various other  parts of India. In Punjab, it is like a thanksgiving day for farmers by visiting the Gurdwara and dancing the Bhangra and the Giddha.

A solo by young dancer Amitoz Singh was well appreciated by the audience, but the Bhangra performance by Rockers a group of 7 young dancers got the crowd going. Jasmine Patel, the Chairman of the organization introduced and thanked the board members and was very excited that they were able to add 30 new life members, which exceeded their expectations. She went over their various multicultural, civic, charitable and humanitarian activities and encouraged the youth to get involved and help with the organization’s causes. The latest feather in their cap was a donation to help build a Children’s Museum in Sugar Land where IAF donated $10,000. She thanked all the donors for making the evening possible.

Mallika Ghei then entertained the audience with a couple of songs – “Heer” and the popular “Kamli Kamli” was a major hit. The super energetic group, Maajaajna a group of 12 young girls led by Preet Kaur invigorated the audience with their lively Giddha performance and every member in the crowd was clapping and lapping it up.

A typical Punjabi feast with Kadhi, Sarson da Saag, Makki di Roti, Jalebis with Phirnee, Ras Malai and other Punjabi delicacies helped end the evening on a high note.  The DJ kept entertaining the audience with one lively Bollywood number after the other and some danced till late hours of the night to his tune.

The organization did well in being able to sell out the event and spreading its message.