We hope it inspires women and girls to be strong and look out for themselves”, she said. Joya Bhattacharyya, an exceedingly talented student and active performer of the Academy which specializes in the Kathak style, told us, “It follows the story of a young, very naive, girl growing up - how she learns to overcome adversity and obstacles and come out of them in a really strong way. Seen here: at top, artistes of Arya Dance Academy and below, students of Jhanak Dance AcademyĪ particularly riveting piece was a dance on women’s empowerment by students of Nrityaki, expertly choreographed by Shweta. The Washington area dance schools that were represented at the festival included DC Metro Punjabi Arts Academy (DCMPAA), Bollywood Studio headed by Roma Dua, Nrityaki Dance Academy founded and directed by Shweta Misra, WDC Jaadu headed by Reema Kapani, Jhanak Dance Academy with artistic director Arpita Roy, Let’s Dance!, Beautiful Bollywood Dance Class, Lil’ Dancing Joy with choreographer Anusha Ramachandra, Arya Dance Academy with instructor Amrita Mudhar, and Jhann Jhan dance group. Seen here at top, students of the Nrityaki Dance Academy with the Kathak school’s founder and director Shweta Misra (center) and below, students of Jhanak Dance Academy “We also have a VIP guest today, Amir Ashraf, a local singer” who has performed on stage with Bollywood playback singers Sukhwinder Singh and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, among others, she added. We have a lot of special performances from local dance groups doing Bollywood, Bhangra, classical and fusion styles”, she told us. “It truly brings alive the taste of India with fun cultural performances, along with glamorous Indian outfits and delicious food to boot! A shopping extravaganza for girls for sure”! At the 2015 Heritage India Diwali Festival are seen from left to right: Bhavna Vanan, emcee of the cultural show Shweta Misra, founder and director of Nrityaki Dance Academy and students of DC Metro Punjabi Arts Academy (DCMPAA)īhavna Vanan, emcee and host of the cultural program, noted, “Diwali is one of the most vibrant times of the year. “Heritage India Diwali Festival is the most anticipated and fun event of the year”, Morny gushed. A regular festival-goer who loves to avail of all the shopping opportunities it provides, she bought beautiful Indian ensembles from SAI Fashions which did brisk business. Morny Anand of Alexandria, VA, was one delighted shopper. There was a lot of variety, more so the quality and exquisiteness of items caught the eye and imagination! Shopping was a huge attraction at the festival this weekend drawing scores of ladies who couldn’t seem to get enough of the traditional Indian wares. Now, the event is being held at the Dulles Expo Center twice a year – during Mother’s Day weekend in Spring, and as a precursor to Diwali in the Fall. Not always a good idea because as Rena Surana-Nirula, a member of the organizing committee, pointed out, “the weather can be dicey, so we moved it indoors”. The festival, now in its fifteenth year, was earlier held outdoors on the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. You add to that the stage performances, good food, it just changes the whole dimension”! “We have added so much variety in terms of the vendors”, he stressed. It has turned out to be a buzzing and exciting event, one of the biggest shopping events on the east coast”, he said. We have put an LED screen on the stage where we have some 450 kids performing over two days. “The crowd is almost double and we have a 30 percent increase in booths and vendors from last year. “It was a great success”, he told us at INDIA THIS WEEK on Sunday evening as the festival was drawing to a close. Shishir Misra, proprietor of Rushhi Entertainment, Inc., and organizer of the event, was delighted with the response. Over 15,000 people attended the entertainment-packed, fun-filled event setting a record of sorts for a community function! Indian Dance, Music, Shopping, Cuisine is a Huge Draw By Geeta GoindiĬhantilly, Virginia, Novem– For Indian-Americans in the Washington area, all roads led to the Dulles Expo Center this weekend as thousands thronged to partake in the Heritage India Festival – Diwali Extravaganza, a large-scale celebration heralding the Festival of Lights! For two days, the spacious, indoor Center bore a festive look as over 15,000 members of our community took in the sights and sounds of a ‘Mela’, the likes of which one would find in India. Scenes from the 2015 Heritage India Festival – Diwali Extravaganza by Rushhi Entertainment held at the spacious Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
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