Indo-American Foundation Senior Group celebrated Christmas on Saturday, the 23rd of December, at the Foundation Hall. There was exuberance of joy and excitement everywhere. Environment was very vibrant. Members started arriving around 9:30 am and they were welcomed by soft background music. The hall as well as the entrance was beautifully decorated with colorful lights. The tables were decorated with flower vases with sparkling lights.
Members and the guests were meeting and greeting each other wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. They were treated with light refreshments and hot masala tea. Our heartfelt thanks go to decorating team of Sarla Dave, Jayaben Patel with help from Center Manager Alma. Our Food and Beverage team of Neeru Sood, Dipa Bagai, Rasik Patel and Jayaben Patel got all the refreshments ready in time before guests’ arrival.
Everyone was dressed up appropriately for the occasion. Usha Gautam welcomed and requested everybody to take their seats and mentioned the significance of Christmas celebration. This was followed by the invocation by EKTA Mandir Priest priest, Prakash Pandya. The program started with Diya dance choreographed by Sarla Dave and performed by the group that included Sarla Dave, Usha Gautam, Kaniza Bangalawala, Uma Aggarwal, Krishna Lahoti, Deepa Bagai, Kiran Dulai, Meena Bhavsar, Malti Devgania, Pu
ima Asarawala, Santosh Mathur and Anjana Shah. This excellent Diya dance was well received and applauded by the audience.
Lalitbhai welcomed all Guests and IACRF President Subhash Thathi. IACRF BOT Chairman, Dr. Dhiren Patel, sent a message of Happy Holidays as he was out of town and could not attend the event​. Meena Bhavsar warmly introduced a great singer and performer Mouly Bhatt. Her melodious voice mesmerized the audience who couldn’t control and got engrossed on the dance floor. The environment was full of colorful life.
Mr. Subhash Thathi mentioned about the renovation of the foundation hall in the near future, making the organization more inviting and useful for the community. This will cost estimated $600,000. He also encouraged the members to come forth and donate generously to help carry out the renovation project successfully. He congratulated Dinesh & Sandhya Amin who pledged to become IACRF Life member by donating $2,000.
Bhagubhai in his vote of thanks, expressed gratitude to all the event sponsors who donated $500 each. Their names are Sekhar and Vijay Vallabhneni, Rohini Sharma, Arun and Pu
ima Asarawala, Dinesh and Sandhya Patel and Vikram and Rekha Shah. He also thanked all volunteers who were devoted their time to make the event highly successful. They were Sarla Dave and Jayaben Patel, Hall manager Alma, all enthusiastic Diya dance participants, Neeru Sood, Deepa Bagai, Rasikbhai Patel, Mahesh Dewan, Jon Banks, Pradyumna Kshatriya, Babulal Mehta, and many more.
Thanks to Singer/Performer Mouly Bhatt, for superb performane who kept all seniors dancing thruout her singing. Thanks to DJ Issac for managing sound system, and Usha Gautam as master of ceremony, who kept the program ru
ing very well on time.
Today’s buffet lunch was catered by India Palace. The cuisine was from North India consisting of ​Pakoras, Naan, Parothas, Matter Panir, Mixed Vegetables, Daal, Pullav, Salad, Raita, and Gulab Jambun. Everyone enjoyed the sumptuous lunch.
Lalitbhai Patel and Bhagubhai Patel appreciated all volunteers, participants, guests, and support from IACRF to make this Christmas Celebration unique and highly successful.
Senior Group meets every Monday and Thursday, 10:00AM to 2:00PM at the Indo-American Community Center located at 2809 W. Maryland Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85017, for information please contact Mahendra Devgania Tel: 602-708-0733.
