
NEW YORK, NY - The colors and lights of India inundated Times Square here as hundreds of Indian Americans gathered at the iconic city destination for an early start to Diwali festivities that brought together renowned artists from the Indian film industry. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation presented the “Diwali at Times Square” extravaganza here Sept. 20, showcasing Indian culture, heritage, diversity and cuisine.
The event was attended by India’s environment minister Prakash Javadekar, Indian Consul General Dnyaneshwar Mulay and Congressman Joseph Crowley. Bollywood actors Aditya Roy Kapur and Parineeti Chopra, promoting their new film, “Daawat-E-Ishq,” made a special appearance at the concert that featured performances by singer Shaan and other artists.
Addressing the crowd, Javadekar said as a representative of the Narendra Modi government, he is extending Diwali greetings to New Yorkers. Crowley said that the festival of Diwali symbolizes “enlightenment over ignorance” and brings people of different races and ethnicities together. Against the backdrop of recent hate crime against Sikhs in the city, Crowley urged the crowd to keep the community in its thoughts, saying, “They are under great duress recently in the U.S. and we have to do more to enlighten our American people as to what the Sikh community is really about.” While the Indian festival of Diwali is nearly a month away, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation managing director said the event is held to showcase the rich culture, cuisine, historical and natural heritage of Maharashtra and India to a global audience. A section of the very popular and crowded Times Square was bustling with people dressed in traditional attire as they lined up before booths set up to showcase Indian cuisine, music and fashion. Dancers, including several Indian American women, entertained the crowd with their performances on traditional Indian and film music during the nearly four-hour event. Images of the traditional diyas that are lit during Diwali were beamed onto the giant billboards that illuminate Times Square. Mulay said this was the second year that the event was held at Times Square to celebrate Diwali and expressed hope that it would grow bigger with each passing year.
Addressing the crowd, Javadekar said as a representative of the Narendra Modi government, he is extending Diwali greetings to New Yorkers. Crowley said that the festival of Diwali symbolizes “enlightenment over ignorance” and brings people of different races and ethnicities together. Against the backdrop of recent hate crime against Sikhs in the city, Crowley urged the crowd to keep the community in its thoughts, saying, “They are under great duress recently in the U.S. and we have to do more to enlighten our American people as to what the Sikh community is really about.” While the Indian festival of Diwali is nearly a month away, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation managing director said the event is held to showcase the rich culture, cuisine, historical and natural heritage of Maharashtra and India to a global audience. A section of the very popular and crowded Times Square was bustling with people dressed in traditional attire as they lined up before booths set up to showcase Indian cuisine, music and fashion. Dancers, including several Indian American women, entertained the crowd with their performances on traditional Indian and film music during the nearly four-hour event. Images of the traditional diyas that are lit during Diwali were beamed onto the giant billboards that illuminate Times Square. Mulay said this was the second year that the event was held at Times Square to celebrate Diwali and expressed hope that it would grow bigger with each passing year.