Naduthota (left) and Basu are excited for the India Association of Greater Boston’s upcoming Republic Day cultural program
“In our undaunted efforts to improve every year, the cultural team wanted to reinforce a theme-based program concept. Setting forth a theme was our endeavor to evoke in all groups, the zest and vigor to be even more creative and innovative,” said Sutanuka Basu, a member of IAGB’s Cultural Committee that put together this year’s program. “Our hope was that each group would ‘feel’ the challenge and enthusiasm to work towards conceiving items that are original, unusual — something new and fresh.”
The program, which is scheduled to take place from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., will reflect a strong patriotic spirit towards India, including ethnic folk, pure classical, creative contemporary and Bollywood dances that showcase the rich diversity of India. But the theme will always be “Proud to be an Indian,” including competition from India’s various regions.
How was the idea of the regional competition conceptualized? “In addition to showcasing the rich diversity of Indian culture and traditions, the goal was to increase the involvement from the regional organization within the community where regional organizations in the Greater Boston area would be invited to stage colorful presentations from their own region/state of India, and compete with each other by showcasing their region’s cultural uniqueness through songs/dances/skits etc.,” said Basu. “Our intention is to make prominent and revered regional organizations in the Greater Boston community become a vital and eminent part of our shows.”
Over 2,000 people are expected to attend this annual event, which will include three different segments: a kids segment (ages 6 to 12), an adults exhibition segment (ages 13 and above), and an adults competitive segment (ages 13 and above). The kids segment will feature Indian folk, semi-classical, classical, creative, and contemporary and Bollywood performances. The adults exhibition segment, on the other hand, will include items varying from ethnic folk and semi-classical performances to creative contemporary and Bollywood dances. The participating groups were selected based on a large number of entries submitted to IAGB.
What did the cultural team want to accomplish through this program? Basu said: “Performing in this show means showcasing a group’s talent in front of a discerning audience of about 2,500 people, who will enjoy every moment of the show. As our Indian roots, I strongly believe that we have an inborn talent of creativity and musicality. As program coordinators, the IAGB Cultural Team intends to set each participating group’s imagination, creativity, choreography and musicality take flight and thus, let the audience be enthralled to watch a breathtaking representation of the wholesome Indian culture as well as her regional uniqueness.”
Praveena Naduthota, another member of the IAGB Cultural Committee, added: “We want to reflect the cultural diversity of India through different programs holding a common thread of a theme. We want to engage youth and kids through cultural events and make them engage in IAGB activities and pass on the tradition to the next generation.”
In addition to Naduthota and Base, other members of the IAGB Cultural Committee include Saatvik Ahluwalia, Praveena, Matthew Chacko, Preetesh Shrivastava, Syed Ali and Anil Saigal.