The New York Chapter of the Association of Indians in America (AIA) hosted its 37th Annual Diwali Festival on October 6, 2024, with a lively celebration aboard a cruise on the East River.
Over 400 distinguished guests from the community, dressed in traditional Indian attire, embarked on the Skyline Princess Cruise from World Fair Marina in Flushing, NY. The stunning fall weather enhanced the festive spirit of the event.
AIA-NY President, Dr. Jagdish Gupta, stated: “Sailing down the East River, we all enjoyed breathtaking views of Manhattan’s skyline, passing under iconic bridges linking Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn and viewing the Statue of Liberty up close.”
A press statement from AIA-NY stated that anchoring on the northern side of Liberty State Park in the Atlantic Ocean, guests enjoyed AIA’s spectacular 37th Annual Fireworks Display. The mesmerizing pyrotechnic show, accompanied by the sounds of Indian music on the observation deck, enchanted those on the cruise as well as spectators from the New Jersey shoreline.
This year’s innovative celebration was organized by AIA-NY, founded in 1967 with the mission to promote India’s rich cultural heritage while fostering these values among younger generations in America. Their motto is: “Indian Heritage, American Commitment.”
In his opening remarks, Dr. Gupta highlighted AIA’s significant achievements over almost six decades. These include New York City’s recognition of Diwali as an official holiday in 2005, the suspension of alternate side street parking for the festival, the celebration of Diwali at Gracie Mansion and later at the White House in 2006, and the release of the Diwali ‘Forever Stamp’ by USPS in 2013. He also acknowledged the establishment of the Diwali holiday in NYC public schools last year, thanking Mayor Eric Adams and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar for supporting this historic accomplishment.
Emphasizing Diwali’s message of “light over darkness,” “knowledge over ignorance,” and “hope over despair,” Dr. Gupta called on everyone to light the flame of hope, resilience, and positivity in their hearts and homes, and to remember the festival’s essence of giving, sharing, and togetherness.
The celebration, post-disembarkation, began with the cocktail hour offering Indian and American beverages alongside an array of Indian hors d’oeuvres. The mood was set by the enchanting saxophone tunes of Sobars Macwan, who played melodious Bollywood music. Gala Chair Mrs. Beena Kothari, welcomed the guests, followed by Dr. Gupta’s introduction of the AIA-NY leadership team and honored guests.
A special mention was made of Dr. Louis Kavoussi, a world-renowned urologic surgeon from Northwell Health, and the event’s honoree, Dr. Manish A. Vira, Chief of Urologic Oncology at Northwell Cancer Institute. Dr. Vira was recognized for his excellence in urologic oncology surgery. He thanked AIA-NY for the honor and praised the organization for its contributions to the community.
The Sunny Gill Music Group performed Bollywood hits to entertain the guests during the sumptuous dinner. The Jain Senior Group presented beautifully choreographed Garba dances. Sponsors of the event include Fareportal/CheapOair/One Travel, New York Life, Mount Sinai Health System, Northwell Health System, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, and all media sponsors.
