A Hindu Celebration
Somerdale, NJ - Should you have the privilege of being invited to an Asian Indian celebration, perhaps some special festivities, by all means, go!
I am not writing about the ubiquitous ethnic events where you are urged to buy trinkets and try various culinary creations. I am referring to a genuine party or a wedding to which you have been invited as a
guest.
In this South Jersey area, the Hindu New Year is sometimes celebrated in the spring rather than in the autumn. Prayers are held for nine days prior to the New Year after which a festival - music, food and
especially dancing - takes place.
A community of South Jersey Asian Indians mostly from Western Gujarat in the region of Saurashtra in India marked this joyous occasion with a party of about 200 persons, children and teenagers included. All the
women sat on one side of the hall, the men on the other. In its own way, this arrangement can be quite tantalizing.
As the only non-Indian present, I felt honored to be invited.
Coordinating this event were Ashokkumar Patel, MD, and his pretty wife, Tara. Patel also sang and guided the party's progress as Master of Ceremonies.
A slight digression: Americans living in different parts of this vast country frequently develop regional styles. Consider the Santa Fe Style, the California Style, Western Style, New York Style, Miami Style to
name a few.
In Miami, for example, thanks to a large, Spanish-speaking population, one can see silks and laces and beautifully tailored suits at concerts and such. Performers receive the honor and appreciation of a beautifully attired audience.
In the north and central regions of the USA including Philadelphia and its environs - namely right here - it's mostly blue jeans and down jackets in winter, blue jeans and tee shirts in summer, whatever the event. If the event is 'special' enough, out come all the black dresses. It's about as colorful as lead. Funereal to the max.
At the above-named Asian Indian affair, I was positively agog at the multitude of exquisite, colorful saris of the finest silks - burgundy, red, copper-colored, blue interwoven with green, pale coral, cerise, cerulean - embroidered, emblazoned or embellished with gold and silver trim or jewel-like passementerie. I could not help but notice that the silk of one particular sari was woven in an intricate petit point pattern. No two saris were alike. I was astonished to see they can be as diverse as dresses on a fashion runway. I have been to India several times but never did I see so many beautifully attired women in one place at the same time.
This gorgeous display notwithstanding, for me the highlight of the evening was the dancing. In the 'Clapping Dance,' about 50 women and a few men formed a huge circle. Employing traditional steps, each 'Clapping' dancer rotated in place while moving continuously forward in the great circle.
Now comes the interesting part. One by one, dancers leave, exhausted. The music continues unbroken - almost an hour's worth - until the last dancer remains. In this instance, four young women simply would not
give up so in all four triumphed. Breathless, happy and dripping perspiration.
Another feature of the evening was a dance to Hindi film music by two younger girls, perhaps just in their teens. Though a mite strange to Western ears, to the crowd the music was pleasantly familiar. The choreography was an interpretation of prayers for a lover with whom to dance.
In retrospect, something else really impressed me. At this particular Asian Indian party, from each person present - it mattered not whom one faced - one was instantly given a warm, bright smile. It was magical. So help me. If you were at any other banquet-like function and if you were to smile instantly at everyone with whom you made eye contact, you would certainly cause some consternation and puzzlement. •