Federation Of Indo American Seniors Associations Of North America Holds Gala

- ADVERTISEMENT -

The Federation Of Indo American Seniors Associations Of North America Inc (FISANA) which is headquartered in Passaic, New Jersey, held its annual gala and Diwali celebration Nov. 17, 2021, at Royal Albert’s Palace, Fords, N.J.

A capacity crowd of more than 500 people attended the event including representatives of 18 member-organizations, special guests , past presidents and office holders.

Founded 20 years ago, the organization which is estimated to represent some 10,000 seniors, provides a forum for Indian-Americans from Tri-state area, and holds at least three events a year, except during Covid, Dipak Shah, chairman of FISANA told Desi Talk. “We want older people to live to the fullest,” Shah said.

Bouquets were presented to representatives of member organizations as well as special guests including India’s Deputy Consul General in New York Varun Jeph, Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, and several others.

Five people were honored at the event, including Mukund Mehta, now an executive board member of the organization; H.R. Shah of TV Asia, Vishnu Patel of Gujarati Samaj, Late Ramesh Patel, chairman of Federation of Indian Associations, and Pramod Amin of Vraj Temple, for their Lifetime achievement in service of the community.

Among the entertainers who were presented by Sruhadam Entertainment, and performed at the six-hour event scheduled for 5 pm to 11 pm, were Prakash Parmar, Vidya Dave, Lalitya Munshaw, and Ali A.Z., Vishnu Patel, general secretary of FISANA, told Desi Talk. The master of ceremonies was Hasmukh Shah, writer and spiritual guide.

Deputy Consul General Jeph congratulated FISANA and said there was “nothing better” than celebrating Diwali with elders, and to learn from them and get their blessings.

Dr. Parikh said he was a proud senior citizen, because that means having a lot of experience both good and bad, and lot of wisdom, both good and bad.

“You have created an India outside India,” Dr. Parikh told FISANA organizers, adding that even Ahmedabad does not have an organization like this for seniors. “Because of you, our family gets a sanskar, and inspires our children with our sanskar and our sanskriti,” Dr. Parikh said.

Officeholders of FISANA  who spoke to ITV Gold included Rati Patel, president, and others like past-presidents. One of the awardees, Mukund Mehta said his main plea was that “All those who attend remain young. So my appeal is – age is juyst a number, and it is participation in various activities which will make you young and energetic.”

Chairman Dipak Shah said it was a “great event” and that every year FISANA tries to hold programs “to elevate the life of seniors in the tri-state area,” adding that “Seniors get more lifted with any kind of program where they can be appreciated.”