FIA Chicago hosts Holi celebration and India covid relief fundraiser

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Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) Chicago hosted a Holi celebration at the Mall of India in Naperville, Illinois on Sunday May 23, 2021.

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Congressman Danny Davis, suburban Mayors, several Indian American elected officials and community members attended the event, according to the press release from FIA Chicago via Asian Media USA.

The organization hosted the celebration with the principal mission to bring awareness about the covid crisis in India and the need to lend them assistance.

FIA had taken the lead in mobilizing resources, oxygen concentrators, portable ventilators and other life-saving medical equipment and shipping them to India.

The afternoon celebrations moved to the outdoors of the Mall where people danced to Bollywood hits from the live DJ and applied to color to each other.

Richa Chand, Vinita Gulabani and Pratibha Jairath conducted the ceremonies.

The event kicked off with an invocation dance by Anjali Verghese from Kala Padma Bharatanatyam School, followed by a live singing session from Mir Ali. Maharastra Mandal of Chicago presented a Dhol Tarasha performance.

Students of S R Dance Academy and Saloni Shah Dance Group performed Bollywood inspired folk and fusion dance performances.

Suresh Bodiwala, chairman of Asian Media USA encouraged the audience to support and donate to FIA- Chicago’s India Covid Relief Fundraiser with the target of $50,000.

Several keynote speakers were also present at the event.

FIA Chicago President Kamal Patel, in his speech, talked about the importance of Holi celebration and the gravity of the covid situation in India.

Sunil Shah, FIA’s founder and visionary said FIA has laid out a comprehensive roadmap to bring to bear sustainable assistance including oxygen concentrators, masks, sanitizers, gowns and other life-saving equipment.

Congressmen Davis and Krishnamoorthi supported FIA’s initiative for helping India in these difficult times.

Plaques were awarded to Dr. Santosh Kumar, Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, Dr. Umang Patel, Ajeet Singh, Pinky Thakkar, Anu Malhotra, Dr. Sreenivas Reddy, Rajiv Sharma, SEWA International Dipti Shah Desai, Vinoz Chanamolu, Anil Loomba, Indian American Cultural Association – IACA Vinita Gulabani and Shanu Sinha.