Indo American Festivals hosts 24th Dushahra celebrations at Lake Papaianni Park, N.J.

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Indo American Festivals, Inc. (IAF) hosted its Annual Grand Dushahra Festival on October 8, 2022 at Lake Papaianni Park in Edison, New Jersey. Organizers described it as “a grand success” in a press release, attended by more than an estsimated 12,000 people.

A cultural program led by Pratibha (with almost 30 song and dance performances) was one of the highlights.

A Ramleela staged by Varsha Naik’s group included more than 80 actors, the youngest less than a year old and the oldest above 70.

The Ravan Dahan, burning of a 25-foot-tall effigy of Ravan, which was built by New Jersey artist Krishna Singhal, ended the celebrations.

The festivities included a day-long free health/medical screening camp, a Meena Bazaar with more than 100 booths with vendors of Indian clothing, jewelry, handicrafts, raffles, and much more.

The public and all guests were welcomed by Chanchal Gupta (Chair of IAF), Raj Mittal (Vice-Chair of IAF), Dinesh Mittal (President of IAF), and many volunteers.

Among the attendees were Edison Township Mayor Sam Joshi, Shivi Prasad Madhuker (Vice President of Edison Board of Education), Shannon Peng (member of Edison Board of Education) and Jerry Shi (member of Edison Board of Education), sponsors, and other guests.

This program was made possible in part by a grant from the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders/Office of Culture & Heritage, and New Jersey State Council for Arts/Department of State.

Indo American Festivals Inc. is a non-profit volunteer organization founded by the Late Mangal Gupta in 1999 to celebrate Dushahra in New Jersey.