From the moment the guests stepped through the doors, they were swept into a celebration of Indian heritage, creativity, and most importantly, hope. The festival, free and open to the public, pulsed with color and life. It was hosted with charm and energy by two MCs, Neha Sobti and Priyanka Parekh, who guided the audience through an unforgettable journey. The show opened with an upbeat hip-hop performance blending rhythm and youthfulness. As the day unfolded, the stage bloomed with a variety of dances: elegant ballet, vibrant Garba, classical Indian sequences, and children twirling in joyful abandon. Groups such as Suhani Dance Academy, Ghunguru School, and Four Stars Dance Group left audiences spellbound. 

At the heart of it all was Vidya Jyoti’s powerful purpose: to educate underprivileged children across India, the U.S., and Haiti. The founder, Pratibha Jairath, spoke passionately, presenting stories of transformation. One such story was of Radhika, an orphaned child who, because of Vidya Jyoti’s support, is now scoring over 80% (A grade) in school. “We are not just giving money,” said Pratibha, her voice thick with emotion. “We are giving dignity. We are building futures.”

Then came the two fashion walks, a moment where grace met pride. Dressed in stunning saris, lehengas, and Indo-western fusion wear, participants of all ages took to the runway in two dynamic segments. The fashionistas for the evening were: Swati Kukian, Suparna Dutta, Shree Guruswamy, Shraddha Marathe, Shalaka Sawant, Sara Bongale, Sakshi Sharma, Renuka, Pika Munshi, Nidhi Mishra, Neelam Aloor, Manisha Pandit, Kitkat Shah, Falguni Sukhadia, Fal Rana, Deepti Gupta, Bharathi Devathi, Alli Dhanaraj.

In the Title Walk, finalists were judged not only on style, but voice and purpose. When Rihanna Tandon and Archana Pantraffan stepped forward as winners, their poise and eloquence gave everyone chills. The judges, Sanskriti Sharma, Sushma Bhanot, and Archana Agarwal, beamed with pride.

A moving highlight of the afternoon was the recognition of community champions by Pratibha Jairath and co-founder Madhu Uppal. With the support of Mayor John Leash of Aurora and Alderwoman Shweta Baid, Vidya Jyoti presented Plaques to Vidya Jyoti sponsors, Sunil Shah, Pinky Dinesh Thakkar, Sudhir Agarwal, Brij Sharma, Dr. Ashok Mehta, Bill Lyon, Ramesh Mehra, and Dr. Bhupinder Beri. Plaques were also presented to Prem Sharma, Urmil Chawla for their vision and leadership, and to Anita Beri & Sarita Sood for their dedication to Vidya Jyoti. 

Recognitions and tokens of appreciation were presented to community heroes, the people whose silent efforts light the path for others. The honorees included Ramesh Malhan, Vipin Wadhera, Balbeer Kaur, Pramila Malhotra, Anu Malhotra, Ram Saini, Anita Rawal, Subhash Pandey, Anurag Misra, Jayanti Oza, Atul Wahi, Rosey Bhasin, Krishna Chitturi, Nikhil Shah, and Uma Kartiki. Their highlights were also presented on a video screen as they were called, by Vidya Jyoti’s technical director, R. Shivam Viswanathan.

Around the hall, food and shopping booths added flavor and flair to the event. Guests nibbled on savory chaats, sweets, and home-style meals. The effort of vendor booths was coordinated by a team led by Anita Beri, Sarita Sood, Shree Gurusamy, Alka Sood, and Preeti Chawla. Colorful stalls offered handwoven jewelry, textiles, and gifts with their own story.

Advisory Board member Dr. Bhupinder Beri echoed the emotions in his powerful appeal, “We are fortunate because someone once invested in our education. For just $30 a month or a dollar a day, we can offer a child that same gift. Let’s make giving a habit, not a moment.” Ashok Potdar, a dedicated and passionate director of an organization, reminded the audience that “Knowledge is the only wealth that cannot be stolen.” The room fell silent, then rose to applause. Another passionate advisory member, Ramesh Mehra, had another powerful appeal to help folks understand the mission of Vidya Jyoti.

The two raffle draws, including a grand prize of $250, kept the energy high throughout. It was time for the final performance, a full-on Garba circle that united young and old, like the community had become one beating heart, dancing together.

As the event drew to a close, Pratibha took the mic one last time. Her words were soft but strong. “Vidya Jyoti started with a dream in India. Today, we are helping schools in the U.S., in Haiti, and beyond. Because when we educate a child, we educate generations.”

“This was more than a cultural event. It was a radiant expression of humanity’s best. Vidya Jyoti is not just teaching children, they are awakening possibilities,” said Suresh Bodiwala, Chairman of Asian Media USA

Vidya Jyoti, through this colorful and impactful celebration, reaffirmed its mission: to educate, empower, and inspire through unity and cultural pride. For more information, sponsor a child or to get involved, visit www.vidya–jyoti.com.

Photographs and Press release by: Asian Media USA

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Held as part of the UAE’s 53rd Eid Al Etihad celebrations, which saw the participation of the Indian Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, as the Chief Guest; the UAE Cultural Day featured a variety of cultural, heritage, and entertainment activities that showcased Emirati traditions and customs.

The event included a dedicated corner for Emirati craftswomen, who showcased traditional crafts such as Al-Talli and Al-Sadu. A traditional food station offered guests an array of Emirati dishes, including luqaimat, raqaq bread, harees, and traditional Arabic coffee, and a henna design corner was set up for attendees to experience this traditional cultural art.

UAE Cultural Day saw enthusiastic participation from guests, who commended the festive atmosphere and acknowledged the UAE’s remarkable journey of achievements and progress under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President.

As well as celebrating the UAE’s history and culture, the event highlighted the country’s strong ties with India, which span cooperation across the cultural, social, economic, and diplomatic fields.

Over the past year, the UAE-India relationship has strengthened, with bilateral trade between the two countries increasing to nearly USD 84 billion, with the UAE reinforcing its position as India’s second-largest export market, third-largest trading partner, and fourth-largest investor. Major milestones, such as the opening of the BAPS Hindu Mandir and the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi underline the strength of cultural ties and people-to-people connections between the UAE and India.

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“India’s rich cultural heritage has had a profound impact on the United States, and on the world.  We’re proud to have helped to preserve aspects of this heritage by investing more than $2 million over the past two decades for the documentation, conservation, and restoration of 23 key historic sites and intangible heritage properties in India,” noted U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Patricia Lacina in her remarks at the event.   “The United States is proud to partner with India.  We remain committed to our joint efforts to protect, preserve, and promote cultural heritage and look forward to continuing our important work in the future.”  

“Cultural heritage preservation is much more economically valuable than we think.  Not only does it bring in tourism; it also empowers local communities with jobs, education, and autonomy,” said Ratish Nanda, CEO of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.  AIIS Director General Purnima Mehta highlighted how AFCP projects “promote and advance mutual understanding between the citizens of the United States and India.”  Vandana Manchanda, INTACH Projects Director, added, “the AFCP brings together conservation and museum experts, architects and designers, and skilled craftspeople – all with a shared passion for preserving and protecting India’s cultural heritage.”  

Organized by the U.S. Embassy in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS), and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the AFCP 20th Anniversary celebration took place at the outdoor amphitheater of the Sunder Nursery, located adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage site Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi.    

The program included remarks by senior officials, the release of a monograph that documents endangered musical traditions of western Rajasthan followed by a live performance, a photo exhibition, and the launch of a U.S. Embassy website page (https://in.usembassy.gov/education-culture/ambassador-fund-for-cultural-preservation/) featuring details on AFCP project sites across India. 

AFCP projects preserve a wide range of cultural heritage, including historic buildings and archaeological sites; cultural items such as archaeological and ethnographic objects, paintings, and manuscripts; as well as indigenous languages and other forms of traditional cultural expression.  The projects also support post-disaster and post-conflict recovery, create economic opportunities, and build mutual understanding.    

The Ambassadors Fund has supported more than 1,100 projects worldwide since 2001.  In India, the American people have invested more than $2 million over the past two decades in the documentation, conservation, and restoration of 23 key historic sites and intangible heritage.  Some examples include:   

• The Sunderwala Burj, Batashewala Mughal Tomb Complex, and the Arab Serai Complex Gateway – all located within the UNESCO World Heritage site Humayun’s Tomb in New Delhi;   
• Recording and transcribing endangered folk music of western Rajasthan’s Langa and Manganiyar communities; and   
• The preservation of palm leaf manuscripts and rare books at the United Theological College in Bangalore.   

AFCP has also provided more than $1.3 million to support cultural heritage preservation in Bhutan, including through a project which led to the inventory and documentation of 54 key cultural heritage sites.  For more information, visit https://eca.state.gov/cultural-heritage-center/ambassadors-fund-cultural-preservation

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