SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — After a break throughout the pandemic, a neighborhood got here collectively distant from dwelling to have fun the place they arrive from. Indians in Utah gathered on Saturday in South Jordan to have fun their tradition with a mela, which suggests “carnival.”
It was a method to expertise India by way of meals, music, dance, henna, garments and traditions. Every state in India has a definite delicacies, so individuals from these states arrange stalls to share their distinctive sorts of meals. The purpose was to convey individuals collectively in a particular approach.
“We’re all dwelling removed from our nation, and we don’t need to miss it,” mentioned Ramiah Natarajan, a volunteer on the occasion who’s on the chief committee on the Indian Cultural Heart. “That is the beginning of a competition season in India… We’ll have Navaratri developing, we have now Diwali developing, all these are nice festivals, massive celebrations, and we additionally have fun them right here, so we need to mark these starting of all these nice festivals developing, so we need to give the neighborhood that we’re all right here collectively, all of them can see and meet others.”
There was a stage arrange with performances all through the day, with Bollywood dances, classical music reveals, and conventional people dances to entertain the gang.
Organizers mentioned greater than 2,500 individuals attended, and a typical theme from individuals who got here by was that such occasions assist immigrant households share their tradition and make individuals really feel proper at dwelling.
“We really feel a connection to again dwelling, and we’re having the Indian vibes, and we’re glad,” mentioned Raji, who attended the occasion.
“And particularly for the youngsters who’re born and introduced up right here — for them, it’s enjoyable,” added Uma, one other attendee at India Mela.