We had a Diwali party at my daughters daycare on Friday. It was by far the most amazing party I have ever attended in the US. There are close to 120 kids in this daycare and they are practically from all ethnic, cultural, religious backgrounds from across the globe. They all came dressed up in Indian clothes, lit "diyas" (lamps) and danced to indian music, listened to a "Jai Jagdeesh Hare" prayer sung by the Indian parents, and a description of the Diwali festival. Of course there was Indian snacks served after the dance program.
What struck me as most amazing was that I did not for a minute feel that this was an international crowd. I felt I was back home in India!! At the end the celebration, the daycare director said "this is what we want to promote here ! An openness to all cultures and diversity so everyone gets to learn about every culture ". It really touched me.
On second thought, I should have been celebrating Halloween with more gusto all these years !!
This land is truly amazing and I guess that this openness and cross cultural awareness of the average american citizen is what drew me to stay here after I graduated ! I remember paying 5 bucks a person for a whole bunch of my international grad school buddies to watch world cup cricket in our auditorium, just because they really wanted to know what motivated me to sleep in the auditorium and wait for a game that began at 1:30 AM local time !!
It is an ever shrinking world people and the first ones to shink out of this world will be the people who are small enough not to accept cross cultural diversity !!After seeing kids from Russian and Mexican backgrounds wear mini Gagra Cholis and "pattu Paavadais", not to mention colorful bindis and dance to "Dhoom Machchaye", you realize something special is happening here !!
Remember my 7 Tag ? I am 1/2 out of 7 there.. Had so much fun dancing with my daughter ..
Click on the picture to see video...