Gujarat Maharashtra Day celebrated at Indian Consulate in New York

The event celebrated the formation of the two states on May.1 in 1960

Filled with pride, honorees and sponsors gather, symbolizing the spirit of Gujarat Maharashtra Day / Courtesy Photo

The Gujarati Associations of North America hosted Gujarat Maharashtra Day celebration at the Consulate General of India in New York in partnership with the Federation of Indian Associations FIA-NY-NY-CT-NE, the Gujarati Literary Academy of North America (GLA), and the Albany Dhol Tasha Pathak on May 1.

The event celebrated the formation of the two states on this date in 1960 and highlighted the cultural landscapes of each state. Binaya S. Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York participated in the celebrations donning an ethnic turban traditionally worn by men in the region.

“Today, we are celebrating the birth of the two states. We are also celebrating the economic and social progress they have made in the last 63 years,” the Consul General said while praising the Gujarati community, which is among the most successful Indian diaspora communities in the U.S.

Consul General Hon. Binaya S. Pradhan delivers an inspiring speech, celebrating the birth and progress of Gujarat and Maharashtra over the past 63 years. / Courtesy Photo

A native of Gujarat, Priti Patel, the general secretary of FIA welcomed the audience and presented a Gujarati poem that translates to “Gujarat is one of Bharat’s heartbeat, it’s the name of a fountain, and of peace and prosperity.”

Dr. Avinash Gupta, president of the FIA greeted the crowd with “Kem Cho” a Gujarati phrase to which the audience responded “Majama.” Pallavi Kabadi from the state of Maharashtra addressed the crowd in Marathi.

Influential individuals from the two states were felicitated by Consul General Binaya Pardhan, along with Deputy Consul General Varun Jeph and Alok Kumar. They were presented with a traditional turban and a memento of the Modhera Sun Temple.

Guests, Falu Shah, Dr Sudhir Parikh and Consul General Binaya Pradhan and delighting in the cultural heritage showcased on Gujarat Maharashtra Day / Courtesy Photo

Hemant Marathe, mayor of West Windsor, FIA senior advisor Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Grammy Award winner Falu Shah, Hamil Davnekar, Gujarati poet and composer Ankit Trivedi, Jayen Mehta from Amul, the entire team of GANA, Rambhai Gadvi, Legend of Gujarati literature and a founding member of the FIA, GLA President Ashish Desai were the honorees.

The event featured performances by Nirmiti School of Dance and DanceXStudio as well speeches by Poet Ankit Trivedi, and Dr. Kenneth X. Robbins, and Dr. Maitree Sabnis, who enlightened the audience on the history of Gujarat and Maharashtra via Zoom.

Traditional dance performances from the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra / Courtesy Photo

The two professors have jointly curated and lectured on the Princely States of Gujarat series at the Asiatic Society, and their collaboration includes a book titled “Gujarat: A Journey Through History and Culture.”

In a special segment, Srujal Parikh, joint secretary and board member of FIA, honored Amul, a popular Indian brand that was a sponsor of the event and announced the launch of Amul products in the USA for the first time.