10/02/2024
Nataraj Youth Cultural Organization Commemorates the 155th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 120th Birth Anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Toronto, ON, Canada – October 1st , 2024 – On Saturday, September 28, 2024, Nataraj Youth Cultural Organization (NYCO) hosted a special event at Jai Durga Hindu Society (Vrundavan Dham) to mark the 155th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 120th Birth Anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri. The gathering, attended by a diverse audience, included cultural performances and tributes to celebrate the enduring legacies of these two great leaders.
The event began at 11:00 AM with a warm welcome from Tushar Unadkat, the Honorary Director of Communications at NYCO. NYCO also proudly presented a giant spinning wheel (Chakra), a gift from Ramesh Chandra Trivedi of the Kochrab Ashram management in India.
Aneesh Kumar, Executive Director of Jai Durga Mandir (Vrundavan Dham), delivered an insightful introduction, followed by Harkant Patel’s moving rendition of "Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye."
Since 2007, the United Nations has recognized October 2nd, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, as the International Day of Non-Violence, a global observance that celebrates Gandhi’s non-violent philosophy and leadership. This significant day honors his enduring impact on peace and non-violence worldwide, uniting people from all corners of the globe in a shared commitment to these ideals.
The program continued with the national anthems of Canada and India, potent symbols of unity. This was followed by ceremonial lamp lighting, a poignant gesture symbolizing Gandhi's and Shastri's wisdom and legacy and the collective commitment to uphold their teachings of peace and non-violence.
NYCO Founder and President Chintan Bhavsar introduced the organization's mission, which is to promote Indian culture and values among the youth, and highlighted the day's significance. "Today, we honor Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, whose teachings of non-violence, peace, and high moral values continue to inspire millions. We hope this event instills these ideals in our youth," Ms. Bhavsar remarked.
A highlight of the event was a captivating cultural performance featuring seven young performers, choreographed by Vaishali Shah. Youth participants include Dev Patel (Sardar Patel), Harsh Patel (Gandhiji), Jay Patel (Bal Gangadhar Tilak), Manav Shah (Lal Bahadur Shastri), Shaurya Patel (Baba Saheb Ambedkar), Shivam Chauhan (Subhash Chandra Bose) and Shruti Rajgor (Jhansi Ki Rani). They brought to life the personas of India's freedom fighters through powerful recitations of their iconic speeches. This performance perfectly blended history and artistic expression, engaging and entertaining the audience.
The launch of Subhash Gandhi's book, The Eternal Order of Living, a thought-provoking exploration of Gandhi's philosophy and its relevance in today's world, added to the intellectual richness of the event and introduced a literary element that enhanced the audience’s experience.
Shaun Chen, MP for Scarborough North, graced the event and presented NYCO with a citation recognizing its impactful community initiatives, a gesture that sincerely honored and respected the organization.
The event concluded with a Peace Walk, symbolizing Gandhi’s message of non-violence and the importance of peaceful activism in today's world. This was followed by a communal lunch that fostered a sense of togetherness among attendees.
The day’s celebrations ended with Mahatma Gandhi's timeless words, "HARI OM," and Lal Bahadur Shastri's slogan, "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan."
NYCO also acknowledged the steadfast support of its board members, Jai Durga Hindu Society (Vrundavan Dham), volunteers, and media partners.
Media supporters:
Lalit Soni (Gujarat News Line), Nilesh Tailor (Swadesh), Pragnesh Patel (Gujarat No Rankar), Neelam Panditpautra (Radio Muskaan), Lalitbhai Thaker (Gujarat Weekly), Shilpesh Parikh (Gujarat Abroad), Hitesh Jagad (Dhwani Community Newspaper), Amit Bhatt (Gujarat Express), and Tushar Unadkat (MUKTA Advertising), whose contributions were deeply appreciated and valued.
A special shout out to the NYCO Board of Directors: Chintan Bhavsar, Ketan Gandhi, N V Sonderva, and Praful Bhavsar; the Advisory Committee, which consists of Asha Aditi Rupareliya, Dr. Mafatbhai Patel, and Tushar Unadkat; and the Executive Committee, which consists of Dhruv Bhavsar and Maharshi Bhavsar.
Special thanks were extended to Nilesh Patel for photography and Hiral Ahir for graphic design, who played critical roles in the event’s success.
NYCO thanks Jai Durga Hindu Society (Vrundavan Dham) for hosting the event and prasad (lunch) for all attendees.
NYCO thanks MUKTA Advertising for drafting and publicizing this press release.
For more information, please call Chintan Bhavsar at 647-989-3490 or visit www.nycocanada.com.
