USA PANDIT'S PARISHAD OUT DINING AT FAIRFIELD PAVILION?

Members of the USA Pandit's Parishad, Inc. held it's first ever dinner and cultural presentation at the Fairfield Pavilion on 101st Avenue Sunday gone (11/9/09) in Richmond Hill. The cultural event was quite different from what we are used to see in the community. It was pure classical singing and dancing, including sitar recitation; it was great nourishment for the tired soul.

The entire presentation was beautifully executed by the performers: singers and dancers. The performers were all youngsters who need to be complimented for a job well done. Not only that, it's nice to see our young people so involved in things cultural. After all, they are ambassors of this dynamic culture and leaders of tomorrow. The parents who take their children to music (dholak, tabla, harmonium), dancing and singing classes should be lauded for helping to up-keep this great culture of ours and passing it on to the next generation.

The organizers of this dinner displayed a rare sense of vision and insight into the actual needs of this community. Evenings like these are what the people of the Richmond Hill community needs. However, I have a feeling that the USA Pandit's Parishad Dinner 2009 was geared towards a particular crowd. Though the turn out was not that great, the folks who missed this event, really lost out on a qualitative, enjoyable, memorable and soothing evening for the entire family. And, the food was just as nourishing and tasty as the cultural presentation.

Hats off to Pandit Pavindradatt Parasram, Pandit Yoga Ramnarain, Dharmacharya Pandit Misir and the other hard-working pandits of the religious body for the dedication, perseverance, dilligence, foresight and goodwill they exemplified by embracing new ideas to move the USA Pandit's Parishad forward. It's the correct way to go. It will take courage and more hard-work to accomplish the tasks needed to be done to move Hinduism forward. But, it seems like the current body of leadership is made up of a group of devoted, selfless, community-minded, honest and sincere religous leaders who has the interest of Dharma at heart and are willing to work to promote this great religion. It must be a collective effort, not fall on just one or two person's shoulders.

Back to Fairfield Pavilion: The evening's program was classy and dignified and should be repeated intermittently. Great work, organizers!

Some photos of the evening.


This little cutie pie really enjoyed the dances ...


Two young classical dancers executing their dances ...

Pandit Yoga and Geeta in conversation with an old friend?!