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| Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion |
Last week, Bacolod City was again treated to another dazzling festival when the local Indian community held the colorful Diwali Festival, an ancient Hindu Festival celebrated in autumn each year.
To witness the Diwali Festival here is a scintillating experience as it is complete with a colorful display of Indian costumes, dances, exotic food and, of course, a sample of “Bollywood” dancing.
The festival opened with formal ceremonies at the Bacolod Government Center, with local government officials headed by Mayor Monico and first lady Patching Puentevella, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, former congressman John Orola, and civic leaders gracing the affair. Special guest was Ram Prasad, first secretary consular of the Embassy of India to the Philippines.
We were all warmly welcomed by members of the local Indian community to the ceremony, and then treated to an array of delicious, scrumptious Indian delicacies that we thoroughly enjoyed.
It was a most delightful learning experience for us who only know India through the movies, Ghandi, Passage to India, and the popular “Slumdog Millionaire”. We have read about the most romantic tribute to love, the Taj Mahal, and of course, have made the chicken curry, one of our favorite staples hereabouts. But there are more exciting things to learn about India and this festival has certainly opened our eyes.
The local Indian community has galvanized themselves into a dynamic group to make the people aware of the richness of their culture and traditions. Kudos to the organizers of the Indian Diwali Festival.
