| Esther Wu: India to honor constitution, independence 01/18/2001 By / The Dallas Morning News Jan. 26 marks one of India's most celebrated holidays.
"Republic Day commemorates the finalization of India's constitution and the date of its first elected leaders of an independent India 51 years ago," said Prassad Thotakura, president-elect of the India Association of North Texas.
India actually won its independence from Britain on Aug. 15, 1947. On Jan. 26, 1950, India's first constitution was adopted, and Jawaharlal Nehru was elected prime minister.
Republic Day is often celebrated with parades and military demonstrations in India. Locally, the India Association of North Texas hopes to re-create some of the fanfare with India Nite on Saturday.
The cultural program of traditional dances will begin at 6:45 p.m. in Texas Hall at the University of Texas at Arlington. Tickets are $8 and are available through the India Association of North Texas, Taj Mahal Imports in Richardson and Bombay Imports in Irving. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. All seats are reserved. For more information, call 817-577-4665.
Food from Pasand Indian Cuisine will be sold. Organizers expect about 3,000 people to attend.
"More than 300 of our youth will be performing that night," said Mr. Thotakura, chairman of this year's event. "The program will include classical, regional, folk and traditional dance performances."
Taiyabji Kundawala, president of the India Association of North Texas, said the program will "showcase the culture and diversity of India."
"We are a land of many people and many cultures," Mr. Kundawala said. "But we are proud that we all live in peace with one another. And though many of us left our homeland a long time ago, we have not forgotten our customs."
Mr. Kundawala's daughter, Rehana, is among the dancers performing Saturday. The Richland College freshman said that as a child, she considered herself mainly an American with an Indian background. "I used to complain that I didn't want to take dance classes," she said. "But all that changed when I grew older and learned to appreciate the Indian culture.
"Nowadays, I feel an equal heritage – American and Indian. I truly feel blessed to have both cultures in my life."
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The Lunar New Year begins Jan. 24. Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese people are among those who celebrate the start of year 4699 – the year of the White Snake. On Saturday, the Vietnamese American Community of Greater Dallas will celebrate the Lunar New Year from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Vietnamese Community Center, 3221 Belt Line Road in Garland. Traditional games, dances and music will be featured, as well as a lion dance and Vietnamese food. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and younger.
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The Miss Ao Dai Dallas Pageant will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Westin Galleria Hotel. Tickets are $40 to $75 for the dinner and pageant, or $25 for the pageant only. Call 214-274-4128 for reservations.
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The Sunray Chamber Music Ensemble will perform at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Garland Performing Arts Center. Pianist Yi-Fan Liu will be featured. In 1980, Mr. Liu won the international Chopin Piano Competition, becoming the first Chinese musician to achieve the honor after the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Tickets are $10, $5 for students. For tickets, call the Chinese Community Center, 972-480-0311.
Esther Wu can be reached at P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265.
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