On Saturday, the 19th of November 2022, THe Bhavan held its annual Diwali Gala to a very warm and receptive audience of patrons, supporters, and artists. The event took place at the Biltmore hotel in Central London.
The Bhavan was honoured to have had His Excellency Mr Vikram Doraiswami, the High Commissioner of India London as our Chief Guest.
Mr Rama Gheerawo was the Master of Ceremonies and created a lively atmosphere with his introductions and interactions.
The event began with a vibrant percussion ensemble performance, followed by a short film documenting the Bhavan’s events and activities.
The Bhavan’s Chairman Mr Subhanu Saxena gave the welcome address and spoke about the responsibility of carrying forward the legacy. He thanked our Chairman Emeritus Sri Joginder Sanger for his contributions. He also thanked Dr Surekha Mehta for all the arrangements.
Mr Krishnan Gurumurthy, the lead anchor of Channel 4 News, spoke about his family’s association with The Bhavan for decades; and how The Bhavan’s work not just propagated culture, but also brought generations of the Indian diaspora together to immerse in our Classical Arts.
The Chief Guest H.E Mr Vikram Doraiswami’s eloquent speech was very well received and appreciated. He spoke about how the arts are an integral part of the Indian way of life, and the preservation of life and culture are not dichotomous. The universal qualities of Satyam, Shivam, and Sundaram make up the concept of Dharma, echoing the words of the poet Keats when he says, ‘Truth is beauty, beauty is truth.’
The Bhavan is a synonym for all the above qualities and has preserved the unique spirit of our heritage while also innovating in the Arts, he said.
Before dinner, The Bhavan’s dance students put on a wonderful performance showcasing the classical dances of Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Odissi.
Vice Chairman of The Bhavan Dr. Surekha Mehta, who was also overall in charge of the entire event gave the Vote of Thanks, expressing her gratitude to the Chief Guest HE Vikram Doraiswami, Mr.Krishnan Gurumurthy, and all who made the event a great success.
The event saw the presence of Amish Tripathi, Director of The Nehru Centre, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Usha Prashar, Lord Loomba, Mrs Seema Malhotra MP, and Mr Virendra Sharma MP among others.
The dinner, cultural performances, and the entire event were warmly received by our supporters, and we are proud and enthusiastic to continue our work in the Classical Arts.
