Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 7 CITY VIEWS June 19, 2026 T he Talent Show and Art Exhibition organized recently by the Brahmin Society of NewYork impressed visitors and audiences with the variety of talent of all ages. The annual Talent Show was the 31st since 1987 and was held at Levittown Hall in Hicksville, NY. Attended by families, trustees, execu- tive committee members, sponsors, and community members, the show celebrat- ed artistic talent and cultural heritage through presentations by participants of different ages, from toddlers to seniors. The Talent Show began with the cer- emonial lighting of the lamp. Seen in the photo are Dipak Mehta, Bharti Mehta, Kirti Shukla, Namrata Pandya, Sunil Parikh, Manju Mistri and Neelam Joshi. The evening’s program opened with the symbolic lighting of the lamp by the sponsors, invited guests and Brahmin Society executive committee and trustees. This year’s show was sponsored by Nilam and Hiran Joshi, Patel Brothers, Kruti Parikh, Namrata Pandya, Kirti and Dr. Shukla. BSNY has been training and prepar- ing their young members through regular event workshops for different roles in life, increasing their confidence and expertise during public events. True to that tradi- tion, young members joined adult com- mittee members in hosting the event. In a colorful show of dressing up, more than 40 toddlers and children walked the stage in a fashion show dressed in differ- ent cultural attires. Dance and music featured prominently, with modern Bollywood style dances, along with semi classical and soft dances. The highlight of the evening was a clas- sical Bharatnatyam dance presentation. There were vocal and instrumental music performances which included singing of ghazals, Hindi film songs, and other songs. The Science and Art Exhibition was where a lot of talent could be spotted in creative paintings and artwork by children and young members. In her address, Kalpita Parikh, Presi- dent of BSNY described the event as a true celebration bringing the community together to support and encourage cre- ative talents. Concluding the event, Parikh said BSNY was committed to promoting cultural values, creativity, unity and com- munity engagement. Trustee Ruta Dave, who is the immediate past president, said the success of the event had raised the expectations for next year’s event. The an- nual talent show will continue to serve as a platform for nurturing talent, preserving cultural heritage and bringing generations together through art and cultural perfor- mances, said Parikh. The evening ended with Trophies given to all participating children, and partici- pation appreciation gifts for all perform- ers. Participants also enjoyed a Pizza dinner. O n Saturday, June 6th, Surati for Performing Arts hosted its 15th Annual Holi Hai Festival of Colors in Exchange Place, Jersey City, attracting diverse crowd of over 3000 from far and wide. The huge group gathered at Exchange Place to participate in the festivities that took place against the spectacular view of the Manhattan Skyline. The program included multicultural performances by over 20 artists, a variety of food and beverages, retail vendors, DJ and kid- friendly recreational and educational activities, a press release from organizers said. The climactic part of the live event comprised celeb- rity acts, including an Indian Classical piano recital and a vocal performance by Calypso legend of Bengal, Sumit Roy, followed by Bollywood songs by playback singer Pritha Majumder and international composer/performer Rajesh Roy who were guest invited artists already visiting the U.S to perform at the International Voices Festival in Jersey City. Amongst the other notable performances were an Indian Classical Bharatnatyam dance by 6-8 year old girls, who are Surati FPA students, tutored by the Harsha Harikumar, one of Surati’s lead dancers and instructor who also performed a Bharatnatyam and The Mythologi- cal Story of Holi. The crowd was brought to its feet by a Bollywood dance performance by the adult students of Surati FPA, an Assamese folk dance (Bihu) solo by Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ artist Moushumi Phukan, followed by an interactive session of Bhangra dance by Masala Bhangra founder Sarina Jain. Ahana (Bharatnatyam), Mohini (Lavni), a live jazz performance of saxophone / flute (Alex De Lazzari) and drums (Charlize Diaz) were also part of the program. Finally, founder of Surati FPA, Rimli Roy, joined the Surati team dancers Vidhya Dinesh, Harsha Harikumar and Mohini on stage for a Bengali folk dance. The dignitaries and sponsors were named and hon- ored on stage. Those vendors who had stalls for food, jewelry and individual artists, and retail businesses of Jersey City, were honored as well. Among the high-profile attendees were Jersey City Mayor James Solomon, Gina Hulings (Director of Hudson County Cultural Affairs), Consular General Shri Tsewang Gyaltson (Indian Consul of Community Affairs, Consul- ate General of India in NewYork) Councilmen Rolando R. Lavarro (At-large), Tom Zuppa (Ward C, which is where Surati Studios is located) and Eleana Little (Ward E), Sponsor Neiha Kapoor – KellerWilliams Realty Metro- politan, Shahid Qureshi of Blue Foundry Bank (Corporate booth sponsor), celebrity performers of India Sumit Roy, Rajesh Roy and Pritha Majumder, Sarina Jain (Masala Bhangra Founder), along with prime and pillar team members of Surati FPA including Abhilasha Mehra, Jay- anta Banerjee, Rijah Banerjee and Harsha Harikumar. All performers were called on stage during the concluding ceremonies. A half-hourly color countdown saw the gathering enjoying the Holi colored powder in the air, in sync with rocking music or with countdowns chanted by hosts and some honored guests &VIP’s. Late in the afternoon, a DJ rocked the crowd till sun- down. Christine Goodman, Director of Cultural Affairs, City of Jersey City, said, “Like previous years, Surati Holi Hai has aimed to create a truly multicultural and inclusive experience welcoming people of all ages, backgrounds, and communities to celebrate together through art and shared joy. Surati Holi Hai 2026 was made possible through the generous support of community organizations, tourism partners, cultural institutions, and local businesses com- mitted to celebrating diversity, arts, and multicultural community engagement, organizers said in the press release. By Archana Adalja By a StaffWriter Brahmin Society Of New York Talent Show And Art Exhibition Draws Crowds Surati Holi Hai Repeats The Holi Magic In Jersey City A dance performance at the BSNY 31st annual Talent Show. The Talent Show began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Seen in the photo are Dipak Mehta, Bharti Mehta, Kirti Shukla, Namrata Pandya, Sunil Parikh, Manju Mistri and Neelam Joshi. Scenes from the Surati For Performing Arts Holi celebrations in Jersey City June 6, 2026. PHOTOS:PROVIDED BY KALPITA PARIKH PHOTOS:SURATI FPA