By Robert Kalfus
An estimated 10,000 members of the South Asian community recently celebrated at the 20th Heritage of India Festival at the Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, sponsored by the Indian American Cultural Association of Westchester. Attendees enjoyed the sights, smells and taste of India, hearing patriotic songs, performances by students of various dance schools and disciplines, classical and folk dance, and were able to taste native cuisine of India and eat the wares from two ice cream trucks. Music, arts, crafts, and clothing India were displayed and for sale by vendors.
Thirty-eight different activities were scheduled for the day, but a heavy afternoon downpour accompanied by flashes of lightning interrupted the program as people huddled under the main spectator’s tent and vendors struggled to cover their wares, keep dry their racks and tables of clothing, and prevent their tents from flying away. Several children, and a few parents, enjoyed biking and skateboarding despite the rain, scattering wakes of water behind them.
After the rain and wind stopped and the skies were again filled with sunlight, the program resumed with a pani puri eating competition, in which dozens of contestants were required to fill the puri, a round, hollow, crispy, deep-fried, unfilled dough ball with pani, a flavored water often made with tamarind, green chilies, mint and coriander leaves, and a stuffing made of potatoes and/or chickpeas, onions and spices. The first person to fill all of the 30 puri with the pani, and finish eating them, was declared the winner.
The rain’s departure also created an opportunity for shoppers, as vendors declared deep discounts and sales on their clothing – some of which was wet, but otherwise fine.
A Westchester group promoting the game of cricket – played with passion by people of India, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries – invites all first-come, first-served to its Sunday, Aug. 25 free Kids Cricket Clinic at 9 a.m. at Westchester’s new cricket pitch at Richard Presser Par, 218 N. Central Park Ave.,
