DAMMAM – The Federation of Indian Associations comprising 35 Indian organizations recently organized a two-day “Winter Fest” at the King Fahd Amusement Park here. The festival brought the entire Indian diaspora in the Eastern Province under one roof to witness India's diverse cultures and rich traditions. Several prominent figures, including K.C Joseph, Minister of Culture and Overseas Affairs of Kerala; Khaled Almaeena, Editor-in-Chief of Saudi Gazette; O. Abdul Rahman, Editor of Madyamam Malayalam daily; Malayalam poet Ravunni; and Hamza Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Gulf Madhyamam daily, addressed the various sessions of the fest. Thousands of visitors, braving the cold, chilly winds, thronged the venue with friends and family. The festival was inaugurated by Abdul Rahman and he said that imparting moral education to the younger generation and cementing social interaction are the need of the hour. “Even though the world turns into a village in the ongoing breathtaking progress brought about by scientific advancement and IT revolution, modern man is limping into more and more disasters. “There is a rising tide of crimes and immoral acts due to lack of spirituality and running behind material gains with greed and selfishness,” he said. Joseph said that the “Winter Fest” reconstructed the Malayalam cultures in the Arabian Desert. “I feel the fest is a gathering in which there has been a rebuilding of the diversity of Indian cultures represented by the community in the Kingdom. “This is a gathering of unity, friendship and love, which seems to be quite impossible in our homeland, thanks to the Indian organizations based in the Eastern Province,” he said. The minister hailed the renaissance of the Malayalam cultures in the festival. He also launched a novel titled “Mechanical danger” written by Rimin Johnson Keepally, a girl student of International Indian School, Dammam (IISD). Kerala Muslim Cultural Center (KMCC) leader Abdul Samad Palathingal introduced Abbas, who was honored with a customary traditional shawl by Joseph. Abbas in his speech shed light on the unity, love and friendship shown by the Indian organizations and lauded their efforts in showcasing India's unity in diversity through organizing the fest. Ravunni said the fest gave him an unforgettable and incredible experience. Others who spoke on the occasion and appreciated the efforts of the Indian organizations were K.M Basheer, Jamal Villiappally, Rimin Johnson, Tamil artist Damu, Dr. Mirza Sagheer Beig, and Suresh Bharati. The “Opening session” was welcomed by Raghunad Shornur with Qader Chengala presiding at the session; the vote of thanks was proposed by Riyas Ismail. Alikkutty Olavattur welcomed the gathering for the “Cultural Session,” P.M Najeed presided at the session and T.A Thangal delivered the vote of thanks. T.P.M Fazal honored noted Mappila music composer Bappu Velliparamba with a shawl. Muhammad Ameen recited verses from the Qur'an. Thomas Mathew and Aju Mathew were presenters at the event. Najeeb, Khadar Chenkala, KM Basheer and KR Ajith, main office bearers of the organizing committee, thanked the governorate, Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) and other departments and officials for their support and cooperation in making the festival a great success. The event was organized in collaboration with Eastern Channel Co. Ltd. and United Amusement Co. Cultural programs enthrall thousands In addition to the Indian community, some Saudi families, who had attended the festival out of curiosity, were also mesmerized by fascinating traditional performances like “Mapplia kalaamela,” “Tayambaka,” “Duffmuttu,” “Kolkkali,” “Thiruvathira kali” and “Oppana. The cultural fiesta also featured arts and crafts, science exhibitions, “Mushaira” (poetry symposium), multistate & multinational cultural programs, in addition to a commercial pavilion, and food courts featuring diverse Indian cuisine. Telechrry Association's stall with about 40 dishes was one of the major attractions for food lovers. At the festival there was a pavilion exclusively for women, where “Henna contests,” musical renditions and dance performances were staged. The children's pavilions hosted drawing and painting competitions, talent hunt, cultural parade, and dances. Dr. Muhammad Shafi, principal of Dammam's International Indian School, inaugurated the pavilion for both women and children. Other stalls and pavilions were opened by UA Rahim, Sajid Arattupuzha, and Ibrahim Kutty. The comedy skit presented by “Youth IndiaCochin,” entertained the audience by shedding light on the problems faced by expatriates here. The show stopper of the comedy show was the parody of the recent ‘hijack' of Air India Express flight in Cochin. The Sagacity 2012 exhibition, organized by the “Tanima Art and Cultural Forum,” also shed light on the diversity of India. KMCC's pavilion exhibited Mappila arts and a photo exhibition highlighting the lifetime achievements of the late Kerala Muslim leader Shihab Thangal. A replica of Bait Al-Rahma, the housing scheme of KMCC for the poor and needy people, was also setup to enlighten the audience about its efforts. Saudi Indian Islahi Center organized the “Heart Beat” program that focused on the transient nature of this life and evoked thoughts about divine presence. Tamil Mantom's Navayugam Cultural Forum organized a Science exhibition, which portrayed the history of India's ruling Congress party along with a drawing expo. Cultural procession was another attraction at the festival in which more than 1,000 children of all ages with their parents, teachers and prominent cultural figures of the region participated. The theme of the procession was “The best company for the best future” and the brainchild behind the event was Malarwadi Balasangam. The children chanted the slogan “India is our garden and we are its nightingales.” Among the tableaus displayed by children, one that gave insight into the traps of the cyber world was eye-catching. A young artist dressed as India's Father of Nation Mahatma Ghandi enthralled the spectators. Al-Khosama School's Band troupe and children wearing Saudi dresses made the procession more colorful, entertaining and attractive. Separate sections for real estate and stalls for free medical check-up were erected in various places at the festival ground.
