India Day 2010 - Historic Meet of Indians in Saudi Arabia on Oct 22

Report: P A Hameed Padubidri, Saudi Arabia
Daijiworld Media Network - Dammam

Dammam, Oct 21: A historic event will be organised in the oil-rich country Saudi Arabia, wherein Indians hailing from different parts of India will get an opportunity to converge under the banner of “India Day-2010.”

Indian Association-Dammam, a secular, cultural and non-profit and non-political organization consisting of Indian expatriates in the eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will hold a large-scale gathering of Indians for the first time in the history of the non-resident Indians (NRIs) in Dammam, which is situated on the shores of the Arabian Sea. The gathering will be held in cooperation and coordination with the King Fahad amusement Park on Friday October 22 from 10 am to 11 pm with mega events.

Different sub-committees were formed under Indian Association-Dammam to organize, arrange and oversee the different tasks and events assigned to each sub-committee to make the massive gathering successful. The organizing committee of Indian Association told Daijiworld, “Its key objective is to step-up the socio-cultural bond amongst different Indian communities residing in Saudi Arabia and to act as a medium to intensify the relationship with Saudi Arabia by creating a unified platform within the framework of the law of the Kingdom; it also believes in and upholds the ethnic values that will definitely facilitate to strengthen the human principles beyond imagination; it also underlines the Indian culture and tradition of different states in India.”

Association president Mirza Zaheer Baig, Dhahran said,"It is my immense pleasure to welcome all the Indians to this mammoth gathering. India Day 2010 is a wide platform, where people from different corners of India will meet and join hands together and exchange their cultural views and values…It also aims to bring the scattered Indian community under one roof to understand each other in different aspects and work together for social and welfare of Indian community residing in the Kingdom, and to improve the Indo-Saudi business relations, encourage Indian businessmen to widen their commercial activities and support fellow members to develop business and to augment the Indian intellectual and professional skills and competencies more widely”

He said that he was proud to be the chairperson of such an association and to organize such a mega event in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia.

Convener Fazal Tpm, Al-Khobar appealed in a press release that the whole Indian community, including socio-cultural-literary-religious organizations, influential individuals, academicians, businessmen and leaders in the Kingdom, is requested to come forward and take part in this India Day 2010 in order to strengthen the unity in diversity. He named India Day 2010 as 'the Indian Cultural and Traditional Festival.'

Sherief Karkala, one of the active organizers of the event and social worker in Dammam, informed Daijiworld that they are expecting a gathering of around seven thousand people, which will definitely create a remarkable history in Saudi Arabia. Several celebrities and dignitaries, will be chief guests on the occasion.

Mohammed Azharuddin, Member of Parliament and former captain of Indian cricket team and dignitaries from Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and other business tycoons will also witness the mega event.

The mega event will give ample opportunities for each State to install their own pavilion at the amusement park so as to showcase their State values and heritages to other fellow Indians. A unique opportunity for children will also be given for present their talents in different fields. MASA (Mangalore Association Saudi Arabia) will conduct a drawing competition for Indian children in the age group of 3 to 18 years on the day.

Children will be grouped in different categories according to age. The categories will be 3 to 7 years; 8 to 12 years; and 13 to 18 years. Fabulous prizes will be conferred to the winners in the competition.

The Indian Association-Dammam's mission is to focus on the following issues:

To enhance Indo-Saudi business relations and to promote Indian businessmen to widen the commercial activities and support fellow members to develop business.

Focusing on the educational needs of children and professional advancement of the members.

Presenting programmes of academic, intellectual and social relevance of general interest to members.

Networking with other Indian organizations to work in a wider spectrum, availing benefits of rights with the support of the Indian Embassy and also developing a strong bond with Saudi society by making a positive approach and relevant contribution.
 
The organizing committee of the Association makes an appeal through Daijiworld to all NRIs working in Saudi Arabia including influential individuals, businessmen, community leaders and academicians to come forward and actively participate in India Day 2010 'The Indian Cultural and Traditional Festival.' It also thanks the Saudi Arabian government for accomodating 1.8 million Indian expatriates in the Kingdom and providing facilities to 140,000 Indian Haj pilgrims every year.

Schedule of India Day 2010: 

10 am to 11  pm: Park with 40 rides will be opened for the community

Zoo: Entry free 

6 pm to 8:30 pm: India Day Function 

* Inauguration by the chairman and the convener

* Honoring the chief guest

* Introduction of VIPs from different states

* Cultural events by Indian artistes

* Vote of thanks 

Indianization on India Day 2010:

State Pavilions:

Individual states will be given free hand to install their state pavilion at the amusement park, so they can highlight their own state values and history and project their culture and traditions. They can also run their own cultural events.
 
Schools run by Indians:

All private Indian-run schools are allowed to canvass their well-established schools and their set up.

Food Court:

Tents will be laid out in the specially alloted food court area. Caterers are welcome to join to sell their food and beverages.

Cultural Events:

Cultural and traditional events organized by state pavilions to develop relations between the states.