JEDDAH, 20 January 2008 — Soorya Sargam, an organization of Indian guest workers that promotes international integration through culture, celebrated its anniversary last Thursday with a variety of entertainment programs including African, Chinese and Japanese folklore dances.
Under a friendly sky and weather, a large crowd of expatriate families turned up at the Lora Park to watch the vibrant cultural show on stage, which started with the African folklore dance presented by 23 students of the Eritrean International School.
The African dance, the Japanese Geisha dance, Chinese Dragon dance and Barbie dance, choreographed by Fathima Ali, Sugandhi Gopinath, Sethumadhavan and Suja, respectively, won the applause of the audience.
Most of the programs were presented by Sargam's budding talents.
N. Somasekhar, the popular singer and the member of Sargam from the Eastern Province, sang a number of memorable solos and duets with Suja Sethumadhavan and Sugandhi Gopinat h. The cultural show ended with a one-act play titled "Kuchelente Swapnangal."
The drama was directed by Sreejith Kumar with the supervision and technical advice of Murali Mohan, an actor and director from Kollam, a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Rafeek Younus, president of Soorya Sargam, was honored during the event for receiving the coveted Mohammed Rafi Award in appreciation of his contributions toward promoting art and culture in India and abroad. Younus declared open the Soorya Viewers Forum in Jeddah.
Sreejith Kumar, vice president of Sargam and Jeddah Chapter coordinator, received a memento during the ceremony in appreciation of his efforts to popularize the activities of Soorya and Sargam in Jeddah. Bindu Sudhi welcomed the guests while Vijayasree Prasannakumar gave a vote of thanks.
Hiran Kumar Wariar was the program coordinator and Divya Wariar and Mini Suresh were the anchors.