Weather forecast predicted doom with heavy rain around the same time as the Diwali Mela was to be held on the 74^th Street, aka Kalpana Chawla Way, in busy Jackson Heights. But it was sheer magic that turned the clouds dry and allowed the celebration to go on full speed and unhampered. The organizers led by the President of Jackson Heights Merchants’ Association Shiv Dass could not have been more thankful to the weathergod.

For two years, the pandemic prevented any public gathering and festive celebration. And here was an opportunity to come together to have an afternoon of freedom, entertainment and abandon.

To the delight of the organizers, not only did the weather show grace, people, too, turned up in large numbers.

On top of it, the dignitaries obliged the organizers in a big way. Mayor of New York Bill de Blasio, Senate Majority leader Chuck Schummer, the Deputy Consul General of India, Varun Jeph, Council Member Danny , Shekhar, Democratic candidate for City Council, Dileep Chauhan representing the Brooklyn Borough President, and AK Vijayshankar, Consul,  Community Affairs, Consulate General of India  graced the occasion as also some prominent New Yorkers who included Ranju Batra who five years ago got the Indian American community the Forever Diwali Stamp, Attorney Ravi Batra, Dr. Hari Shukla, Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Neeta Bhasin who is the founder of Diwali at Times Square, Andy Bhatia, Subhash (Sam) Kapadia, Nitin  Vora,  and Prof. Indrajit S Saluja, among others. Ranju Batra was among the honorees who were presented citations and robe of honor. Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Bill de Blasio described Shiv Dass as a great leader of Indian American community who has for decades highlighted the community’s concerns. Appreciating the Indian American community’s contribution to the growth of the greatest city in the world, de Blasio assured the Indian American community of all help in whatever they want to do. Senator Chuck Schummer who described Shiv Dass as his personal friend who has done more for the Indian American merchants community than any other person, he spoke about the challenges the pandemic posed and praised the merchants community for their courage to keep running the wheels of economy. He spoke of Biden administration’s plans to help out the small businesses and assured the business community that they will always be given the desired help in furthering their interests.

Deputy Consul General of India Varun Jeff on the occasion offered the greetings of the consul General and his own on the occasion of Diwali and thanked the organizers for inviting him.

Classic Production USA, Inc – (Chaku) from India and Nrityanjali Dance Academy gave thrilling and entertaining performances of songs and dances.

The entire executive committee, under the guidance of Board of Directors Deepak Verma (chairman), Mahipal Singh Esq., Sunil Patel, of Jackson Heights Merchants’ Association worked hard to make the event the grand success that it came out to be. They included Chairman Kanu Bhai Chauhan, Celebration Chairman Mohinder Verma, President Shiv Dass, Vice President Harshit Chugh, Secretary Chander Shekhar, Co-chairman Manu Khaitani, Treasurer Virender Kanwar, Organizer Rahul Arora, Sr. Advisors Surinder Chugh, Ram Labhaya, Karan Verma, Pulkash Roy, Daniel Thomas, Financial advisor Braj Aggarwal, PRO Santa, Executive members Mohan Singh, Hari Ram, Vinod Kumar, Abid Mukhtar, Makhan Singh and Virender Bhalla.