NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Mayor Bill de Blasio may please take note that the Indian festival of Diwali has now grown beyond a community festival and has become a festival of New York City. The amazing gathering of thousands of people of various hues at the center of universe-the Times Square- on October 7 is a testimony to this fact.

SANKARA EYE FOUNDATION and EVENGURU INC brought to people a fun-filled day that highlighted cultural dances and musical performances, Diwali Bazaar and mouth-watering Indian cuisine, interactive Diya lighting ceremonies and the world’s best digital fireworks display.

The vision of the creator of Diwali at Times Square Mrs. Neeta Bhasin was to showcase India’s rich culture, art, heritage and diversity became reality on October 7 th when performances of various local artists like Avish Jain, Rianjali, Masala Bhangra, Bollywood Axion, NYU Garba group, Columbia Raas Garba and the famed Shiamak Davar Group and many other groups performed on. Diwali Festival started
with the Diya Lighting ceremony on stage and followed by the auspicious Ganesh Vandana by the child prodigy Sparsh Shah. “The Light-Up Times Square Concert” that commenced from 6 PM following the Diya Lighting Ceremony on stage and on the tallest screens of Times Square was attended by the glitterati and the
dignitaries such as the Consul General of India Mr. Sandeep Chakravorty, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Borough President Gale A. Brewer, Jennifer from Governor Cuomo Office, representative from NYC Comptroller office, District Leader Ms. Neeta Jain and others.

The Light Up Times Square Concert showcased dazzling performances by some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry! Sanjeeda Sheikh and Aamir Ali, the romantic duo that has swept India away with their performances in Nach Balliye, presented scintillating dance routines for the attendees at Times Square. The attendees also enjoyed – Chhammak Chhalo famed, the maverick singer Hamsika Iyer, who made the audience dance to her tune and Hey Baby singer Raman Mahadevan; the crowd was left gasping for more by none other than the master dancer, the “chumeswari” judge and performer Master Terence Lewis. The event was brought to an end by the new-age performer Mickey Singh, who made the young
crowd sing along.

This historic event was brought to us with the support of SANKARA EYE FOUNDATION, a not for profit organization that is committed to eradicate curable blindness from India. An event of this stature could not have been possible without the sponsors like Air India, McDonalds, Yupp TV, DirecTV Now, Hotstar and others. Diwali at Times Square 2017 was also immensely supported by the media at large –
mainstream media partner Daily News, broadcasting partners TV Asia and Jus Punjabi, radio partner Mera Sangeet and many more.

SANKARA EYE FOUNDATION and EVENTGURU INC is extremely grateful to the sponsors, the media, the celebrities, the volunteers, and the amazing crowd who came and supported this monumental event and help us create history once again in the heart of New York city, Times Square.