MELVILLE, NY (TIP): The Association of Indians in America, NY Chapter (AIA-NY) held its Benefit Gala in support for its 30^th Annual Deepavali Festival at the Hilton Hotel in Melville, Long Island on August 26^, 2016. The Gala was attended by a large number which included past presidents of AIA, Community Leaders and dignitaries including members of the media and sponsors who expressed their continued commitment and support for the Deepavali Festival.

The 30^th Annual Deepavali Festival will take place at the South Street Seaport on Sunday October 1^st from 12 noon till 7pm, culminating with a spectacular display of Fireworks. The event is one of the largest in the tri-state area, attracting 75,000 – 100,000 people. Festival of Deepavali meaning ‘A row of lamps’ is also popularly known as Diwali, or ‘Festival of Lights’.  It signifies the triumph of ‘Good over Evil’. The festival will be a full day celebration with numerous corporate booths, food & clothing vendors, performances and activities for the whole family including a live grand display of fireworks.

Among the individuals honored at the Gala were Vaijinath Chakote, MD, Physician/ Entrepreneur, Empire Medical Services, Aditya Mattoo, MD, Nephrologist, NYU Langone Medical Center, Mr. Chintu Patel & Falguni Patel, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Ashutosh Tewari, MD, Chairman of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.

The evening was blessed by the presence of Padma Vibhushan Legendary Pandit Jasraj Ji and special performances from Miss Teen Bollywood USA 2017, Manjari Parekh.

This is the 30^th year of Deepavali & 50^th year of the Association of Indians in America. The highlights of 30^th Deepavali 2017 will include Naach Inferno returning to the stage of Deepavali with college and university teams from around the Tri-State area as they showcase dances fusing both East and West cultures. Presented by Star Plus, the competition will be showcased globally.

The Association of Indians in America (AIA) is the oldest not-for-profit organization of Asian Indians in America founded on August 20, 1967. It is the grassroots national organization of Asian immigrants in the United States. With chapters and membership spread across the United States of America, AIA represents the hopes and aspirations of those immigrants who are united by their common bond of Indian Heritage and American Commitment.

This year, AIA-NY’s 30^th Deepavali celebrations are going to be held on Sunday Oct 1, 2017 at the South Street Seaport. Please look for the announcement of a celebrity very soon.

For more info, please find us on Facebook and visit our website at www.theaiany.org.