INDIAN CULTURAL CENTRE PARAMARIBO

Saturday 2nd October 2011                                                          Gandhi Jayanti Celebration                                

Gandhi Jayanti celebrations were organized by the Indian Cultural Centre, Embassy of India on 2nd October 2011 at Mahatma Gandhi Statue, situated at Heiligenweg, Paramaribo. A short cultural programme was presented on this occasion, which included Bhajans of Mahatma Gandhi performed by the ICC Vocal Music Students and ICC/Embassy Staff. H.E. Ambassador of India garlanded the Mahatma Gandhi Bust and delivered a short speech mentioning the contribution of Mahatma Gandhi not only in India but to entire humanity, he also mentioned that this day is celebrated as 'the world non violence day' by the UNO. The director of Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs of Suriname and Mr. Amrit Gangaram Panday a member of CUS and other well-known personalities of Suriname were also present on this occasion. Media people covered the event.





Tuesday 4th October 2011                                            BHAJAN PROGRAMME AT SSDP MANDIR

On the occasion of Navaratri (Dusehra) a cultural programme was organized at SSDP Mandir, Blawground, Paramaribo-Noord. Bhajans/Durga Stuti was rendered by Mrs. Madhumita Bose, Vocal Music Teacher, ICC along with vocal music students of ICC on this occasion.   


Wednesday 5th October 2011                                    INAUGURATION OF HINDI SECTION AT CCS LIBRARY

A Hindi Section was inaugurated at Cultural Centre of Suriname (CCS) Library, Paramaribo Suriname on Wednesday 5th October 2011. Suriname has considerable number of Hindi speakers. However, there is little accessibility to Hindi literature. With an aim to provide access to good Hindi Literature, the Embassy of India and ICC approached the CCS Library with the idea of opening a Hindi Section at the esteemed and most frequently visited library in the heart of the City and the Director Mrs. Nadia Becker was enthused with the idea and kindly agreed to open a Hindi Section within the CCS Library
H.E. Ambassador of India, Shri K.J.S. Sodhi and Director, Mrs. Nadia Becker inaugurated the Hindi corner. Madam Mrs. Sodhi, Mr. Raghubarsingh, former Agriculture Minister, Mr. Bholanath Narayan, Chairman, Suriname Hindi Parishad, Mr. Jankiprasad, former Chairman, Suriname Hindi Parishad, Mr. Naraindutt Gangaram Parad, Hindi Scholar and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
The section would include books on mythology, culture, literature, tourism, learning Hindi as a foreign language, Hindi-English, English-Hindi and Hindi dictionaries.  A number of books on India in English were also added to the collection.


Fridays 7th & 28th October 2011                                    TALK ON AYODHYA KAND RAMAYANA

ICC, Hindi Teacher, Dr. S.K. Jha, delivered a talk on Ayodhya Kand Ramayana. Around 30 students and Pandits attended the programme, which included recitation of Hanuman Chalisa, Chaupaiyan's, Ram Bhajans and Dohas, short stories on moral values, etc. The topic of Ram-Bharat Milan at Chitrakoot is going on; this is the best example of unity in Indian culture. Poetic pronunciations of Shlokas (mantra) were also taught to the students.    


   Sunday 9th October 2011                                                                 YOGA SEMINAR  

   Indian Cultural Centre, Paramaribo organized a yoga seminar on "Relevance of Yoga in Stress Management and Healthy Living" on Sunday, 9th October 2011. Around 200 people attended the seminar. The participants were from different walks of life. Nine speakers shared their experiences on different aspects of yoga and stress management.. Ms. Suchint Kaur Sodhi, Yoga teacher, ICC coordinated the program by briefing all the aspects. The Seminar was organised in cooperation with Lybra Consulancy.  It was very much informative and appreciated by the people of Suriname. The purpose of the seminar was to keep alive traditional Yoga. The following are the remarks by the Co-Chairperson about the seminar which were also published in the local media.


Remarks by Co-Chairperson (Mrs. Marilyn Tsie a Foeng, USA)

It was a nice Sunday in October, filled with information on yoga and healthy life styles.  More than 200 participants listened attentively to the 9 speakers, who touched on different aspects of yoga in correlation with stress and healthy living.

Unfortunately, the Surinamese Minister of Health, who was invited as the chief guest to present the inaugural speech, did not show up.  Also, the Ambassador of India had to be excused due to circumstances beyond his control.

Mr. Arun Kumar Sharma, Second Secretary and Head of Chancery, Embassy of India, Paramaribo, Suriname conducted the opening of the seminar and one of his remarks was that Kriya Yoga is the most valuable gift that India has given the world.  And "Yoga is a matter of experience; you learn it by doing, practicing it."

The first speaker was Swamini Krishna in "Understanding Yoga".  She made a plea for introducing yoga in schools.  At a young age, children should start learning discipline and practice certain exercises.  Further, she emphasized on the importance of being calm and in control of situation. She added that Yoga leads to self-realization, and yoga and spirituality go together.

Then came Mr. Sean Taylor, director of Alphamax Academy, who talked about "Yoga as Education".  Yoga and education are inseparable, he says.  That's why his institution has introduced yoga and tai chi in their curriculum.  With a few students, he gave a demonstration of some asanas that they do in school.

Dr. Carmen Jaglall talked about "Yoga as Preventive Science" and showed how yoga can help control certain diseases.  Yoga itself does not cure, but it can work preventively.  She gave helpful tips on how to effectively use our lungs, particularly people suffering from bronchitis.  Also people with diabetes, hypertension, back and neck aches find relief with yoga.

Dr. Malthy Sietaram's subject "Yoga for Women" was technical, but she demonstrated and explained how women can find help by practicing asanas that open the pelvis.

The young energetic trio from Lybra Consultancy, Mr. and Mrs. Krieshen and Sheetal Ramkhelawan, and Mr. Tariq Sadiek not only talked about "Stress Management and Yoga", but also engaged with the public and in an interactive way taught the participants how to continuously "empty their bags", get rid of their stress!  Also, by drawing the circles Circle of influence and Circle of Concern they explained how it is important to only worry about the things that are in your Circle of influence, things that are under your control.

The last speakers, Mr. Almer Nascimento and Mrs. Savita Behari presented a holistic approach of yoga in "Holistic Health and Yoga".  To be healthy and stay healthy we need to pay attention to the functioning of body and mind.

Ms. Suchint Kaur Sodhi was coordinator of the programme, she also briefed about all the aspect and the seminar was concluded with a demonstration of several asanas and the participants were also encouraged into joining the Yoga Instructor, Ms. Suchint, into Ohm citation, kapalbhati and a breathing exercise (anulome velome).   




Saturday 15th October 2011                   'TV PRODUCTION'    JAG MAG DEEP JALE


A programme of Indian Dance/Music was recorded by local TV Channels at the ICC Yoga Hall on Saturday, 15th October 2011.  The programme  contained a complete presentation by ICC students and Music & Dance teachers on the occasion of Diwali.. The production involved audio recording and mixing of songs in a studio and then video shooting took place in Yoga Hall of ICC. The SKY TV covered all the performances. They covered two dance items Ganesh Vandana and Shri Ram Stuti by 6 Kathak Dance students along with Kathak dance teacher ICC Miss. Namrta Rai, two Diwali songs composed by Mrs. Madhumita Bose, Vocal Music Teacher, ICC and one Tabla recital item by Mr.Shailendra Madarie,Tabla Teacher. The entire yoga hall was decorated for the shooting.  


The purpose of such programme is to promote the activities of Indian Cultural Centre before all ethnic communities of Suriname and to encourage them to learn Indian Dance & Music. This enables ICC, Paramaribo, to spread Indian culture in other communities as well as the people of Indian origin. In addition, ICC also provides a stage for a multi-cultural integration of various ethnic cultures of Suriname while promoting the Indian Culture. After editing, a 45-mts. ICC presentation TV production was prepared and shown on eight TV channels various times during the Diwali week. All the viewers of TV appreciated it.  Following are some photographs:   




Wednesday 19th October 2011                                           'UNDER INDIAN COOKERY CLASS'
                                                                                (USE OF WASTE MATERIAL FOR DECORATION)

Indian Cultural Centre, Embassy of India, Paramaribo organized a special programme on "Use of Waste Material for Decoration' at Indian Cultural Centre, Paramaribo on Wednesday 19th October 2011.  Mrs. Wasim Zaidi, wife of Mr. Asrad Ahmed (India base) from Embassy of India, Paramaribo conducted the programme in which she demonstrated making of decoration items by using the waste material. This was very much appreciated by the audience. The show was also covered by local newspaper Dagblad and RBN TV channel.   


Saturday 22nd October2011                                     'DIWALI CELEBRATIONS WITH CUS'
                                                                     (Cultural presentation by ICC Music & Dance students)
Cultural Union Suriname (CUS) organized a grand event at Onafhankelijkheidsplein (Independence Square) on the occasion of Diwali (Nationale Diwali - Dia) on Saturday 22nd October 2011. Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, Republic of Suriname Mr. Soewarto Moestadja   with other Ministers of the cabinet, Cultural Union Suriname (CUS) along with all other CUS member, Ambassadors & Heads of the Diplomatic Missions in Suriname, other distinguished guest and many people of Suriname were present on this occasion.

To mark the occasion, the organisers lighted a huge Diya, claimed to be the biggest Diya in the world and thereafter audience enjoyed a beautiful cultural programme, presented by all type of spiritual, social, cultural organizations.  ICC students of Dance and Music also gave a presentation on the occasion.  The electronic media covered the programme and the SKY TV on the local television presented live telecast of the show. About 3000 people attended the programme, which was very much appreciated by all the audience. Following are few photographs:  

VISIT OF 08-MEMBER QAWWALI GROUP
21 - 23 OCTOBER, 2011

The ICCR-sponsored eight member Qawwali Group led by Shri Iftekhar Ahmed & Party from Amroha, U.P. India, visited Suriname from 21 - 23 October 2011 and gave three full and one-half performances at Paramaribo and Commewijne. The visit was organized in collaboration with Cultural Union Suriname (CUS), Organization Hindu Media (OHM), Suriname International Ladies Association (SILA), Suriname Islamic Organization (SIV), Stichting Vrienden Van Commewijne SVVC and Golden Tulip Hotel. The group gave performances in Sufi Style, Aastana Gayaki as well as the Modern Qawwali and traditional music of India, on the occasion of Eid and Diwali in Suriname. Following is the detailed report of the Qawwali group visit to Suriname:   

Friday 21st October 2011           PRESS MEET   (FOR 08-MEMBER QAWWALI GROUP FROM AMROHA)
                                                                             LED BY IFTEKHAR AHMED TO SURINAME

The group interacted with members of print and audio-visual media at the Press Meet organized by the Indian Cultural Centre, Paramaribo on Friday 21 October 2011 at 11.30 hrs. The Press Meet was attended among others by the Charge d'Affaires, Shri Arun kumar, Director, ICC Shri Sunil Bhalla, Joint Secretary, CUS Ms. Nirmla Ramdien, President, Mrs. Mary Ghafoerkhan, Suriname International Ladies Association (SILA). Ms. Nirmla Ramdien (CUS) thanked the Embassy of India and ICCR for sponsoring the visit of this Group to Suriname. After the conclusion of the question-answer session, the group gave 35 mts. short performance. The Press Meet was followed by high tea. Following are some photographs:




Friday 21st October 2011        FIRST PERFORMANCE (FOR 08-MEMBER QAWWALI GROUP FROM AMROHA)
                                                                             LED BY IFTEKHAR AHMED TO SURINAME
 
First performance of the group was held at SIV Cultural Centre, Paramaribo on Friday 21st October 2011 from 2000 hrs to 2130 hrs. Cd'A, Shri Arun Kumar Sharma, Mrs. Marry Ghafoerkhan, Preseident, SILA and other members of Cultural Union Suriname (CUS), Organisatie Hindoe Media (OHM) were among the distinguished guests present at the performance at SIV Hall. SIV association sponsored the group. There was a gathering of around 500 people at the programme and the audience appreciated the performance. Following are some photographs:         


Saturday 22nd October2011      SECOND PERFORMANCE(FOR 08-MEMBER QAWWALI GROUP FROM AMROHA)
                                                                                    LED BY IFTEKHAR AHMED TO SURINAME

The Second and main performance of the group was held on Saturday 22nd October 2011 at Independence Square which is opposite the Presidential Square and is reserved for very prestigious programmes like National Day Parade etc. Representative of President of Suriname, Cd'A, Shri Arun Kumar Sharma, President CUS, Mr. Ashwin Adhin, Leader of the opposition & member of national assembly Mr. Chandrikaprasad Santokhi and member of National Assembly Mr. Asiskumar Gajadien and other government official, were among the distinguished guests at the performance. There was an audience of more than 2500 people at the venue and programme was enjoyed by everyone and very well received by the audience. Electronic media has covered the programme and especially the SKY TV has given the live telecast of full programme on 22nd October 2011 Following are some photographs:          



Sunday 23rd October2011    THIRD PERFORMANCE  (FOR 08-MEMBER QAWWALI GROUP FROM AMROHA)
                                                                             LED BY IFTEKHAR AHMED TO SURINAME
 

Third performance of the group was held at Express Hall, Oost-West Verbinding, District Commewijne that is about 15 Kilometers far from Paramaribo City on Sunday 23rd October 2011 from 1130 hrs to 1300 hrs and was sponsored by Shri Shailendra Girjasing, Member of Parliament. There was a gathering of around 200 people at the programme and the performance was appreciated by the gathering. Following are some photographs: