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The grand mela

J M Shenoy

When the Federation of Hindu-Associations planned a Duserra-Diwali mela in Cerritos in California, the organizers thought it would attract about 10,000 people.

The FHA had seriously underestimated the numbers. More than 22,000 people turned up for the four-hour long event that included religious and cultural programs for the event that would culminate with the electronic burning of a 60-foot effigy of Ravana.

The November 6 event was one of the biggest of its kind in California.

"Despite the biting cold, we were able to create a mini Ayodhya," says FHA leader Prithvi Raj Singh. This week FHA has taken advertisements in ethnic newspapers touting the event, and reminding the participants that the purpose behind it is to continue bringing together Hindu communities, and involve the younger generation in activities related to Hinduism.

"As we burned the effigy of the evil heads of 'Ravana,' the ad says, "so also we should burn these 10 evils."

The list of 10 evils includes castes, "segregated empires of denominations and gurus, price-tagged and unexplained rituals, wrong concepts of lower/higher demigods."

Banish the evils, FHA says, and there will be a rebirth of Hinduism.

"Then who can dare to convert us?" the FHA asks. "And why do we have to waste time in protests?"

At the mela, FHA also reached out to Buddhist, Jain and Sikh gurus and community leaders, inviting them to attend the event that was held in Cerritos Regional Park. The festivities were inaugurated by Dr Amarjit Singh Marwah, a senior leader of the Indian American community in Los Angeles.

Marwah, whose career in dentistry has made him one of the most successful Indian Americans in the health business, is one of the pillars of the Sikh community in California. He has been associated with the founding of a key gurudwara.

When Dr Marwah's came to the festival, he was met with slogans espousing Hindu-Sikh unity.

The event, which reportedly cost about $ 50,000, had a number of dramatic religious-cultural events including the recreation of the Seetha Swayamvaram.

The Federation of Hindu-Associations (FHA) is located at 1249 S Diamond Bar Blvd, Suite 385, Diamond Bar, CA 91765.

If you would like to post any information about forthcoming events or community happenings, please email the details to bettypais@aol.com

Information and photographs can also be mailed to Betty Pais at 87-52 108th Street, 2nd Floor, Richmond Hill, NY 11418-2229, USA.

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