Celebrated cosmetic surgeon Dr Rajeev Venugopaul and his bride of four months, dental surgeon Dr Hima Venugopaul, look the picture of elegance. - contributed photos
One of the beautiful things about this beloved country is the essence of our nation and its people, captured by our founding fathers and mothers in our national motto: 'Out of Many, One People'.
This motto is not just an abstract concept, but a tangible experience throughout our country. It is at the heart of the greatness of the Jamaican people and, while it endears us to other nationals, it confuses some. They see bogeymen and racist conspiracies, where none exists.
Of course, elements of our colonial heritage have superimposed a class structure, leaving a legacy of a social hierarchy which still favours the inheritors of the wealth and patrimony of the post-slavery and post-Independent Jamaica. By and large, Jamaica is still a blessed land, where differing people with differing religious, political, racial and cultural views and practices coexist.
Festival of lights
On Sunday, October 11, Hindu Indians the world over celebrated their annual Diwali (Festival of Lights) here in the capitals.
Indian-born Jamaican businessman Kenny Benjamin threw open the doors of his residence to family friends and the Indian community, hosting a wonderful evening to commemorate the occasion.
Pumpkins, one inescapable things about Indians everywhere is their dress - the sari for the women and Kurta-Pajama for men. It's simply one of the most elegant, colourful and attractive outfits ever. Entire families, friends and admirers donned their traditional garb for the Diwali celebrations.
Dears, imagine some of the leading members of the Indian community here in Jamaica and their entire families out in traditional dress - bejewelled and all - and looking absolutely, head-turningly fabulous. Think of the range of colours and fabric, with silk and cotton being the preferred choice.
Time for celebrating
It was a time when Hindus the world over made supplication to their goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, for continued prosperity. Those in attendance looked prosperous. The occasion was not only about lauding or entreating the goddess Lakshmi, but it was a time for celebrating family, relatives and friends.
Dears, the evening's celebration began with cocktails in the fab gardens, after which guests were treated to a charming dance recital by students of the Anjali School of Dance, founded by Gopa Ramani, and using primarily a fusion of traditional Indian and contemporary Jamaican dance moves to create an exciting new genre. There are talks of facilitating a cultural exchange between Indian dancers and the school but it was high-energy, beautifully choreographed and very creative dance fusion.
Dinner was a lavish feast with North Indian delicacies such as dosa, idli, manchurian vegetable balls and vaarda, plus a number of traditional dishes, not to mention the desserts that followed! After dinner, guests joined the host and his companion, Aloima Suarez, playing games, while others danced to the beautiful music - all in keeping with the spirit of the occasion.
Those in attendance
Among those in attendance were Indian High Commissioner His Excellency and Mrs Mohinder Grover; Justice Ian Forte and wife Senator Marlene Malahoo-Forte; Judge Glen Brown; Judge Ingrid Mangatal; World Bank Badrul Haque and wife Rubina and their children; Al Niazi; OUR's Zia Mian; Professor Dr Ajay and Lachmi Mansingh; Dr Dhiru and Dr Laura Tanna; Ron Brown and wife Valerie; the esteemed Mano Chandiram; Dr Dhiru and Marciline Garg; Lachu Ramchandani; Ashok Mulchandani; Mrs Lynn Maragh; lawyer Patrick Bailey; president of Club India, Julie Ramchandani; Steve Ashley; Rajiv Bakshi, companion Dorothea Gordon-Smith and her daughter Taquise Gordon-Smith.
Also out were Dr Lennox and Daphne Mattadial; Dr Akshi and Gunjan Mansingh; Drs Renu and Sashi Nallapati; Drs Rajeev and Hima Venugopaul; Dr Sangeeta Kisswani; Nathan Nembhard and wife Dr Eesha Garg-Nembhard, her sibling, and newly-weds Dr Rudheer Garg and wife Yashu; Bernadette Barrow; the charming Megan Deanne; Ahsanul and Rilla Haq; Gugdesh and Sucheta Sujananni.
We spotted Shabaz and Sonia Alam;Additti Dhiman; Wilfred Bagaloo; Ravi Roshlani; Tariq and Semena Malik and their children; Mervyn and Sharine Eyre; Annie Paul; Alex Dropinski and wife Dr Saphire Longmore; Tarun and Catherine Handa; Vinay Walia and companion Sidjae Robinson; Rajan and Sonia Trehan; Ueli Bangerter and companion the lovely Shienne Holman; the lovely Miranda Ragbier; Mrs Sonja Sutgherland Dumetz; and the heir apparent to the Guardsman throne, Nicholas Benjamin; plus a number of others.
Justice Ian Forte (left) and Justice Glen Brown caught in different moods.
From left: Rilla Haq, Sonia Trehan and hostess Aloima Suarez are picture perfect at the celebration.
From left: Representative of the World Bank in Jamaica, Dr Badrul Haque; Dr Laura Tanna and Kenny Benjamin pose for the camera.