6.00 pm Cultural Program - India-Link.org

over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty
thousand workers. Built entirely of white marble, the
Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the
world.
Because India is a land of intense spirituality
and religious faith, temples are an integral part of Indian
culture. From the Sun Temple in Konark to the Golden
Temple in Amritsar, each temple represents a fascinating
aspect of Indian religion, tradition, and history. The
Ancient Haridwar (the “Gateway to God”), located at the
foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand and the
Ganges river, is one of the seven holiest places in India
and one of the oldest living cities. Varanasi, in the state
of Uttar Pradesh, is known as the city of Lord Shiva, the
god of creation and destruction. It is believed that anyone
who dies here will be liberated from the cycle of
reincarnation. Bodhgaya, Rishikesh, and Amritsar are
also among the top holiest places in India. Amritsar,
founded in 1577 by Guru Ram Das, the fourth guru of
Sikhs is the spiritual capital of the Sikhs and gained its
name, meaning “Holy Pool of Nectar” from the body of
water around the Golden Temple. Nearly all Indian
temples reveal beautiful unique architecture.
India also has great natural beauty. To name a
few: the Himalayan mountains running from west to
east, from the Indus river valley to the Brahmaputra river
valley, Ooty, and Kodaicanal in Tamilnadu. Kodaicanal,
the princess of Hill Stations, is located in Dindugal
District of Tamilnadu. It is one of the most famous hill
stations in South India, located on the southern tip of
Palani Hills. It is a favorite destination for honeymooners
and is also the most visited tourist destination.
The other intriguing aspect of India is the
cultural diversity. The Indian subcontinent consists of a
number of separate linguistic communities each
of which share a common language and culture.
The people in India speak many languages and
dialects which are mostly varieties of 15 principal
languages. People in each part of India not only
speak a different language but they also dress
differently, prepare different dishes, and celebrate
different festivals and pray to different deities.
Ragasthan, Punjab, and Gujarat are very different
from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andra Pradesh. It
is a wonderful experience to travel to different
parts of India because every part is very different
and has its own uniqueness and flavor.
We also had great leaders, one of the most
influential being Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
(10/2/1869 – 1/30/1948). He was the political and
ideological leader of India during the Indian
independence movement. He was a pioneer of
34 INDIA LINK, 2011
satyagraha, a philosophy founded upon ahimsa or
nonviolence and led India to independence and inspired
movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
Through his efforts, India gained its independence on
August 15, 1947.
While people are people across the world, India
has a very rich culture and history which must be passed
on to our children and to their children from our ancestors
so they will be proud of their wonderful heritage and will
pass this on to their children and grand children. Grand
Rapids does a wonderful job bringing the community
together to celebrate and maintain this cultural link
with our country. I am fortunate that my kids are exposed
to had the opportunity to participate in our Indian
religious and cultural traditions here in Grand Rapids.
We had the opportunity to get involved with our West
Michigan Hindu Temple and through my daughter’s
dance with Smita Chandra, we had the opportunity to
involve with India Link. My kids are now 10 and 11
years old and I hope this positive exposure during the
past 5 years will leave a permanent imprint on them
about our culture, heritage, and values. �