Tamil Sangam Celebrates Diwali with Customary Fanfare

Upholding Tamil Cultural Values

GATS Celebrates Diwali with Customary Fanfare

Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated throughout India and in several parts of the world. Diwali is a major festival for the Hindus inasmuch as Christmas is to Christians.

All families, regardless of their economic status, illumine their houses with traditional lamps as well as modern lights, wear new garments, burst crackers and distribute sweets. People generally go around visiting their relatives and friends to exchange greetings. Homes vie with one another in creating imaginative rangoli (traditional decorative floor designs as a welcome sign to their guests) light up diyas (small earthen lamps) and candles and serial lighting.

The Greater Atlanta Tamil Sangam (GATS) dedicated to serving the Tamil community in Atlanta, recently hosted its annual event at Berkmar High School to celebrate Diwali as well as to reaffirm its commitment to the Indian American and mainstream community in Atlanta.

GATS, founded in 1981, has grown from a modest, local, grass-roots nonprofit organization to its present stature –persistently striving to preserve and perpetuate the rich cultural heritage of Tamilians through education programs and imparting the Tamil language with all its classicism to the children and families residing in this part of USA. The Charity Committee regularly helps local community through Med-Share and the Atlanta Food bank.

In addition, this year GATS raised funds for deserving causes such as Haiti relief and lent support to Shankara Netralaya (a not-for-profit eye-care center in India). GATS has supported the Children’s healthcare of Atlanta by organizing a 5K GATS walk. GATS has also conducted a chess tournament to support the CNN hero Mr. Narayanan Krishnan who is rendering yeomen services for the forsaken, mentally ill, aged and homeless people in India.

The Education Committee imparts Tamil language education to the children of Atlanta Tamil families. This committee supports sustenance of three Tamil schools educating over 150 children learning Tamil. This year the Education Committee organized Tamil competition programs and talent show for youth aimed at fostering and promoting the Tamil language.

GATS Diwali celebration, saw its President Indira Balakrishnan and her Executive Committee – welcoming the guests - clad befittingly in traditional Tamilian attires. The program started typically with a festival of lights dance, setting the tone for the rest of the day. This was followed by some imaginatively conceived programs performed by children/youth of the Atlanta Tamil community. Attendees were then treated to a sumptuous traditional Tamilian lunch served on disposable and bio-degradable Banana leaf platters.

The guests were obviously baffled and began to wonder for a moment if they have been transported to Tamilnadu in India. The afternoon’s programs truly reflected the time-honored Tamil culture and tradition and also included a scintillating classical performance by Mr. C. V. Subramaniam – all of which kept the audience enthralled. On the occasion, awards were presented to select Tamil community leaders for their self less service to the Community.

This annual event of GATS also provided the Executive Committee the customary opportunity to report on their accomplishments during the year gone by. A visibly overjoyed President, while recognizing Diwali as a festival of socio-religious significance symbolizing hope and togetherness, exclaimed, “We have come to the end of an interesting and successful year in GATS as I take this auspicious opportunity to thank every member of the executive committee for their tireless work and service during the year.”

The GATS Diwali festival was well-attended by many members of the Indian American community. Presence of number of eminent community leaders, and the vibrant youth who took part in cultural performances, lent the occasion a distinct festive atmosphere in true Tamilian spirit.

Anyone interested to know more about GATS can contact@gatamilsangam.org or visit their website www.gatamilsangam.org

Reported by President of GATS, Indira Balakrishnan