Dance performances at India Republic Day

Before dinner at the sold our India Republic Day event several talented dance groups performed a variety of Indian dance. Here is a video medley of some of the performances.

See more pictures of dances at India Republic Day

India Republic Day performers

India Republic Day performers

India Republic Day performers

India Republic Day

Federation of India Community Associations is an organization dedicated to serving the needs of the Asian Indian Community in Northeast Ohio. From its humble beginnings as a student association in 1962, it has grown to be the voice of a diaspora of over 20,000 and on the increase. FICA helps Asian Indian families assimilate into the mosaic of greater Cleveland. Each year they host several events including a celebration of Republic Day.

According to Wikipedia, Republic Day honors the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on January 26, 1950 replacing the Government of India Act as the governing document of India. The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, completing the country's transition towards becoming an independent republic. 26 January was chosen as the Republic day because it was on this day in 1929 when Declaration of Indian Independence was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress as opposed to the Dominion status offered by the British Regime.

A sell out crowd of 450 attended FICA's Republic Day event on Saturday February 1, 2020. The evening began with the singing of the national anthems of the United States and India.

Photos and videos of India Republic Day 2020

India Republic Day guests

India Republic Day guests

India Republic Day guests

Mahatma Gandhi 150th birthday Celebration in India Cultural Garden

The Federation of Indian Community Associations (FICA) hosted a celebration on the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi in the India Cultural Garden in Cleveland on October 2, 2019. Though it was raining steadily, many people assembled to honor Gandhi in the Garden.

Photos and videos of Gandhi's 150th celebration

Posing with statue of Mahatma Gandhi

Posing with statue of Mahatma Gandhi

Shiksha Daan explained at Republic Day

Shiksha Daan is a project of the Federation of India Community Associations of Northeast Ohio (FICA).  Shiksha Daan –translates to the 'gift of education.'

Sanjay Garg has been the leader opf the group and explains it in this video clip.

Ahimsa is the theme of Republic Day in Cleveland

The Federation of India Community Associations of Northeast Ohio (FICA) hosted a celebration for 68th Republic Day of India at the Rainforest in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.  FICA president Sujata Lakhe Barnard welcomed the crowd to the 68th Republic Day and introduced Mistress of Ceremonies Sravanthi Vallampati.

She spoke about the theme of the evening – Ahimsa.

Ahimsa is a term meaning 'not to injure'. The word is derived from the Sanskrit root hiṃs – to strike; hiṃsā is injury or harm, a-hiṃsā is the opposite of this, i.e. cause no injury, do no harm.

Ahimsa is also referred to as nonviolence, and it applies to all living beings-including all animals-according to many Indian religions.

More from 68th Republic Day in Cleveland

Naga Nritya (Snake Dance) at India Republic Day

The Federation of India Community Associations of Northeast Ohio (FICA) hosted a celebration for 68th Republic Day of India at the Rainforest in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Dhanya Rao and Debolina Ghosh from the Nritya Geetanjali School of Dance performed a Naga Nrityam Snake Dance choreographed by Shoba Narayan.


Indians in Cleveland

Patriotic Indian song Vande Mataram at 68th Republic Day

The Federation of India Community Associations of Northeast Ohio (FICA) hosted a celebration for 68th Republic Day of India at the Rainforest in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Mr. Viswanathan Narayan sang the patriotic song Vande Mataram.

Vande Mataram is a poem from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's 1882 novel Anandamath. An Ode to Mother Bengal as Mother goddess, it was written in Sanskrit and Bengali. It played a vital role in the Indian independence movement, first sung in a political context by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress.

Sri Aurobindo referred it as "National Anthem of Bengal".

In 1950 (after India's independence), the song's first two verses were given the official status of the "national song" of the Republic of India, distinct from the national anthem of India, Jana Gana Mana.

More from the Cleveland Indian community

Indian stick dance from Rockwell Automation group

The Federation of India Community Associations of Northeast Ohio (FICA) hosted a celebration for 68th Republic Day of India at the Rainforest in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

A group from Rockwell Automation performed a traditional dance with sticks at the event.

More of Indians in Cleveland

Indian Independence celebrated at One World Day in Cleveland

Members of the Cleveland Indian community celebrated the Independence of India in the India Cultural Garden on One World Day 2016 in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens in a ceremony organized by FICA, the Federation of India Community Associations.

Near the large statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Satish Parikh spoke about gaining Independence, shouted Jai Hind and then led the singing of Jana Gana Mana, the national anthem of India.

More from the Cleveland Indian community

67th Republic Day of India FICA is an organization dedicated to serving the needs of the Asian Indian Community in Northeast Ohio. From its humble beginnings as a student association in 1962, it has grown to be the voice of a diaspora of over 20,000 and on the increase. FICA helps Asian Indian families assimilate into the mosaic of greater Cleveland. FICA hosts an annual event to celebrate Republic Day. The event, dinner and performances took place on Saturday January 23, 2016 with the theme of Solidarity in Diversity.

FICA is an organization dedicated to serving the needs of the Asian Indian Community in Northeast Ohio. From its humble beginnings as a student association in 1962, it has grown to be the voice of a diaspora of over 20,000 and on the increase. FICA helps Asian Indian families assimilate into the mosaic of greater Cleveland.

FICA hosts an annual event to celebrate Republic Day. The event, dinner and performances took place on Saturday January 23, 2016 with the theme of Solidarity in Diversity.

Lots of photos and videos from Republic Day

Patriotic Indian Songs by Bharat Kumar at Republic Day

Bharat Kumar sang patriotic Indian songs at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.


2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Award for Resiliency at Republic Day

Sujata Lakhe Barnard, president of FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio, introduced the FICA Resiliency Award at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration.  She presented the award to two young ladies.



2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Sudarshan Sathe at 2016 Republic Day

Sudarshan Sathe spoke about the Mahatma Gandhi Campus in Cleveland at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.



2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Sanjay Garg update on Shiksha Daan at Republic Day

Shiksha Daan Chair Sanjay Garg gave a progress report on this project that gives the gift of education at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.


2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Asim Datta receives FICA Award at Republic Day

Sujata Lakhe Barnard, president of FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio, introduced past-president Mona Alag at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration.

She presented (and accepted it because Asim was not present) the award for Advancing FICA’s Objectives to past-president Asim Datta.



2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Joe Cimperman at 2016 Republic Day

Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman spoke at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.

2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Sujata Lakhe Barnard at 67th India Republic Day

MC Sangita Bafna introduced Sujata Lakhe Barnard, president of FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration. Sujata recognized special guests and thanked the many FICA volunteers and sponsors.



2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Indian National Anthem by children at Republic Day

MC Sangita Bafna welcomed the crowd to the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.

She then called up children from the community to sing the national anthems of India and the US.  The theme was ‘Solidarity in Diversity’.


This is the Indian National Anthem.

More about Indians in Cleveland

Friend of Indian Community

The Federation of India Community Associations of Northeast Ohio (FICA) hosted an event to celebrate the 66th Republic Day of India.


Sanjay Garg received the 2105 FICA Volunteer of the Year Award and Dan Hanson received the 2015 Friend of Indian Community award.

Indian Holi Festival in Cleveland

FICA, Cleveland State University Center for International Services and Programs (CISP) and Indian Student Association (ISA) hosted a Holi celebration in Cleveland at CSU on March 29, 2014.

The "Spring Festival" was greeted with a surprise blizzard of more than 5" of snow but people braved the elements for the good food, camaraderie and especially the performances - both traditional and modern.

Photos and videos of Holi in Cleveland

Kalyani Veturi dance students