Making Origami Swans for Peace and Ahimsa at Republic Day in Cleveland

At the celebration for 68th Republic Day of India at the Rainforest in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo a young boy taught people how to make origami swans to celebrate peace and ahimsa.  Here are some highlights.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Happy Republic Day in Turkish at Turkish Garden Dedication in Cleveland

Ayla Gencer is president of the Turkish American Society of Northeastern Ohio (TASNO).  She taught the crowd how to say Happy Republic Day in Turkish and then they recited it.

 This was at the dedication of the new Turkish Garden in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.  The dedication took place 93 years after the founding of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Turkish in Cleveland

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.

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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.

India Republic Day

Federation of India Community Associations (FICA) hosts an annual event to celebrate Republic Day. The event, dinner and performances took place on Saturday January 25, 2014.


Dr. Mohan Bafna and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson were honored.

Photos from India Republic Day event

Republic Day of India - 3 regions

Sometimes you can forget just how big India is.

Imagine if someone asked you what the favorite food or musical style or sport or... was for the US? You would ask "What region" or "Which people?"

Now consider India with 1.1 billion people!

At the 63rd Republic Day of India celebration in Cleveland there were 3 different dance performances from 3 different regions of India.

First was Bharata Natyam or Chadhir Attam - a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

The second dance was from the western state of Gujarat where we were entertained by a Garba Dance.

The third came from the northern state of Punjab where the ladies performed Giddha, the popular folk dance performed by women mainly at festive and social occasions.

Pictures and videos of the dances and more from Republic Day

Happy Indian Republic Day

On January 26, 1930 the Indian National Congress declared 26 January as Independence Day or as the day for Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) which occurred 20 years later.

On January 26, 1950 the Constitution of India comes into force, forming a republic. Rajendra Prasad is sworn in as its first President of India.

Also, On January 26, 1965 Hindi became the official language of India.