Michael Reckord, Contributor
The Ratnavali troupe performing at The National Council for Indian Culture in Jamaica's annual awards banquet and cultural presentation, in 'Commemoration of the 160th Anniversary of the Arrival of Indians in Jamaica', held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, on Friday. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
WITH SONG, dance, food, drink and speeches, the 160-year presence of East Indians in Jamaica was celebrated on Friday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston.
The glittering affair, which took the form of an awards banquet and cultural presentation, was attended by hundreds of Indians and their friends from around Jamaica, as well as Miami, Tampa, New York and Trinidad and Tobago.
The celebration was hosted by the National Council for Indian Culture in Jamaica (NCICJ), an umbrella for the numerous Indian ogranisations and groups in the island, including Prema Satsangh of Jamaica, Indo-Jamaican Cultural Society, Club India, Indian Cultural Society, Sanatan Dharma Society, Friends of the Indian Community, Ananda Marga Society and the Brahma Kumari Raj Yoga Centre.
ATTENDEES
Among the many dignitaries in the audience were Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke and Shri Kailash Lall Agrawal, High Commissioner for India.
The first ceremonial item, the lighting of the Deeya (a semi-circle of candles), in which Lady Cooke assisted, was followed by a welcome address by Beryl Williams-Singh, chairperson of the NCICJ.
Shanti Badaloo then performed an 'invocation dance', a classical Indian dance in the Odyssey style. Dressed in a yellow and brown sari, bangles and a forehead jewel, she danced to taped music. She kept her upper body erect most of the time, while rippling her arms and hands up, down and around, her fingers making many intricate gestures.
SINGING
The Naya Zamana Band, with Dr. Winston Tolan as lead vocalist and members playing drums, flute, tambourine and harmonium, performed a number of well-received items, including a number of songs from movies. A second group, the Shiv Sangeet orchestra from Trinidad and Tobago, included saxophonist Narendra. Indian movies seemed to be very influential with the night's performers generally, for a number of the dances also originated with motion pictures.
There were three dance groups. The Ratnavali troupe comprised teen girls Shavi, Janielle, Alicia, Shakira, Sharda and Shakhti.Wearing silver tops, long, red skirts and long red scarves, they executed a dance involving much hip swaying, arm extensions and many sideways hops all very pleasing and much appreciated by the audience.
The Gallow Girls and Friends, two teen couples, delivered a bouncier piece with a slight flavour of Western pop music. The Prema Youth dancers, Rani and Nallini (one in light blue, the other in burgundy), presented the final dance, a charming piece with much hip swaying, delicate arm movements and coy hiding behind scarves.
Two female solo singers, members of the Shiv Sangeet orchestra, rounded out the entertainment aspect of the evening. Trisha Ramdhan, a nurse, wore a blue sari for her sad-sounding song. Amina Ramsaran, in a pink outfit, dedicated her song to the audience.
The second major component of the function, the awards ceremony, saw the presentation of NCICJ awards to honour those who have served the Indian community over the years.
