Members of India Foundation of Metropolitan Princeton organized an annual family picnic recently at Mercer County Park. This year’s picnic marks the 25th anniversary for IFMP. IFMP members were treated to delicious Indian food and fun filled activities.
We wish to thank everyone who attended the event, especially the elected officials, including West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh; Plainsboro Deputy Mayor Neil Lewis; State Senator Tom Goodwin; State Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein; Mercer County Freeholder Dan Benson; West Windsor Councilman Kamal Khanna; Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello; and WW-P School Board President Hemant Marathe.
Our organization has several events each year celebrating Indian culture. Events for 2010 include bowling, Holi Celebration, Indian Independence Day picnic, Navratri Garba Nights, and our Annual Cultural Dance Program.
Holi is a festival full of color where friends and family throw dyed powder and liquid at each other. Our IFMP Holi celebration incorporates those values by locating our event in a park and buying colors for our members to enjoy.
Our Indian Independence Day picnic was a huge success this year. Our picnic is a family event with lots of games, music, and food.
During October we celebrate the festival of Navratri, a holiday in Hindu tradition that is celebrated for nine nights. The IFMP plans two nights of Navratri at one of the high schools.
Our final and most important event is our annual cultural program. Several area choreographers submit their dances for the show, in which many children and members of the IFMP take part. We also have musicians perform.
We also partner with and support other nonprofit organizations in the Princeton area. For example, we have provided ongoing support for the March of Dimes.
In the past, IFMP made donations to the Tsunami and Katrina relief funds. This year we were fundraised for “Staples” and “With Cradles To Crayons,” which help thousands of needy students get school backpacks and supplies. We also supported the Ratna Global Foundation’s charity event.
We continue to serve our community and increase awareness of Indian culture. Each year we put hard work into making our events a success, and we look forward to making each year better than the one before.
Anand Mohan
IFMP President
