32 The QUEE NS Courier • october 16, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Queens Hindus to celebrate Diwali BY ASHA MAHADEVAN editorial@queenscourier.com After a two-year hiatus, the annual motorcade in Richmond Hill celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali will drive down Liberty Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 18. More than 30 cars will be featured in this celebration of the Festival of Lights, which is traditional to West Indian and Indian communities. Each car will be decorated with flowers, lights and the rich colors associated with the festival. The three best-dressed cars will be awarded cash prizes. While the motorcade has been an annual event for more than 15 years, the excitement is heightened this year as the event could not be organized the past two years. According to Lakshmee Singh of the Divya Jyoti Association, which organizes the event, the motorcade could not be held in 2012 because city officials were unable to spare the manpower after Hurricane Sandy. In 2013, the association’s request for a permit was denied. The organizers had to get creative and held a “nagar” or fair where participants installed booths and sold traditional Indo-Caribbean clothes, jewelry and food, while attendees enjoyed a cultural show with dancers performing to classical songs. “This year, for the first time, we are having both the motorcade and the nagar,” said Singh. The festivities will begin at 3 p.m. with a “havan” or prayer to Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, at the Arya Spiritual Center Grounds at 104-20 133rd St. The motorcade will begin from near Sybil’s Bakery at 133rd St. and Liberty Ave. at 5:30 p.m. It will be followed by a cultural program featuring classical singers and dancers. The Natya Tilakam Dance Company is participating in both the motorcade and the cultural show, said its founder Dana Marajh. “We are performing a fusion of semi-classical tandava a dance form and Bollywood,” said Marajh, as she and her team strung lights and hung curtains in preparation to decorate their car. A car decorated for the 2011 motorcade. They are hopeful about winning the motorcade competition and already have plans for the prize money. “If we win, the proceeds will go toward a clothing drive we are doing for Halloween,” said Marajh. One of their competitors is Singh’s Roti Shop. “We are hoping to win,” said Shivani Harryginsingh, 28, the shop’s manager, adding that the celebration is a great way for the young generation born and raised in the Photo courtesy of Buddy Singh. U.S. to stay in touch with their traditions. “You cannot be a Hindu and not know what it means,” she said. “This is not something you learn in school. You have to learn on your own. It’s our heritage and culture. We need to keep the tradition going.” The event is free and open to people from all communities. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer and the feature film in development, A Wake-up Call, inspired by screenwriter and producer, Barbara Masry’s cancer and bone marrow transplant 23 years ago, is a way of bringing to the screen a film with an important message. Dr. Tauseef Ahmed Chief of Oncology Westchester Medical Center New York Medical College Elizabeth Baldwin Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Masry and Broadway and off-Broadway producer, Vasi Laurence, passionately believe that the film’s compelling story of 2 diverse Brooklyn women with unequal access to and delivery of health care will not only entertain at the box office, but will raise awareness of the value of patient navigation and of the need to legislate to make helping the uninsured and underinsured through the medical maze as common as seat belts. A benefit will be held for A Wake-up Call on Thursday, Oct. 30th at 6 p.m., at the NYC home of Tom Fontana, creator of St. Elsewhere and Oz, to honor the following physicians and activists working alongside researchers in the breast cancer battle: Dr. Tauseef Ahmed Chief of Oncology Westchester Medical Center New York Medical College Baldwin Baldwin Cancer Research Foundation Foundation Laura Weinberg President Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition A Wake-up Public Call Health has attracted and an outstanding star cast who have committed to the film including Mira Sorvino,Environmental Dermot Advocate Mulroney, Dan Hedaya, Ashanti, Peter Jacobson, and Amanda Setton. Dee Dee Ricks Public Health Advocate Patient Navigation Institute Dr. Harold P. Freeman CEO, President, Founder Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute Laura Weinberg President Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition Public Health and Environmental Advocate Dr. Tauseef Ahmed Chief of Oncology Westchester Medical Center New York Medical College Elizabeth Baldwin Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation Dee Dee Ricks Public Health Advocate Patient Navigation Institute Dr. Harold P. Freeman CEO, President, Founder Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute Laura Weinberg President Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition Public Health and Environmental Advocate Dr. Tauseef Ahmed Chief of Oncology Westchester Medical Center New York Medical College Elizabeth Baldwin Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation Laura Weinberg President Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition Public Health and Environmental Advocate Dr. Tauseef Ahmed Chief of Oncology Westchester Medical Center New York Medical College Elizabeth Baldwin Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation Laura Weinberg President Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition Public Health and Environmental Advocate Dr. Tauseef Ahmed Chief of Oncology at Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College Dr. Harold P. Freeman CEO, President and Founder, Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute DeeDee Ricks Patient Navigation and Health Care Advocate Elizabeth Baldwin Exec. Director of the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of CNY Laura Weinberg President of the Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition, environmental activist The evening will include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and entertainment by Jeanne Lehman French, Broadway star (Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of music) and concert singer. Visit www.awakeupcallfilm.com to learn more. An interview with Masry is posted on The Sept. 15th, 2014 Ascopost.com (search: Barbara Masry) a widespread online journal devoted to issues related to cancer for oncology professionals and others. The $300 tax-deductible tickets must be purchased in advance as space is limited. They can be obtained through PayPal online at www. awakeupcallfilm.com or checks can be mailed to Barbara Masry, 76 Baker Hill Road, Great Neck, N.Y. 11023 made out to From The Heart Productions, with A Wake-up Call in the memo line. If unable to attend, donations to the production of the film are appreciated. For further information, call 516-316-9407 or email:wakeupcallprod@hotmail.com
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