By Angela Anand, President, AAUC
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, November 23, 2025, we experienced a musical environment where cultural boundaries converged and melodies traversed regional distinctions, featuring romantic compositions in multiple spoken and written languages. This ethnic musical luncheon served as a showcase of a vibrant tapestry comprising sound, color, and tradition, unified by a consistent theme of diversity within unity of India.
The “Holiday Cheer” luncheon get together included dynamic performances of Punjabi and Rajasthani folk music, alongside classic Bollywood pieces, and romantic Urdu language (Persian) poetry compositions rendered with traditional instruments such as the “Table” (drums) and “Harmonium” (keyboard). Additionally, contemporary voices from the Indian communities of Mumbai, Rajasthan, and Gujarat collaborated to highlight both variety and cohesion through their holiday spirit celebrations.
This elite group of music lovers enjoyed a star musician, Swati Kanitkar, who has many recordings of her music and had also done some playback singing in India and now has been organizing and inspiring young minds who are born in this country to learn and enjoy music from India through her musical group, “Music Kala”. She was joined by another singer of great talent, Harsh Khinchi, an entrepreneur of great caliber and a music enthusiast who sings and plays a few instruments, and Rekha Desai who sings favorite old Bollywood songs of bygone years that are forever popular with diaspora people. They were joined by a young visiting artist from India who has also been credited with lot of accolades and plays Indian drums.
As guests entered the designated venue on November 23, aromatic spices mingled in the air, women wearing ethnic motif and colored saris swirled in to join the holiday party with positive vibes, and musicians invited friends to join their rhythmic circle. Every note told a story, echoing the heritage of distant lands and inviting guests to sway, and sing along. Whether you are rediscovering new sounds or reconnecting with ancestral roots, this luncheon promised to stir everyones spirits and opened their heart to the universal language of love with music.
As the afternoon unfolded, people enjoyed the traditional Indian food and guests were treated to spontaneous collaborations that transcended language barriers, with performers seamlessly blending Gazals of famous singers with contemporary Bollywood rhythms. Each song served as a bridge, connecting varied age group attendees and sub-cultures through the universal language of music from different Indian states having their own sounds and traditions. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and a sense of togetherness, making every attendee feel like an integral part of this vibrant celebration of Indian culture.
Let the rhythms move all who cherish music, the harmonies that enchant them and the shared moments inspire all who still maintain connections with traditions of India that these people left behind. Together, we all can celebrate the world’s rich cultural mosaic—one song at a time not only from India but from all parts of the world. Music is a language of the hearts.
