Maidenhead Bridge Rotary hosts Indian Cultural Night in Holyport

An event bringing together the community to celebrate Indian culture has raised thousands for two charities.

Maidenhead Bridge Rotary Club hosted the first ever Indian Cultural Night at Holyport Memorial Hall on Saturday, to coincide with the start of the Diwali season.

The event saw 130 people from Maidenhead and beyond gather to not only enjoy a tasty meal, but also to fundraise for Maidenhead-based charity Alzheimers Dementia Support and India-based non-profit organisation Goonj which works to provide vital resources to underprivileged communities in India.

In total, the event raised more than £2,000 for the charities.

Upon arriving, guests were met by members of the Rotary club dressed in traditional Indian attire and were gifted bangles.

Visitors then walked through an entrance which featured a statue of Hindu god Ganesh and a Rangoli pattern – a traditional Indian decoration encompassing coloured ground rice.

An authentic Indian meal prepared by KebabSaab Catering was on the menu, showcasing the diverse and rich cuisine of India.

The spread included a range of appetisers such as chana masala, samosas, saag paneer, curries, tandoori naan, and gulab jamun with kulfi for dessert.

The evening was kicked off by Katie Hodges, district governor of Rotary in the Thames Valley who lit a lamp, which is a symbolic Hindu ritual to ward of any negativity and darkness.

Guests were treated to live performances of traditional Bharatanatyam dances and Bollywood songs.

Dancers dressed in colourful attire brought the traditional art of Bharatanatyam to life.

The Rotary Club expressed its gratitude to volunteers, sponsors, performers and attendees for their ‘support in making the Indian Cultural Night a triumphant and memorable evening’.

Rajan Gujral, event organiser, said: “We organised this event to coincide with the start of Diwali, India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year.

"Diwali is a festival of lights that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and the human ability to overcome challenges. Our Indian Cultural Night, and Rotary, certainly ticks all those boxes.”

James Ticehurst, club president, said: “We are truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our community. This Indian Cultural Night was a testament to the power of unity and cultural exchange.

"We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of this event and helped us raise much-needed funds for these remarkable charities.”

The Rotary Club plans to continue its tradition of hosting events which bring together the community while also supporting both local and international charitable causes.

For more information and to keep up to date with other events organised by the club visit:maidenheadbridgerotary.org.ukor contact Lisa Hunter at 07876341334 or emailinfo@maidenheadbridgerotary.org.uk