Page 8 • INDEPENDENT • MARCH 16, 2011
Mardi Gras in Galveston celebrates India
Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation-USA President Subhash Gupta, left, a Fort Bend County resident, with Renee Adame of Mitchell Historic Properties, Shubhra and Naveen Ramineni. Indian costume, food, aces.” Hotel owner George Mitchmusic, and dance filled the air at The Tremont House in ell, known in Houston for his Galveston at the 27th Annual development of The WoodMardi Gras Ball and Parade lands and 1940 graduate of Viewing Party on Saturday, Texas A&M University, was March 5, celebrating “The surprised with a special appearance by the Fighting Enchantment of India.” More than 600 guests were Texas Aggie Band during the greeted with cultural danc- Momus Grand Night Parade. Ball goers were greeted by ers as the historic hotel was transformed into mini “pal- cultural dancers and dance
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lessons by DJ Yogi-G and enjoyed live music by New Orleans’ famed Dr. Michael White Jazz Quartet and Houston’s Eclipse Band. Mitchell said every year a country is recognized in the Mardi Gras ball. Last year, China was featured. Because of the large Indian population in the area and their significant contribution to the community, India was chosen as the theme this year, Mitchell said. He was very pleased with the idea of donating part of the proceeds to an Indian charity, he said. This year, a portion of the proceeds benefit the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering education and village development in rural India. “George Mitchell and his people made best efforts to project India and its Heritage and also made Ekal Vidyalaya as Charity of choice after great research. We are very grateful to him and all staff for honoring Ekal Vidyalaya,” said Ramesh Shah, chairman, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA. The annual event, hosted by the George Mitchell family, originated in 1985 with the grand opening of The Tremont House and the revival of Galveston Island’s city-wide Mardi Gras celebrations. Shubhra Ramineni, author of the book “Entice with Spice,” was a co-host of the “Enchantment of India” ball with Mitchell. (She is an alumnus of Kempner High School in Fort Bend ISD.) “The Mardi Gras gala was a beautiful event celebrating India and benefitting Ekal Vidyalaya,” said Shubhra Ramineni. “It was so nice to see all of the guests get into the spirit of India by dressing in beautiful Indian saris and kurtas, eating Indian food, and dancing bhangra all night long. The elegant Indian decorations made us feel as if we
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Ball goers in their best Indian costume. were at a grand Indian wedding celebration,” Ramineni said. “Naveen and I are honored to have been given the opportunity to nominate Ekal Vidyalaya as the charity of choice for the Mardi Gras gala, and we are thrilled that the George Mitchell Family threw a wonderful Mardi Gras party,” she said. “Attending Mardi Gras for the first time, I was thrilled to see the Indian flavor added into the festivities at Hotel Tremont,” Neerja Aggarwal, 11th grader at Hightower High School, said. “It was interesting to see so many non-Indians including men, women, and even children dressed in our cultural attire dancing to Bollywood beats and enjoying Indian delicacies. The party, parade, painting and cultural dance performances by the Blue Flame dance troupe were lively and absolutely amazing,” she said.. Renee Adame, director of marketing for Mitchell Historic Properties, who came across Ramineni’s book, got in touch with her and took her help in planning and organizing the India-themed Mardi Gras ball. “It was a very festive, colorful party with lot of excitement. More people have come in costumes than ever before,” said Adame, who researched on the Indian costumes with Ramineni’s help and guided participants on where to purchase them.
Texas A&M University’s Fighting Texas Aggie Band Drum Major poses with fellow Aggies (from left) Dr. William Merrell, George Mitchell (Class of 1940) and Texas A&M President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin. “We are happy with the choice of Ekal Vidyalaya. We are supportive of the goals and mission of Ekal Vidyalaya as Mr. Mitchell strongly believed in education,” she said. Guests who purchased the weekend Mardi Gras Package at the Tremont House received a copy of Shubhra Ramineni’s award winning cookbook, Entice with Spice: Easy Indian Recipes for Busy People. Her book has won the 2010 Gourmand award for the Best Indian Cuisine Book in the United States, and is in the top four finalists for the Gourmand award for “Best in
the World” in the Indian cookbook category. Ramineni’s book, which has over 100 Indian recipes with full color step-by-step photographs has been chosen as one of the Best Asian Cookbooks of 2010 by New Asian Cuisine. Her book has also received exquisite reviews by Publishers Weekly saying “This may be the Indian cookbook that American foodies have been waiting for.” For more information visitwww. enticewithspice.com and visit Ekalvidyalaya.org —SESHADRI KUMAR
Mardi Gras in Rosenberg On March 8, Fat Tuesday, The Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance and Legacy Ford of Rosenberg hosted their Fourth Annual Mardi Gras Party at the Legacy Ford Dealership. The party included catered Cajun-style food from Nuksy’s, Italian Maid, Rajin’ Cajun, Pier 36 Seafood and Kevin Patton and beverages from Silver Eagle Distributors. Left, Ron Ewer, owner of Legacy Ford, Eloise Lucas, Legacy Ford, and Gail Parker, President/CEO Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance. Right, Chamber Staff: Brian Lee, Angie Sanders, Alicia Davis, Gail Parker, Yazmin Aleman and Jeremy Heath.