By HERMAN ROOP DASS Sunday, October 11 2009

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She was having her hand painted by a mehendi artist....

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THE SECOND NIGHT OF THE 2009 Divali Nagar on Friday was as usual filled with excitement as the appreciative crowd witnessed dances, tassa drumming, music and classical songs by members of foreign groups, including those from Jamaica.

Dr Winston Tolan thrilled the gathering with songs and his wife, Savitri, entertained with dances, the Jamaican way.

But the event which stole the hearts of the audience was the Shiv Sangeet School of Music, led by Shivanand Maharaj, with some 50 pupils from primary schools in the south, giving a display which stunned onlookers.

The Tandava Tassa Group hit the stage about midway through the night’s programme and what a performance it was!

Sushilla Cheng Promotions contributed with a fashion display with delegates from Miss India-Caribbean World Pageant and they delighted the crowd with their artful gestures.

Among those in the display were Anushka Siewnarine, Nadisha Maharaj, Lonicia Andall, and Crystal Mohammed, with Ackeem Mohammed and Dwane Singh being the male models.

Winston Dookeran, head of the Congress of the People, made an appearance at the show and was allowed to address the gathering.

He said that the Divali period was an appropriate time to appeal for “hope, justice and freedom to free our minds from the shackles of oppression which has hit the country a hard blow within recent times.”

“We pray that the joy and serenity of Divali would bless our country as we move forward in an effort to unite the nation to a spiritually prosperous level,” he said.

The show continues until Friday, October 16 when a fireworks display will end proceedings of this 23rd Annual Event.