Diwali mela in New York city

A part of Manhattan on Sunday had a brown wash as thousands of Indians thronged the city's most popular Diwali mela which ended in a spectacular show of fireworks.

Accompanied by family and friends, people were seen enjoying familiar eatables like chhole bhature , dosa and chaat at the crowded stalls. Many replenished their collection of Bollywood film DVDs and music CDs. Women had their hands hennaed or bought trinkets. Men danced the bhangra in one corner even as Hindi film songs played all over the three cordoned off streets at South City Seaport, an entertainment arena at the southernmost tip of Manhattan.

Said Rafique Lakhani, who sells phone cards in Queens and came with his wife and son, "This is my first time here. I loved meeting other Indians and thoroughly enjoyed the mela as well as the fireworks.

The fireworks, shot up from a barge at the waterfront, lasted for about 20 minutes. They lit up the New York night sky in many hues and were cheered lustily by the gathered crowds. Residents of nearby apartment buildings too peered out as air shell burst sounds echoed all around.

Courtesy:The Times of India
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