The RWCS organised a 2-day Diwali Mela on the lawns on 3rd & 4th Nov 2023. The entry was with flowers and, just like last year, one saw a carpet seller, a toy seller, a balloon seller outside the badminton court. The most important one was the lady selling idols and diyas. A giant stage was put up to the right of the lawn and some 36 stalls covered the left side of the lawn. A giant boat ride and a small ferris wheel were put in the space between the lawns. Some 6 food stalls offering varied fare like chole bature, noodles etc occupied the space between the Gangotri Hall and the Club restaurant. Tables and chairs were a welcome addition.
The RWCS distributed ‘lucky draw’ coupons to houses in the sector and organised a ‘Happy Hour’ draw for tickets dropped between 2-6 pm, which sadly found few takers. The shopping stalls consisted of lights, jewellery, bags, decorations etc with many first-time exhibitors. The decor of the mela was simplistic and a step behind that of last year’s Diwali Mela.
The Diwali Mela was inaugurated on 3rd Nov and saw singers Shiv Kumar and Anita belt out popular numbers. The Dandia dance on 3rd Nov saw enthusiastic participation with best-dressed people getting prizes. The show-stealers were 4-year-old twins Pahal & Seerat (A -155) with best-dressed prizes going to Aarti (B-119), Puja Singhania (D-95), Gunjan Aggarwal (C- 64).
On 4th Nov, cultural programmes were organised. Students of Kalpana Kala Kendra performed Bharat-natyam. This was followed by performances of Vaishali Kala Kendra, led by ace dancer Jyoti Srivastava ji. Thereafter, the Mauja-Mauja group took over the show and presented Rajasthani dances. Tambola saw active participation and loud cheers. The program ended with a virtual show of firecrackers on a large LED screen.
