The Grand Finale

Maldivians and Indians streamed through the doors of Dharubaruge last night for the grand finale of the The India-Maldives Friendship Festival 2010.

The chief guest was Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed, accompanied by his wife Madam Ilham Hussain. They were welcomed by the Indian High Commissioner Dnyaneshwar Mulay before the commencement of the event.

Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz and Special Envoy of the President Mr Ibrahim Hussain  Zaki also graced the event.

An Indian girl, Hibaa Himnat, rendered a faultless recitation of the Quran to start off the ceremony.

After greeting the attendees in English, Hindi and Dhivehi, High Commissioner Mulay noted that people from all walks of life were present: “We have poets, engineers, philosophers, doctors and teachers here, is there anyone we don’t have?”

Mulay expressed regret that opposition party members rarely attended events despite the invitations sent out by the High Commission.

“Our governments alone cannot be the driving force for the relations between two countries,” he pleaded, adding that it was imperative that “good relations exist between people to people be it on a business level, cultural and even on a philosophical level.”

Mulay noted that recorded history showed that relations between Maldives and India existed “beyond 2500 years.” He promised that he would do all he could to further and maintain the cordial relationships between the two countries.

Looking dapper in a striped shirt, Dr Waheed spoke next. He said it was most likely India had the highest number of Maldivian students studying abroad, and also noted the amount of trade between the two countries and said “this is made possible because of the leadership of both countries.”

He congratulated Mulay and chairman of India club Vijay Jasuja for their work, and extended Independence Day greetings. “Both countries have much to celebrate,” he said, “as we have made enormous progress since independence.”

Good relations between the two countries would continue because India and Maldives were two friends whose destiny was intertwined, he said.

CEO of India Bank and current chairman of India club Vijay Jasuja thanked Dr Waheed for the help he and the government had extended to the club over the last two years.

The India Club was formally registered as an NGO in 2008 and has since then been active in conducting humanitarian events, such as free medical and blood donation camps, along with social and entertainment activities.

Indian and Maldivian Music

After token gifts of appreciation was presented to Maldivian band 911 and Punjabi Indian Surindra Sagar by Mulay and Dr Waheed, the show began.

The Police band 911 started out with a romantic Maldivian ballad with two members on stage before the rest of the six appeared. A bit more flair and ineraction with the audience would have made their performance more enjoyable. The classic Maldivian song “Meygaavi ali kuri noorakee” was followed by a rendition of a modified version of the evergreen Hindi song “Mausam masthaana” by the only female member of the group.

Surindra Sagar and troupe joined next, with the musicians playing “Dum maro dum” as their introductory piece. Surindra Sagar, colourful in black and pink, rendered a Punjabi song “ Dama dum mast calendar.”

What followed was bhangra dances by the troupe, women dressed in yellows and pinks and blues, with the turbaned men evoking the Punjab with their enthusiastic moves.

The Bollywood songs which resonate with most Maldivians and Indians were absent, however the night’s dances and songs created an exciting atmosphere and brought an enjoyable end to the finale of the India Maldives Friendship festival 2010.

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