Old City Ambience To Be Replicated At Meet
Pol culture was chosen to represent the central identity of Gujarat this year at the World Gujarati Conference in New Jersey. In this third edition of the biggest gathering of Gujaratis outside India, over 30,000 Gujaratis will converge on New Jersey over three days from August 29 to 31.
Life-sized sets of various pols showing their signature architecture — oak and teak carvings on window and door panels, chabutaros, khadkis, delli, entry gates – structures typical to the insides of Pols, are part of the 80 tons of cargo dispatched to New Jersey for the event.
“The central theme of World Gujarati Conference – Chalo Gujarat 2012 is Gujarat, Gujarati and Gujaratism,” says Sunil Nayak, president of the Association of American Indians in North America (AAINA). “Pol culture describes the crux of Gujaratism,” he adds.
The conference venue is to be set up as Chalo Gujarat Pol. Jaydeep Mehta, event in-charge, says, “We are to merge various sets and recreate the interiors of pols at the conference venue to give second-generation American Indians the feel of visiting the old city pols. Along with this, the entry gates of Patan and a charkha with dimensions of 40ft by 15ft will be set up at the entrance of the hall.”
A seven-minute documentary film on present-day Gujarat called as ‘Gujarat Gandhi ni Ankhe’ will be displayed on the glasses of a 20ft by 10ft statue of Gandhiji. The aim of this gathering is to celebrate Gujarati language, culture, heritage, art, history, enterprise and people in all their grandeur. The icing on the cake is the official proclamation by New Jersey state government which has declared August 31 as Gujarati Day thereby recognizing the contribution of Gujaratis to the US. Dignitaries from the UK, US, India, Africa, the Gulf and Australia are to attend the conference this year.
Mehta says, “To pay honour to this conference, the Nasdaq bell is to be rung by a team of AAINA members on August 31 and Empire State Building dome is to display the theme colours of Chalo Gujarat that are pink, yellow and blue. These show the significance of the event in the US.”
