Culture
NEWARK : Emotional Reunion As First India Flight Lands In US After Borders Reopen
NEWARK : Emotions ran high as the anxious wait of many Indians to reunite with their loved ones ended in joy at the Newark International Airport in New Jersey after the US lifted COVID-19 restrictions and opened its borders for international travellers.
Parents who hadn’t seen their children in over two years, grandparents eager to hold their grandkids in their arms, fiances waiting to reunite with their loved ones were overjoyed to see their family members emerging out from the exit gate of the airport, travelling on the first flight from India after the restrictions were lifted on Monday.
The coronavirus pandemic had prompted the US to close its borders to international travellers from many countries, including India, last year. Later, only passengers holding visas belonging to certain categories were permitted to travel.
The US opened its borders for fully vaccinated tourists from November 8, gradually moving ahead to a sense of normalcy and bringing families the joy of reuniting with their loved ones.
“I booked the first flight on the first day,” Vipul Shah said as he arrived with his wife. His two daughters waiting anxiously for their parents ran up to them as they saw them emerging from the airport doors.
“I had booked the flight on November 1 itself when I heard that the US is opening up travel for tourists again. But I re-booked them for November 8. I could not wait for November 7 midnight when my wife and I will be able to sit on the flight,” he said as tears rolled down his cheeks on seeing his daughters, one of whom is getting married in Indianapolis.
“We have waited too long for this day,” the family said as they hugged and took pictures, cataloguing their reunion.
It was a similar scene for many families as they were reunited following more than two years of having been separated from one another due to the pandemic.
As the Air India flight from Delhi landed, Rupal Patel waited eagerly as she watched passengers gradually come out of the airport doors after completing the immigration formalities.
“I’m waiting for my father. He is 86 years old and I have not seen him in over two years,” she said. “He has been staying alone in Nadiad, Gujarat and has been managing everything on his own throughout the pandemic,” she said, adding that she and her siblings all live abroad and they also could not travel to India during the pandemic due to the travel restrictions.
As she was speaking, her father came out. She ran towards him, touched his feet and hugged him, both teary eyed. “It was a good flight. I’m just very happy to be here,” he said as he hugged his daughter.
Nirmit Shelaj was anxiously sipping water, watching others meet their families and friends as he waited for his girlfriend whom he had not seen in over 9 months.
He said his girlfriend, Jolly Dave, a telehealth physical therapist, “used to say this all the time that she wants to break this ‘Apple wall’, the FaceTime thing. That technology cannot replace real human interactions.”
He said the pandemic has taught him that “the pandemic, the distance, they cannot break our spirit. They cannot break our relationship, our affection and feelings for each other.”
Mr Dave was among the last passengers to come out of the immigration. “One of my bags had still not arrived. But I was ready to leave that as I couldn’t wait to come out and meet Nirmit,” she said as the couple hugged, not able to control their tears.
Brajendra Brar had come to receive his pregnant niece and granddaughter. Excited to meet them, he said it is still very important for everyone to follow COVID-19 protocols such as mask wearing and social distancing.
“It’s nice that the travel is opening up but we still have to be very careful,” he said, adding that people no longer want to live with travel restrictions and lockdowns.
“Staying away and not being able to meet friends and families is not easy. The pandemic has taught us that,” he said, adding that “it is up to us to ensure that borders remain open, travel is not disrupted and we remain cautious.”
Meetal Sharma could not contain her tears as she hugged her daughter and son-in-law waiting for her at the airport. Ms Sharma, who flew from Ahmedabad on the Air India flight, said she had “no words to describe her happiness… We have been waiting for this day since 2020. I cannot wait to meet my grand kids. Today is a special day.”
“The option to keep doors open to each other is very powerful,” New Jersey resident Rahul Patel told news agency PTI as he waited to receive his parents who were flying in from Gujarat on the early morning Air India flight on Monday.
“Because, things can change,” he said, adding that if the doors are open then “we can travel back and forth, visit families or loved ones who may be sick.”
“You can certainly go back and forth and that relieves a lot of pressure, knowing that one can travel within a meaningful time frame.”
The US is allowing fully vaccinated travellers with shots from COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation, except Russia’s Sputnik V and China’s Cansino.
The travel guidelines include protocols around testing. To further strengthen protections, unvaccinated travellers – whether US Citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), or the small number of accepted unvaccinated foreign nationals – will now need to test within one day of departure.
Fully vaccinated travellers will continue to be required to show a pre-departure negative test taken within three days of travel to the US prior to boarding, the statement said.
Unvaccinated minors will need to test at the same time as the adults with whom they are travelling – three days with vaccinated adults and one day with unvaccinated adults.
“Today, after more than 18 months of pandemic-related travel restrictions, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is taking a critical step toward resuming normal travel,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
“Travellers who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have appropriate documentation are now permitted to enter the United States via our land and ferry border crossings for non-essential reasons such as visiting friends and family and engaging in tourism,” the DHS said in a press release.
DHS’s US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is working to prevent long lines at land ports of entry and ferry terminals as normal travel resumes, it added.
NEW YORK: Celebrations sparkled up the Times Square in New York City yesterday as the Indian community and several US citizens gathered to observe the Hindu festival of lights.
The event featured performances from various cultural groups. Among the notable attendees were Mayor Eric Adams, New York State Assemblywoman Jennifer Rajkumar, Senator Chuck Schumer and Consul General of India in New York, Binaya Pradhan. Ms Rajkumar has been a key advocate for recognizing Diwali as a school holiday in the USA throughout.
Mayor Adams took to social media platform X (formerly, Twitter) to address the event.
“Proud to be with our Hindu brothers and sisters today for the annual Diwali at Times Square celebration as we push away the darkness and welcome in light all across our city,” he wrote.
What better place to celebrate the festival of lights than in the Crossroads of the World?
Proud to be with our Hindu brothers and sisters today for the annual Diwali at Times Square celebration as we push away the darkness and welcome in light all across our city. pic.twitter.com/VauEgY14IO
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) October 20, 2024
The official Twitter account of the Consulate General of India, New York also shared pictures of the glamourous celebrations on social media.
Diwali @ TimesSquare : Indian American Community & American Friends join together at Times Square to celebrate Diwali.@narendramodi @PMOIndia @MEAIndia @IndianEmbassyUS @IndianDiplomacy @diaspora_india @binaysrikant76 pic.twitter.com/kylTXrtbni
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) October 20, 2024
Neeta Bhasin, founder of Diwali at Times Square, also played an instrumental role during the celebration. The festivities culminated in a ceremonial lighting of diyas (lamps), symbolizing hope and renewal.
Diwali has been celebrated in the heart of New York City since 2013. As attendees gathered to witness this moment, they were reminded of the festival’s core values and its ability to unite diverse communities.
CG @binaysrikant76 joined friends from Indian-American Community & American friends to celebrate Diwali; Spl thanks to Senate Majority Leader Senator @SenSchumer , Mayor Eric Adams @NYCMayor , Assemblywoman @JeniferRajkumar for joining & to main organiser of the event Ms. Neeta… pic.twitter.com/Ul7gsLoiYb
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) October 20, 2024
Diwali has also been officially recognized as a school holiday in New York City last year. About 4.4 million Indian origin people reside in the US with persons of Indian origin constituting the third largest Asian ethnic group in the US, according to ANI. New York, San Francisco and Chicago metropolitan areas are places in the USA which have the highest population of the Indian community in the country.
Another event to commemorate Diwali was organised by the Indian Consulate in Pennsylvania.
Deputy Consul General @varunjeph joined the Diwali celebrations by Khalsa Asian American Association in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania along with members of the Indian diaspora and Asian American community.
Thank you @UpperDarbyPA Mayor Ed Brown and PA State Senator Tim Kearny… pic.twitter.com/6LzwVJ3FR1
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) October 20, 2024
Deputy Consul General Varun Jeph joined the Diwali celebrations by the Khalsa Asian American Association along with members of the Indian and Asian American community.
While the festive spirit, through such events and recognitions, continues to exhibit an attempt at endeavours towards fostering a spirit of unity and equality, the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI)’s recent report showed another side of South Asian experiences. As reported by Reuters, the AAPI study shows that South Asian people in the US have been facing alarmingly high levels of hate ahead of the 2024 elections, which transcends not just to the common people but also to heavyweights such as Kamala Harris, and Usha Vance. Such celebrations of South Asian festivities thus do their bit in bringing together the diverse communities in a dazzling show of vibrant unity across the globe.
Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a video message to ‘the attendees, emphasizing the festival’s role in promoting unity and goodwill. He stated that Diwali serves as a reminder of the victory of good over evil and the importance of knowledge over ignorance. He has also highlighted the importance of the Indian community in the US and referred to them as a ‘living bridge’ connecting the two places. Diwali falls on November 1st this year.
NEW YORK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently addressed tens of thousands of Indian-Americans in a grand community event at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island. The chants of “Modi, Modi” filled the stadium as the prime minister walked on stage to address people of Indian origin.
The Prime Minister started his speech with the chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai!”. He began by saying that even the ‘Namaste’ has gone from being local to global, and credited the Indians settled overseas for it.
A series of cultural performances entertained the people gathered at the stadium, who were enthused as they waited for the Prime Minister’s arrival.
During his speech, Prime Minister fondly recalled his previous community events in the United States – 2014 at the Madison Square Garden, 2016 in San Jose, California, 2018 in Houston, Texas, 2023 in Washington and now in Long Island.
He credited the Indians settled in the United States. He said that they have been the bridge between the two nations and have helped strengthen the India-US relationship. He said “you all have come seven seas apart, but nothing can ever take the love of India away from your hearts and souls.”
He said that people from different parts of India may have settled overseas – here in the US too and have become US citizens, but “the sentiment that brings us all together is, ‘Bharat Mata ki…(Jai! chanted the spectators)’.”
“This sentiment is what keeps us united, and this is our biggest strength, no matter where we go in the world,” he said, adding that “It is this sentiment that helps us be peaceful, law abiding global citizens – what makes India proud of its children – and makes the world realise that India is the world’s ‘Vishwa-Bandhu’.”
Calling the Indians settled in the United States ‘Rashtradoot’ (Ambassadors), the prime minister thanked the Indian community in the United States for the respect India has earned in that country, adding that “It is our Indian values and culture that makes us One.”
WASHINGTON: Dhruvi Patel, a Computer Information System student from the USA, has been declared the winner of Miss India Worldwide 2024, the longest running Indian pageant outside of India.
Dhruvi aspires to be a Bollywood actor and UNICEF Ambassador.
“Winning Miss India Worldwide is such an incredible honour. It’s more than a crown – it represents my heritage, my values, and the opportunity to inspire others on a global scale,” Dhruvi said after her crowning in Edison, New Jersey.
Lisa Abdoelhak from Suriname was declared the first runner-up, while Malvika Sharma from the Netherlands was adjudged the second runner-up in the same race.
In the Mrs category, SuAnn Mouttet from Trinidad and Tobago was the winner, with Sneha Nambiar the first and Pawandip Kaur from the United Kingdom the second-runner up.
In the Teen category, Sierra Suret from Guadeloupe was crowned Miss Teen India Worldwide.
Shreya Singh from the Netherlands and Shradha Tedjoe from Suriname were declared the first and second runners-up.
The beauty pageant is organised by New York-based India Festival Committee and is headed by Indian-Americans Neelam and Dharmatma Saran.
The crown is celebrating its 31st anniversary this year.
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