Asian American Festival held at Daley Plaza

Ribbon cutting by Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti (4th from right), Andriana Supandy, CG of Indonesia Consulate Chicago (5th from right) and special guests during the opening ceremonies on May 18. Rajinder Singh Mago Executive Secretary AACC (2nd from right) and Prem Lalvani (first on the left) represented  Indian American community
Ribbon cutting by Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti (4th from right), Andriana Supandy, CG of Indonesia Consulate Chicago (5th from right) and special guests during the opening ceremonies on May 18. Rajinder Singh Mago Executive Secretary AACC (2nd from right) and Prem Lalvani (first on the left) represented
Indian American community

CHICAGO: The 14th Annual Asian American Festival at Daley Plaza, a weeklong event, was inaugurated on May 18 with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Asian American community leaders of Chicago led by the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, Evelyn Sanguinetti and Andriana Supandy, the Consul General of Republic of Indonesia in Chicago.

The festival is presented by the Asian American Coalition of Chicago (AACC) and was hosted this year by Chicago’s Indonesian American Community.

It is in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month which falls in the month of May. The festival ran Monday through Friday, May 18 to May 22, 2015 from 9 am to 5 pm at Daley Center Plaza, Chicago.

Cultural performances emceed by TV celebrities of Chicago took place onstage over the lunch hour beginning at 12 noon each day of the festival.

A variety of delicious authentic Asian food was available at the Asian American Festival food court from the five restaurant vendors. One could experience an open market and the hustle and bustle of an Asian marketplace of 20 merchandise vendors by strolling through exhibits of art, gift items, jewelry, beautiful traditional clothing, and much more!

Themed “E Pluribus Unum Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (meaning: Unity in Diversity),” the festival was free and open to the public. The weeklong celebration featured Cultural Immersion Performances, a Food Court, a “Unity in Diversity” Marketplace, a “Remarkable Indonesia” Pavilion, an Activity Tent, a Community Tent, and fun activities for various ages.

The Asian American Festival celebrates approximately 17 different cultures. Over the years, the Coalition has included representatives of the Bangladeshi, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Filipino,

Indian, Indonesia, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Nepalese, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Thai and Vietnamese communities. Every year a different Asian community takes turn playing host of the Festival and of the Coalition’s Lunar New Year Celebration. This year it was the Indonesian American Community which hosted the Asian American Festival, for the second time.

India Post News Service