RECOLLECTING YEAR 2015: A THANKS NOTE

Dear IAF Members and Supporters,

Greetings to you all! 

One more year loaded with sweet memories and cheerful times has passed and we are sure it will continue to be more vibrant in forthcoming years too. 

Year 2015 is coming to an end today and it's been quite eventful year for IAF. We've tried our best to manifest Indo-Armenian Relationship to newer heights. However, it would not have been possible without your unconditional love & support! Let us recollect a few important events of the year here. 

We started 2015 by organizing Armenian Christmas at different locations in india through our members in that particular city or region. We organized it in New Delhi. IAF's South India coordinator Mrs. Ashkhen Khachatryan coordinated and organized the same in Chennai for whole South India. They visited the historical Armenian Church in Chennai and had Christmas Dinner. Armenian Community from Bangalore, Chennai and Puducherry joined altogether in Chennai. 

On 26th January, Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO in association with Embassy of India, Yerevan, Armenia launched an 84 Page Publication titled "INDIA: NEW VISION, NEW VIGOUR" to commemorate 65th Anniversary of Republic Day Of India.

From 26 to 28 of March, our Armenian friends had the chance to enjoy one more time the magic world of Bollywood on big screen of Moscow cinema. 

We had the pleasure to invite everybody to enjoy Indian films in the framework of “Bollywood back in Armenia” project. The screening was organized in collaboration with the Embassy of India to Armenia and Mr. Davit Bejitashvili from Georgia, and took place at Moscow cinema.

Considering "Chess" as the most loved common sports between Armenia and India, 1st Indo-Armenian Friendship Chess Tournament was organized by Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO on March 29 at Yerevan State Medical University after M.Heratsi, supported by the Embassy of India to Armenia, Medical University and University’s students council of Indian and Armenian students. 

As decided by IAF this tournament will become an annual event of IAF Sports Club.

On May 26th, Medal Felicitation Ceremony to the winners of 1st Indo-Armenian Friendship Chess Tournament (29.03.2015) was organized at Yerevan State Medical University after M.Heratsi.

The awarding ceremony was attended by H.E Ambassador of India to Armenia Dr Suresh Babu, the rector of YSMU Mr. Mikayel Narimanyan, Vice-Rector for External Affairs and International Partnerships Mr. Yervand Sahakyan and the president of Chess Academy of Armenia Mr. Smbat Lputyan.

One of the biggest achievements of the year that everyone cherished. From 31st of August till 6^th of September Indo-Armenian Friendship in collaboration with ICIRLD Armenia and Havana Restaurant Complex with the support of the Embassy of India in Armenia organized  a 7 days long Cultural Festival “Days of India in Armenia”. 

 It became a festival of colors and joy, tastes and beauties, a festival of a real friendship and global understanding, a festival of new discoveries and new perceptions of real India which is beyond Bollywood. The grand opening was attended by more than 20 ambassadors of different countries in Armenia, by many representatives of very different Ministries and just by Indian culture lovers.

In November IAF in association with Yerevan Mall, organized a Bollywood Dance FLASH-MOB in Yerevan and people enjoyed it a lot. In November itself IAF joined the YSMU team and Pharaon Entertainment Complex in support with Embassy of India to celebrate the festival of lights Diwali in the name "Indian Cultural Night". It was one of the most glittering events of the year.

In December, IAF in collaboration with Embassy Of India and Media Focus Organization, organized a huge successful event: "India In Yerevan Metro" exhibition and Indian Movie Dance Flash-Mob in Yerevan Metro. It became a viral event and many people passing through Yeritasardakan Metro in Yerevan enjoyed that. 

Apart from all this, we organized many more small and medium events and programs throughout the year which is not mentioned here. 

On this note, let us take this opportunity to thank our all members for their great support. Special thanks to Embassy of India in Armenia for their continuous support to us to help us realize our all activities. Thanks to our all partner organizations, for making the huge task easier for us with their complete supprt and last but not the least..A heartfelt thanks to our IAF team which is ably and comprehensively coordinated by our Secretary General Ms. Lusine Toroyan in close-coordination with our team members Armine Sargsyan, Anna Hovsepyan, Roza Navoyan and Ani Yeremyan. Without their dedicated hard work, this all would not have been possible. 

On behalf of all IAF team members, we wish everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year 2016! 

Rananjay Anand & Ruzanna Ashughyan

Co-founders

Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO

Publication launch - "INDIA: NEW VISION, NEW VIGOUR"

To commemorate 65th Anniversary of Republic Day Of India, Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO  in association with Embassy of India, Yerevan, Armenia launched an 84 Page Publication titled "INDIA: NEW VISION, NEW VIGOUR".

 The official launch of the publication was done by Hon. Ambassador of India Dr. Suresh Babu on 26th January at Hotel Marriott, Yerevan, during the state reception organized by Embassy of India to celebrate 66th Republic Day of India.

Among the eminent invited guests were ministers and their representatives from Govt. of Armenia, Foreign Diplomats in Armenia from different embassies and friends of India and Armenia.
You can go through the online version of the publication which tries to showcase new INDIA.
It also includes message from Hon. President of Armenia H.E Mr Serzh Sargsyan to Hon. President of India H.E Mr. Pranab Mukherjee.

The publication encompasses majority of works, initiatives and other activities executed by IAF and Indian Embassy in Armenia.

The publication can be shared with your friends through Facebook, Twitter, Email and other online media.

So please enjoy reading and share with us your feedback.

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Հնդկաստանի Հանրապետության Օրվա 65-ամյակի կապակցությամբ Հայ-Հնդկական Բարեկամություն հասարակական կազմակերպությունը  Հնդկաստանի Հանրապետության դեսպանատան հետ համատեղ հրատարակել են  84-էջանոց «Հնդկաստան՝ նոր տեսլական, նոր եռանդ» վերնագրով ժողովածու:

 Ժողովածուի պաշտոնական շնորհանդեսը կատարել է  Հայաստանում Հնդկաստանի Հանրապետության դեսպան Դոկտոր Սուրեշ Բաբուն հունվարի 26-ին, Երեւանի Մարիոտ հյուրանոցում Հնդկաստանի Դեսպանատան կողմից կազմակերպված պետական ընդունելությանը ժամանակ, որը նվիրված էր Հնդկաստանի Հանրապետության 66-րդ Օրվան:

Ընդունելությանը ներկա էին ՀՀ նախարարներ և ՀՀ կառավարության ներկայացուցիչներ, դիվանագետներ՝ Հայաստանում տարբեր երկրների դեսպանատներից եւ Հնդկաստանի եւ Հայաստանի բարեկամներ:

Այստեղ ձեզ հնարավորություն է ընձեռնված ընթերցելու ժողովածուի օնլայն տարբերակը, որը մի փորձ է ներկայացնելու Նոր Հնդկաստանը:

Այն նաև ներառում է Հայաստանի Հանրապետության նախագահ Ն.Գ. պրն Սերժ Սարգսյանի ուղերձը Հնդկաստան Հանրապետության նախագահ Ն.Գ. պրն Պրանաբ Մուքերջին:

Ժողովածուն ներկայացնում է նաև Հայ-Հնդկական Բարեկամություն հ/կ-ի և Հնդկաստանի դեսպանատան կողմից իրականացված աշխատանքները, միջոցառումներն ու այլ ծրագրեր:

Ժողովածուն կարող են ներկայացնել նաև ձեր ընկերներին Facebook-ի, Twitter-ի, էլ. փոստի եւ այլ սոցիալական ցանցերի միջոցով:

Սիրով հրավիրում ենք ձեզ ընթերցելու ժողովածուն և կիսվելու ձեր կարծիքներով:

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS IN CHENNAI

By Ashkhen Khachatryan - Chennai, India

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas on 6th of January. On this day, it also celebrates the 'Epiphany' (which means the revelation that Jesus is God's son). Epiphany is now mainly the time Churches remember the Visit of the Wise Men to Jesus; but some Churches, like the Armenian Apostolic Church, also celebrate the Baptism of Jesus when he started his ministry on Epiphany day. All Armenian Churches on 6th January conduct Christmas Mass.

Lord's Prayer in Armenian

The Armenian Church in Chennai (former Madras) constructed in 1712 and reconstructed in 1772, is one of the oldest churches of the Indian subcontinent. The Church which is also called the Armenian Church of Virgin Mary, is located on the Armenian Street, Chennai, South India. Armenian Church in Madras doesn't conduct Mass, because there are very few Armenians living in Chennai.
This year we - Armenians from Chennai and Bangalore decided to keep our national and religious traditions and celebrate Christmas together at The Armenian church, Chennai.

Two of us were from Bangalore: Michael Stephen, 46, a former caretaker of the Saint Mary’s Church, Chennai, who is a fourth-generation Armenian with a history that reaches back to Julfa, Persia and Narek Gevorgyan, 25, who moved from Yerevan a year ago for business and now runs a software firm in Bangalore.
Among us were Hratsjuhi Aramyan, 32, who married Manoj Kumar and moved to Auroville years ago and now she teaches vocal music at the KM Music Conservatory, Chennai; Medrik Minassian and Armen Markarian, two students pursuing a Master’s in Political Science at the Madras Christian College, are originally from Tehran. The young men completed their schooling at the Armenian Collage and Philanthropic Academy and La Martiniere, Kolkata; and I am Ashkhen Khachatryan - the Coordinator of the Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO in Ijevan, Armenia. I moved to Chennai 3 months ago after getting married to Kapilan Jesudian, who is an architect in Chennai. From now onwards I will be representing IAF in Chennai.

 The "Mass" of this small community began with bells ringing and incense burning. Then, the Mother See of Holy Communion Echmiadzin’s Christmas Mass’s video was played out and the Lord's Prayer said, and religious songs were sung.

At the Church, among us was an Indian lady as well, who was praying with us. She had worked for Armenian families in Lebanon for many years. She took part in the service as she could understand the Armenian language and was very excited to be there with our community. She told us how she had enjoyed working with those families. She remembered that Armenians celebrate Christmas on January 6th and so came to church to pray.
There were two students from W.C.C. Chennai who came to the Armenian church to collect information about Armenia and the Armenian church as part ot their curriculum. We talked to them, answered all their questions.
Later my husband, Kapilan Jesudian and I invited the gathering over to our house for Christmas lunch. The Christmas meal consists of Pilaf with rice and dried fruits, fish, greens, salads, red wine, dried fruits and nuts.

No matter we are few in number but hopefully we will keep this tradition go on. As Paryur Sevak, famous Armenian poet said: “We are less but they called us Armenians”.

Looking forward to see more Armenians  here in Chennai for other celebrations.

Media: The Hindu

Bharatnatyam Dance Concert in Yerevan, Armenia

Bharatnatyam Exponent Ms. Revathi Ramachandran

On 29 September 2012 Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO’s members attended and participated in “A Bharatnatyam Dance Performance ” event performed by Bharatnatyam Dance Exponent Ms. Revathi Ramachandran. The performance took place at Arno Babajanyan  hall in Yerevan and was dedicated to the Celebration of the 20^th Anniversary of the establishment of the Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Armenia. The organizers of the event are The Embassy of India in Yerevan, The Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia.

IAF representatives with the
Bharatnatyam Dance Group of Ms. Revathi Ramachandran

The event began with the inaugural address by Mr. Pankaj Saxena, Charge d’ Affaires of the Embassy of India in Armenia, who welcomed all participants from different diplomatic missions, organizations, universities etc. and expressed his gratitude to all organizers for such a beautiful initiative. Then Mr. Artur Poghosyan - Deputy Minister of Culture in  Armenia addressed the large audience present in hall and talked about the importance of Indo-Armenian cultural relations which have long celebrated history. He also reminded this event as a part of  celebration of “Indian Cultural Days” in Armenia form 28 September till 2 October. During these days Bharatnatyam Dance Group will also perform in Yerevan State Medical University and in Gyumri - the cultural capital of Armenia.

Charge De Affairs, Embassy of India, Mr. Pankaj Saxena
with the dance group

Bharatnatyam Dance Group from India was comprised of 5 members; Ms. Revathi  Ramachandran - dancer who was accompanied by  Ms. Korukkai Ramachandran Manasvini (Cymbals), Ms. Preethy – Maheshwar (Vocalist), Mr. Krishnamoorthy Venkatasubramanian (Mridangam) and Mr. Vasudevan Muruganandam (Violin), presented 7 dances (Invocation, Varnam, Suddhanrittam, Javali, Padam, Devaram and Tillana).  

Ms. Korukkai Ramachandran Manasvini  daughter and  student of Ms. Ramachandran accompanied with her Guru and mother to thrill the audience with their classical dance performances. It was a great performance to showcase the Indian spiritual and philosophical thought system where the expressions, the melody and the sound are in harmony with each other and emphasized the Union of Outer World with Inner World. 

Bharatnatyam is one of the ancient classical dances of India which are all based on “Natya Shastra” created by Bharat Muni. Bharatnatyam is also known as the fifth Veda or Natya Veda, a quintessence of four Vedas which were written thousands of years ago during Vedic Period. The word “Bharatnatyam” is composed of the terms, “Bha- Bhavam (means expression), Ra- Ragam (means music), Ta- Talam (means beat or rhythm) and Natyam (means dance). Bharatanatyam is a traditional dance-form known for its grace, purity, tenderness, and sculpturesque poses. Today, it is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles and is practiced by male and female dancers all over the world.

The philosophy behind this dance is to search the human soul and unite with the Supreme Being. Ms. Revathi Ramachandran is one of the best dancers who really feels and presents to public the meaning of these dances. Her artistic talent was discovered by the great Guru Mangudi Dorairaja Iyer, a Maestro of the Melattur style of Bharathanatyam, and the visionary who revived the Shuddha Nrittam style of Bharathanatyam to make it his principal legacy to his student, Revathi. Revathi gave a lot performances in various parts of India and around the world (USA, Canada, UK, France, Singapore, Rome,Malaysia and the latest is Armenia) receiving great appreciations for her performances. In 1987 she established Kala Sadhanalaya Dance school which grown up by size and talents who are the representatives of Bharatnatyam dances.

IAF Secretary General Ms. Lusine Toroyan addressing the audience

At the end of the event, IAF Secretary General  Ms. Lusine Toroyan on behalf of President Mr. Rananjay Anand and all IAF  members congratulated all organizers and  Bharatnatyam Dance Group for this great event. Ms. Lusine and IAF Vice President Mr. Karen Hovhannisyan presented Ms. Revathi with a Bouquet of flowers and Armenian Souvenirs to her dance group members as a symbol of gratitude on behalf of all IAF members.

IAF Secretary General Ms. Lusine Toroyan in a deep conversation
with Bharatnatyam exponent Ms. Revathi Ramachandran

All audience present in the event were spell-bound with the special dance performances. This evening was one more proof of strong Indo-Armenian relations.