Indians share food to mark festivity

In celebration of the Indian festivals every June, a group of Indians commemorated the festivity by sharing their blessings with the residents in barangay Cogon Pardo, Cebu City on Monday afternoon.

More than ten Indians who also reside in the barangay distributed 6,000 pieces of bread and juice to their neighbors.

JC Singh, 24, spokesperson of the group, said giving away food is their way of celebrating the festivals in India.

Like Filipinos, Indians also have their festivals in celebration of the day of their Gods.

Singh said every fiesta, they prepare delicious food to share with other people.

“It is our happiness to give food as we celebrate the day of God,” Singh said.

Roy Gocela, former nutritionist of barangay Cogon Pardo, said prior to the celebration, Singh told him they would serve mongo and juice in line with their vegetarian diet, but he suggested bread and juice instead since these are easy to prepare and distribute.

Singh said their group has been doing this activity for two years already.

“We are celebrating our festival with the Filipinos because we love them. I love the Philippines,” Singh said.

Incoming Cogon barangay captain Harry Eran commended the Indians for sharing their blessings, saying “This is one way of initiating good relations between the Indian community and our community in barangay Cogon.”

“Hopefully we could continue this partnership in the future for the betterment of the people,” Eran said.

He said the Indians are living in sitios Cogon Drive, Lourdes and Santo Niño, and most of them are engaged in micro-finance business. /Correspondent Christine Emily L. Pantaleon