Two forums celebrated Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, recently at separate functions.While the North Indian Association (NIA) marked the event at the InterContinental Hotel with a big gathering, the International Ladies Potluck Group held their activities at a private gathering in Al Jazi Garden, West Bay.At the NIA celebration, attended by about 400 people, a series of dance numbers were performed by the children of the association members.One of the highlights of the event was the live musical performance by Ashok Masti and his group. Masti, a professional singer from the northern India, had specially flown to Doha for the function.Along with Masti were Vedanta Sharma, Avisha Shrama, Jhanvi Arora,Neha Mulchandani, Shaan Gupta, Rishika Pyriyani, Riyana, Jassim Azim, Arav Bedi, Aditya Golash, and Pratinavand.Shivam Dhamija, Samiksha Arora and Devanshi Gupta also rendered songs, mostly from the recent movies.The event also featured a number of Punjabi dances. Rashi Singh, Pooja Jindani, Padma Singh, Sunita Lalwani and Jyoti Wadhwaney performed folk dances.Ritu, Ruchi and Mamta Shrivastava performed the Sadi Gali phul ke bhi medley while Mukul Kalwani and Sajid pulled off a Bollywood mix.Sparsh Arora and Devanshi Gupta, Mansi Sharma and Kuldeep Kaur Bhel were the compéres while Sudhir Gupta was the master of ceremonies.NIA president Harish Kanjani welcomed the gathering while general secretary Sudhir Gupta gave a briefing on the importance of the occasion.Raffle draw and stage activities were handled by sports secretary Sanjay Arora.M K Singh, Naresh Lalvani, Jyoti Kalwani and AK Pandey co-ordinated the celebrations. Gifts were given to the event participants and to all NIA members.Event sponsors were Construction Development company (CDC), Commercialbank, Qatar Airways, Millennium Travels, Al Suleiman Jewelry and Watches, Marhaba Jewellery, Al Muftah group, Intertec-Samsung, Al Maya International, Homes r Us and Pepsi.At the celebrations of the International Ladies Potluck Group, Jyotica Anand explained the significance to the gathering, which is made up of women of different nationalities.Candle lighting and distribution of sweets marked the activities.Chandini Bahri and Anika Luthra Barnard demonstrated how to decorate and design the “Rangoli” to the guests, who included the wives of the ambassadors of Poland, the Dominican Republic, South Korea, South Africa, and Brunei.At the end of the programme, everyone was treated to a show of fireworks and gifts sponsored by Royal Plaza.