On Friday, October 25, Irvington Indopak hosted its annual Bollywood Night in the courtyard. The event started at 6:00 PM and ended around 9:00 PM.
The event kicked off with the courtyard decorated with lights and samosas, pizza, and drinks offered to attendees. As students ate and took pictures, classics such as “O Re Piya” and “Mast Magan” played in the background, setting the perfect ambiance to begin Bollywood Night.
After students settled in, Irvington Indopak’s dance teams started performing, starting with Soor, IBC, Natya, and finishing with Sitaare. Auditions for dance teams were held from early September to mid October. “The practices for Bollywood Night were really fun, especially since we were able to meet and talk with new members on the team,” explained Krisha Mahurkar (10), a returning Natya member. Barani Dharan (9), one of Soor’s many first-years, added, “Soor practices were filled with lemonade, snacks, and us talking — practicing for Bollywood Night filled in the gaps. It felt like we were hanging out, and then in the middle, would get back to dancing.” After the performances, music started playing and students slowly congregated near the stage.
In preparation for the event, the Indopak officer team took charge of organizing drinks, food, decorations, and logistics with Irvington’s Associated Student Government (ASG). The courtyard was decked out in decorations, ranging from the purple backdrop, Indopak-themed props, to the led light up Indopak sign near the speakers. Bhavya Vyas (10), one of three logistics officers, worked on the props leading up to the event in collaboration with Anish Kanhere (10), Shreen Mahanty (11), and other underclassmen Indopak officers. “We got inspiration from Pinterest and other websites to get catchphrases for the signs, along with classic designs that we can reuse in the future,” Vyas commented.
In contrast to other years, Indopak hosted this year’s Bollywood Night in coordination with ASG, and Mr. Willer and the officer team worked together to organize ticket sales, along with check in at the event. Working with ASG “increased efficiency and ensured the event ran smoothly,” added Indopak President Esha Ambre (12). “Mr. Willer offered us a huge helping hand with the logistics for Bollywood Night. In past years, Indopak has always had to handle check in and ticket sales by ourselves, and with him by our side this year, we were able to run the event a lot smoother,” Ambre concluded.
As the first Indopak event of the year, Bollywood Night had high expectations, and it delivered. Indopak’s future events include the Winter Party in December and Dil Se in February, where their success is sure to continue.
