Red Ribbon's Bollywood Badshahs

The Imperial Court of New York at Red Ribbon's Bollywood Gala

Red Ribbon Foundation’s Bollywood Gala

Loading Dock, a swinging night spot on the water in Stamford, CT, had been transformed into an India of the imagination: Swaths of pink and mango-hued fabric, golden goddesses, pots full of floating rose petals and a huge presiding Ganesha, not to mention an Indian bazaar and Bollywood martinis. Montages from Bollywood movies played on the big screens as henna artists painted the hands of guests and sitar and tabla players did their magic.

This fantasy evening was Bollywood Gala, the biennial fundraiser to support the cause of  HIV/AIDS by Red Ribbon Foundation which is one of the top 25 grantmakers for HIV/AIDS organizations worldwide.  It had been founded by Florence and Karl Suerig in memory of their son Michael Faerman who had died of HIV/AIDS.

Bollywood Axion perform at Red Ribbon's Bollywood fundraising gala

Americans had gone Indian for a day and there were enough turbans, kurtas and jewels to outfit a Bollywood film production as over 250 guests,  clad in Indian outfits and headgear, danced to the music of Om Shanti Om and Jai Ho with the Bollywood Axion dancers.

One of the most eye-catching sights was the Imperial Court, a fundraising group for gay and lesbian charities, fabulous entertainers resplendent in over-the-top Indian finery and jewels, clad in sarees for the first time. The headliner for the evening was singer/songwriter Ryan Star who performed from his album.

Philip Lilienthal, Dr. Jeffrey Laurence and Nicole Hazard

Bollywood Helps Combat HIV/AIDS

Stamford’s movers and shakers had come out in full force to try the Indian delicacies from Coromandel and dance to the music of  DJ Kucha and enjoy the India recreated by Elegant Affairs.  A vibrant auction by Sotheby’s auctioneer helped toward raising $350,000 for programs combating HIV/AIDS.  Nicole Hazard, Director of Red Ribbon, said, “Demonstrating our commitment to combating the increasing presence of HIV in India, we are delighted to have Children’s Hope India as Red Ribbon’s newest funded program.”

As memory of their Indian evening, guests took home bangles, bindis and an auspicious Ganesha in an ornate organza bag.

(C) Lavina Melwani

(This first appeared in Hi Blitz magazine)