After Tuesday's historic election of Barack Obama, New Yorkers reflected on where we are in the world and others who have also made a difference.

At Cipriani, The New York Landmarks Conservancy held their 15th annual "Living Landmarks Celebration" and honored Judy Collins, Charlie Rose, the late John Russell, the late Osborn Elliott, Barbara Goldsmith, and Charlie Rangel. New Yorkers such as Bunty and Tom Armstrong came out in black tie elegance to honor their lifelong friends.

That same night at the Essex House, The Loomba Foundation held their Diwali Dinner. Diwali is the equivalent of Christmas in India. The Loomba Foundation educates children of poor widows around the world which include countries in India, Uganda, Nepal, Columbia, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Bangladesh, and South Africa. Loomba also supports HIV orphans in South Africa in partnership with Sir Richard Branson. Sadly, they reported that most widows around the world are treated as second class citizens, often beaten and denied inheritance. It is a serious human rights problem.

The evening featured ghazal music (which is spiritual) and bhajans music (which is religious). I believe the former is more minimalist than the latter. The entertainment concluded with a coalition of South Asian students from NYU performing traditional Gujarati folk dance known as Garba/Raas. Dressed in bright pink and purple Indian garb, they danced around on stage that would have made Justin Timberlake envious.

Ann Lee

11/6/08