More than 1,200 people attended the first ever presidential inaugural ball organized by the Indian American community, reports the Deccan Herald.
Attendees paid anywhere from $300 to $1,500 for the event tickets. Organizers say the ball highlights the success of Indian Americans across the global stage.
“Indian-Americans are tremendously important and we hope they would be increasingly visible not only in the government, but also in all parts of American life,” Maya Kassandra Soetoro-Ng, the second half-sister of Obama, said.
“It is certainly a reflection of how important India is and how important Indian-Americans are to the fabric of the nation. I would just like to celebrate all of the contribution artistic, political and so much more of the Indian-American community,” Maya told the Deccan Herald,
Among the dignitaries attending were Rep Ami Bera (D-California), just the third Indian American in U.S. elected to Congress.
“This is amazing. This is celebration of the Indian- American community, being together, it is celebration of our arts, cuisine, our entertainment. This is the first ball…it will be first of many,” said Bera. “Let’s have more Congressmen, two three. The next decade is going to be wonderful for the community,” Bera said.
The newly formed organization Indiaspora organized the event. One of the groups goals is to promote and encourage Indian American participation in the political process.
