By JESLYN GOH

KAMPAR – Students were dressed in traditional clothes on the 12th of August when UTAR’s Asian Cultural Society held its annual event themed “Cultural Asian Night: Ancient Asia”.

The event started at 6pm in the Heritage Hall with the arrival of students and VIPs. After weeks of preparation and advertising, the place was decorated with a replica of the Taj-Mahal and a bamboo tunnel was placed from the main entrance of Block A to the entrance of the Heritage Hall.

The event was graced with the presence of Mr Mahaganapathi Daas, President of 1 Malaysia Indian Movement (1MISM), Chairman of Higher Education Bureau; Tan Sri Datuk Ravindran Menon, President of All Malaysian Malayalee Association; Counselor Chan Soon Yip.

The opening ceremony of the event was by Tan Sri Datuk Ravindran Menon and a mock cheque presentation to Asian Cultural Society of UTAR by Counselor Chan Soon Yip, a representative of Datuk Dr. Ma Han Soon.

The event was accompanied with a mixture of traditional dance by the Sri Nageswsry dance group, a fusion dance performance by Sarayu and Rohith and a Bhangra performance by UTP Bhangra group.

Songs, music and performances filled the night. The purpose of the event was to bring all students and staff from the various cultural backgrounds in unity. Piravina Ragunathan , the emcee for the night stated that there were about 530 audience in attendance.

The selected theme this year was chosen to signify the unity of different cultures and how distinctive it was in ancient times.

Asian Cultural Society (ACS) organized the event to raise funds for a charity organization called OrphanCARE.

OrphanCARE is a non-profit non-governmental organization established in 2008, under the patronage of HRH Sultanah Pahang, Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom.

It aims to give every orphan and abandoned baby a chance to feel love and care in the security of a family in accordance to their tagline “Every child needs a family”.

Audiences were entertainment with performances and the night ended with a special performance by the local guest artist, Psychomantra & Crew. The whole programme ended at 12.50am.