Delightful Day Out: AAA-DC's Memorable Picnic at Black Hill Regional Park
By Zafar Iqbal, PhD
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Children displaying their artwork
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Ladies enjoyed hina art |
Ladies enjoying food |
Group photograph of attendees |
Volunteers at work
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Volunteers enjoying food |
Volunteers taking a break |
The organizers and volunteers of the Aligarh Alumni Association-Metro DC (AAA-DC) deserve congratulations for hosting a successful and enjoyable picnic on Saturday, June 29, 2024. Despite predictions of a hot, muggy afternoon, the Black Hill Regional Park in Boyds, MD, provided a refreshing escape, with the weather turning out to be surprisingly pleasant. This beautiful park, featuring lush forests, scenic trails, and the serene Little Seneca Lake, offered a perfect backdrop for outdoor activities. The well-maintained picnic areas, complete with tables, grills, and shelters, made it an ideal spot for the AAA-DC community gathering.
The picnic boasted a great variety of food, including cold beverages, ice cream, and freshly cut watermelon, which were particularly popular. Special recognition goes to the team of volunteers who tirelessly provided barbecue food in the open without overhead shelter.
Under the shelter, attendees enjoyed enchanting performances, including Masood Farshori's soulful tarannum rendition of Ghalib's ghazal "Har Ek Baat Pe Kehte Ho Tum Ke Tu Kya Hai" and Mohammed Jaweed's original, humorous poetry. There was a unique program for children, who stayed busy drawing pictures and working on paintings. AAA-DC’s traditional 'pateeli wali chai' cooked over a fire grill made from recycled paper plates was available in plenty.
Beyond the delightful food and spontaneous entertainment, the event provided wonderful opportunities for social interaction. It was heartening to see friends and families mingling and greeting each other. Like the Eid celebrations, several guests came from the University of Karachi Alumni Association, Association of Indian Muslims, Hyderabad Association of Washington Metropolitan Area, and Bangladesh Association. It was pleasing to see the young members of these associations, though invited as guests, working hard alongside AAA-DC volunteers grilling hamburgers despite the hot weather. We hope to see them again at future functions.
Mr Alok Srivastava (Attache, Consular), Mr Mohammad Bilal (Assistant Consular Officer, Visa), and Mr Rohan Edmonson (Clerk, OCI) from the Indian embassy were present to answer inquiries concerning passports, visas, and OCI.
Several senior AAA-DC members could not attend the picnic, mostly for health reasons, and some of them shared their participation through messages on social media.
Tariq Farooqi wrote, "Glad to know that the picnic was a great success. It is refreshing to note that the traditions that started 50 years ago now thrive under a group of members who were not even born in 1975. Time moves on, and a new generation takes over, but the Association and its traditions live on. We miss those who are no longer with us and should take the time to remember their contributions. Time takes its toll, but their memories stay with us. May God bless their souls and their surviving families. Glad to see new and fresh faces managing successful functions and Association get-togethers. May God bless these members and the Association. Sorry, I could not attend due to health issues. Congratulations to all involved."
Hashima Hasan sent a message, "For those of us who could not join in person and were there only in spirit, it was a pleasure to be part of the event virtually. It brought back many pleasant memories, with old faces replaced by new ones. The success of yet another AAA-DC event this year embodies the strength of this association. We laugh, cry, mourn, and rejoice together. Thanks once again to the leadership of AAA-DC."
One feature that could be added in the future is a brief talk to promote the Association and its agenda for the coming months. The president or president-elect could give a short welcoming speech and outline plans.
This report was prepared with input from Dr Syed Amir. Photographs are courtesy of Mr Afzal Usmani and Mr Aslam Azad.
