Marlboro Celebrates 16th Annual Multi-Cultural Day Event

MARLBORO, NJ — Dozens of Marlboro families and community members filled Marlboro High School on Sunday to celebrate the town's 16th Annual Multi-Cultural Day event.

From 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the high school gymnasium, attendees were able to enjoy a variety of cultural performances ranging from Kathak Classical Indian Dance to a Polish Christmas Medley played on the accordion to a Chinese Yo-Yo Demonstration.

Following the performances, attendees were welcomed back to the cafeteria from 3-5 p.m. to view cultural displays, sample foods, and learn fun facts about some of the participating countries and cultures.

“It is truly an honor to stand here and celebrate this diverse and beautiful community that makes Marlboro such a special place to live,” Rita Verma, Co-Chair of the Marlboro Multi-Cultural Day Committee, said at the event.

“In a world where differences can sometimes separate us, today reminds us that those differences are actually our biggest strengths,” Verma continued. “When we learn from one another, share traditions and celebrate cultures with respect and trust, we grow together as a community.”

Throughout the day, audiences enjoyed a variety of cultural performances that ranged from dance to music and martial arts.

Countries and regions represented in this year’s Multi-Cultural Day event included China, Nepal, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Ukraine, Italy, Georgia, Ireland, India, the Middle East, Latin fusion, the United States of America, Poland and Lithuania.

Photos of some of the performances can be seen below:

“It’s wonderful to be able to showcase and share our cultures,” Alice Ng, Marlboro Multi-Cultural Day Committee Co-Chair, told Patch. “We have such a diverse community. It’s amazing that we’re on our 16th year.”

For this year’s Multi-Cultural Day, Ng said that although the committee faced challenges such as a change in venue (due to flooding in the auditorium), they also had their largest number of performances to date and added some new features to the event.

One of those features is fun facts that were posted about each participating country/region at their exhibits in the cafeteria.

While people love tasting different foods at Multi-Cultural Day each year, Ng said the event exhibits are also intended to teach attendees, a goal the committee aimed to achieve through the fun facts.

“Instead of kids just going around with their event passports, getting a stamp at each country and getting a gift, we’re asking them a question [about these countries] and helping them answer it,” Ng said. “We really want the children to learn something or to be interested in geography in another country.”

Overall, Ng and Verma said Multi-Cultural Day is a way for the local community to come together and celebrate the things that make us different, as well as what connects us to one another.

Going forward, the committee is also looking to recruit more people who would be interested in helping with Multi-Cultural Day, as Ng said they’re always open to and looking for new ideas.

“This event continues to flourish each year because of the enthusiasm and support from all of you,” Verma told Multi-Cultural Day attendees. “Families return annually for all the vibrant performances, cultural displays and the variety of delicious foods that bring everyone together. Each year, even more countries join the program, showing how far-reaching and inspiring multi-cultural spirit has become."

“I encourage everyone to support our performers whose commitment helps us to bring this Multi-Cultural Day again and again and stronger,” Verma continued. “Most importantly, the presence and spirit of our community members make this day what it is: a celebration filled with pleasure, learning, and sheer joy.”

To learn more about Marlboro Multi-Cultural Day, you can visit their Facebook page.