Rangoli Indian Restaurant and Bar hosted the inaugural Brantford Diwali Gala on Friday, November 15, 2024.
Teja Solledi, owner of Rangoli, said they had a “great response” to the gala, selling between 40-50 tickets for the evening’s celebrations. The gala included a three-course meal, cultural performances, music, and the lighting of diyas with all proceeds benefiting the Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation.
The menu featured South Indian dishes. Appetizers included samosa, spring rolls, chilli chicken, and tandoor chicken. Entree options were kadai paneer curry, butter chicken, and lamb curry, all served with garlic naan or butter naan and jeera rice or white rice. For dessert, they had ras malai and gulab jamun with optional ice cream.
Drinks included red and white wine by Positano Wine, a sponsor of the event, as well as mocktails.
An Indian Bollywood singer played guitar and sang while people ate. “It’s a very traditional music,” said Soletti.
Larry Brock, Member of Parliament (MP) for Brantford-Brant, stopped by partway through dessert and joined in the rest of the meal. He briefly spoke to the crowd and presented Soletti and his wife, Sravya, with a certificate from his office, in recognition of them hosting the Brantford Diwali Gala night.
“I’m happy to be here, happy to see a number of friendly faces,” Brock said to the crowd. “This is a fantastic restaurant. We try to frequent as much as we can.”
Brock thanked everyone for coming out and supporting the hospital foundation.
“I know that Teja has a huge heart when it comes to community engagement and involvement, and what better way to show the beauty of his restaurant, the fantastic flavours of his culture and to support a wonderful cause, the foundation,” Brock said.
The Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation raises funds to support the top priority needs for Brantford General Hospital and Willett Urgent Care Centre in Paris. Support goes to purchase medical equipment that is not paid for by the Ministry of Health or Ministry of Long-Term Care, provide resources to maintain a high level of compassionate patient care, and invest in new and innovative technology.
The event was originally planned to take place at the Mount Pleasant Community Centre, but shifted to the smaller, more intimate venue at Rangoli due to initially low ticket sales.
“This is a small start,” Solledi said. “Next year we might be planning much bigger.”
