Water for India : A Fundraising Event by Michele Renee Zerda

As a Mexican American hair and makeup artist for weddings in Tampa, Florida I have been somewhat sheltered from different cultures, until I fell into working Indian weddings. One Auntie told the next and soon I was booked every weekend. I love the colors, the many guests that attend and have learned so much about the Hindu religion. One thing I learned was Namaste which before was a word I only heard in Yoga. But now I know the true meaning of Namaste which is derived from Sanskrit roughing meaning not for me but for thee. I can relate to this because in Christianity there is also a verse in Acts 20:35 meaning is it better to give than receive.

Working many different weddings a year there are many religions just as there are many colors of people. As a makeup artist there are three primary colors where all the colors in the world come from red, yellow and blue. Think of any color in the world and it will link back to the primary colors somehow. Just like no matter what religion you are or what color a person is there are three primary reasons people will get together for a wedding – faith, family, and love. The greatest is love, not for me but for thee.

On a fateful Wednesday at lunch with Two Ladies and Events wedding planners Seema Patel and Megha Darba Kothur the only love on our mind was love of food, definitely not charity, but as fate would have it, a charitable fund raiser, Water for India benefiting CERDS was born.

Water for India was a benefit held at the Crowne Plaza Westshore in Tampa, Florida on September 12, 2013. We invited our wedding professional colleagues and friends to help raise money for bore wells in Southern Indian Villages. We raised money for 27 Wells (and counting) for CERDS a grass roots organization location in India providing bore wells, sewing machines, fishing nets, and sanitary toilets to Southern Indian Villages. The night was fantastic! Jen from Jen’s henna was applying Mehdi , DJ Firoz was playing the hottest Hindu beats, and Alicia’s Creations put on a colorful fashion show for our guests. Many people in our wedding community provided items for the silent auction. The event was entertaining but even more important was giving back to the Indian community because just as the Indian community helps my livelihood as a hair and makeup artists – it was up to me to give back because it is better to give than receive. Namaste.

DJ Firoz Firoz Dudha DJ www.dudhaproductions.com 727.418.8498	Jessica Lattenhauer Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore Venue www.crowneplazatampa.com 727.772.3491	Alan Skipper Wyndall Alan Designs Jewlry Vendor 727.906.4752
Michele Renee The Studio Michele Renee Zerda Hair and Makeup www.michelereneehairandmakeup.com 727.642.8017	Alisha Patel Alisha’s Creations Indian Clothing Store alishascreations08@gmail.com 813.500.0366	Jen Jen’s Henna Henna jenhenna@gmail.com 321.460.3257
Megha Kothur Two Ladies and Events Wedding Panners www.twoladiesandevents.com 608.217.5687	Riz Riz Photography Photographer www.rizphotography.com 407.430.2482	Chris Watson Watson Studios Videographer www.watsonstudios.org 863.232.9180
Seema Patel Two Ladies and Events Wedding Panners www.twoladiesandevents.com 727.772.3491	Hinal Singhala Cilantro’s Food Catering www.cilantroindiancuisine.com 813.983-8220	Joanie Adams Tampa Convention Center Venue www.tampaconventioncenter.com 813.274.7779