DETROIT, Mich.—The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Mid-Council of Greater Detroit held its annual ARS anniversary celebration on Sept. 20 with a tribute to the food, music, and culture of Kessab and Mousa Ler. Nearly 300 people attended the “Dohmig Or” (“Heritage Day”) at the Armenian Community Center in Dearborn.
Every year, the ARS Mid-Council—comprised of Detroit’s “Maro,” “Shakeh,” “Sybille,” “Tzolig,” and “Zabel” Chapters—commemorates the ARS’s anniversary to benefit the ARS Zavarian Armenian One Day School. Along with the 104th anniversary of the ARS, the Mid-Council celebrated its own 71st anniversary this year to honor its good work in greater Detroit and its continuing sponsorship of the Zavarian Armenian School.
Attendees entered the hall to a warm and welcoming atmosphere, greeted by young Armenian women who wore beautifully detailed traditional Armenian dress and served Armenian brandy and chocolate. St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church Yeretzgin Tamar Kevorkian, a member of the ARS “Shakeh” Chapter, supervised a committee of volunteers who are expert in recreating the dishes of Kessab and Mousa Ler.
ARS Mid-Council representative Shakeh Basmajian welcomed guests and thanked them for supporting the ARS and the Armenian school with their attendance and generous donations. Dinner was served following an invocation by Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorian of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church.
An endless supply of tzitoun peghigh (Kessab zeytov keghkeh), hovivi salat (Armenian salad), kelour (potato kufteh), terakh (meat kufteh), banirov hatz (cheese bread), olive boureg, sarma, basterma, and chir ou chamich (dried fruit and nuts) graced the tables. A grand harissa of bulgur pilaf and ghavourma was also served after a special prayer by Rev. Fr. Kevorkian, who was assisted by Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian and Rev. Shant Barsoumian of the Armenian Congregational Church.
During the meal, a video prepared by Vazken Haroutunian showed life in prior and present-day Kessab and Anjar, home to those whose forefathers and foremothers migrated from Musa Ler. Attendees received a keepsake booklet of the evening containing congratulatory letters to the ARS, commemorative advertisements, and short renditions of the history, culture, and language of Kessab and Musa Ler.
A short program followed the meal. Sirvart Telbelian, chair of the ARS Mid-Council, delivered the ARS Mid-Council message in Armenian; Lara Nercessian, Mid-Council secretary, delivered the message in English. A separate message about the meaning of “Dohmig Or” was provided by Basmajian in Armenian, and by Nercessian in English. Two members of the first ARS Zavarian Armenian School class were also present and recognized: Simon Javizian and Violet Gavoor.
Handmade sweets in the tradition of Kessab and Musa Ler were served, including sari burma, tzitov peghigh, and ghourabieh. Fresh and dried fruits rounded out the sweet table.
The evening ended in dance and live music provided by Martin Haroutunian of Boston, Mass., who played the zourna, and Boghos Jabrayan of Cambridge, Ontanio, who played the dehol. DJ M-Kay added recorded music to keep the celebration going into the late hours of the evening.
For more information about the ARS Zavarian Armenian One-Day School or about joining one of the Detroit ARS Chapters, e-mail Sirvart Telbelian at stelbelian@comcast.net.
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Vrtsgernit Gadar for a great job you doing with One day Armenian Schools more the a century.
Vartsgernit Gadar for a great you doing with one day Armenian schools over a century in Detroit