Travel to Bollywood

Photo by Sean Kelly

Spice up your month and experience the colors, sounds and smells of India at the 10th Annual India Fest tomorrow (3/20), presented by the India Cultural and Education Center.

“I think people will feel like they’re apart of India,” says Uma Sethuram, event coordinator.

This year’s theme is “Jai Ho!” and shares its name with a Hindi song from the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. Playing up Bollywood, the event will showcase talent, music and dance. The ICEC is enthusiastic to educate about the unique cultures of the diverse states of India with food, games, jewelry, and henna.

“We are proud to be Americans but we are also proud of our Indian culture,” Uma says.

The fest runs from 10am to 6pm in the Santa Fe College gymnasium, building V. Parking is free and admissions is $3, but free for children ages 4 and under. For more information visit www.icec-florida.org.

--Bridget Higginbotham

Diwali Dance Festival

Last Friday (Nov. 13), we were invited to attend a Diwali Dance Festival at the Indian Culture and Education Center (SW 13th Street), put on by the Hindu Cultural Society, and we're so glad! We didn't know much about the history of the festival, also called the "festival of lights" (you can learn more here) other than what we learned from Kelly on The Office, but it turned out to be a fun celebration with bright clothes, great food and—perhaps the best part—beautiful music, dancing and song.

With only a $3 entrance fee and tons of Indian food to sample, this was the ticket to have. (Proceeds benefitted Indian education, flood victims and the ICEC, according to the web site.) After sampling one of each of the dishes (the samosas were our favorite—sort of reminded us of an empanada, in a stuffed-triangular-pastry way), we enjoyed a dance performance and were thrilled when the floor was opened up to the crowd. With the sounds of Raas, Bhangra and Bollywood, we did our best to keep up.

Then, of course, we made our way to the cupcake-decorating table and bought a bunch of sparklers and firecracker things, being, as this was, the festival of light. After being entertained by an incredible beat-box performance, we followed the excited children outside to light our sparklers.

Look for us next year!

Photos by Sean Kelly