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A Touch Of India Comes To Tampa

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By VIDISHA PRIYANKA, TBO.com

Published: October 23, 2007

TAMPA - In October, while much of the Tampa Bay area is gearing up for Halloween, the Indian community is preparing for the 20th annual India Festival on Saturday.

The event, at the University of South Florida Sun Dome, celebrates all things Indian, from its rich and spicy foods to folk dances and pop culture.

'The event has been a success every year, and this year we have added a few new things, like the 'Voice of India' and a performance by Raghav, the popular Indo-Canadian singer,' said Swapna Shah, chairwoman of the Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay, which organizes the festival.

She expects about 10,000 people to attend.

'Voice of India' features six vocalists selected as finalists from competitions throughout Florida. The winner, to be chosen Saturday night, gets a round-trip ticket to India.

Raghav will give a short performance and also participate in the award ceremony. Raghav combines R&B, Asian, Bollywood and rap music with lyrics in English and Hindi.

A daylong dance competition will feature Indian folk dances, including Raas, Garbha, Dandiya, Bhangra and classical styles.

A choreographed fashion show will highlight the newest trends in Indian fashions. Boutiques from Florida as well as New York will participate.

Visitors will also get to shop - and find things they probably won't see at the local department store. Vendors at 80 booths will sell Indian jewelry, clothes, food and collectibles.

Interested in going to the festival but afraid you'll feel like a foreigner? Here are things to look for - and how to sound like a native when you ask about them.

Clothing: salwar-kameez set - traditional Indian garb including a tunic, pants and stole.

Jewelry: kundan ke jhumke - earrings with colorful inlay work on gold or silver; payal - anklets made of gold or silver.

Face adornment: bindi - beautifully designed red-dot stickers worn on the forehead.

Food: dhokla - spicy, tangy cakes made of chickpea flour and flavored with curry leaves and mustard.
INDIA FESTIVAL
WHEN: 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: USF Sun Dome, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa

HOW MUCH: $7, $4 for ages 12 and younger

INFORMATION: Call Swapna Shah at (813) 789-4142, Dinesh Gandhi at (727) 858-4123 or Smita Patel at (813) 926-1143, or go to www .gujaratisamaj.org.

Reporter Vidisha Priyanka can be reached at (813) 259 8086 or vpriyanka@tbo.com.

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