
2012 Special performance by Fadnis Family.

Welcome to festival of india

For Virginians, the Festival of India has become an eagerly anticipated annual event, since it began in 1981. People from all over Virginia flock to the Greater Richmond Convention Center for two fun-filled days of music, dance, food, and culture. The Festival offers a unique opportunity to celebrate and explore India’s diverse culture and traditions, including authentic regional food, arts, crafts, and entertainment.

Started in 1981, by Dr. M.G. Kurup, the first India Bazaar, sponsored by the Hindu Center of Virginia, was attended by 1500 people. Since its start, the Festival of India has increased steadily both in size and in scope. Last year, more than 20,000 people attended the festival, a testimony to the growing popularity of Indian culture in the Central Virginia region. Most of the proceeds from the Festival go directly to the Hindu Center of Virginia.

At the Festival of India, one can enjoy a renowned cultural program, consisting of classical and modern Indian live performances, as well as East-West fusion dance and music. One can also sample many different varieties of Indian cuisine, including vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies, such as dosa, kachori, samosas, tandoori chicken and sweets, all of which are supplied by local Indian restaurants and families, and prepared fresh in front of patrons.

A dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer base ensures the success of the festival each year. There are also many stalls, which offer a multitude of activities for patrons of all ages to participate in, such as crafts, fortune telling, henna, and face-painting.

Vendors also sell a smorgasbord of traditional Indian clothing, jewelry, movies, music and other colorful souvenirs. One annual tradition at the India Festival is the cultural program competition that attracts participants of all ages to come and exhibit their unique talents including the ever-popular, crowd-pleasers such as Bollywood and Bhangra dances.

Overall, the Festival of India is a taste of the food, culture, music, dance, and tradition that is India. The festival is a small slice of India right here in Virginia --You don’t have to travel all the way to India to experience it!

This year the theme for the Festival Of India is "India Today". Join us and explore the different dances. Also we will have yoga demonstrations and lectures from experienced teachers.

Each year Festival of India supports few charity organizations. FOI 2012 has identified Virginia Food Bank as one of the beneficiary this year and invited them to participate at the festival. Guests are encouraged to bring any food donations to the event and drop at this booth. More information about the Virgina Food Bank is available at https://feedmore.org/ways-to-give/individual-giving/donate

Other beneficiaries this year include:

Doctors Without Borders - More information is available at http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

India Chair in Democracy & Civil Society. Visit http://www.wilder.vcu.edu/giving/indiachair.html for more details

Every year we support a few charitable organizations and last year the beneficiaries included “Doctors Without Borders”.

We thank all our Corporate Sponsors, Volunteers and Participating Businesses for your support; and all attendees for a great turnout last year. We expect the same; even better support and participation from you all this year.