USA 09/05/1998 - 2143 12th Annual Festival of India Sept 19th
Utah, USA (VNN) - by Caru das
Utah Valley's Krishna Temple, located on South Main St in Spanish Fork, will host the 12th Annual Festival of India on Saturday Sept. 19th.
Stage entertainment from 4PM onwards will feature classical and folk dancing (Bharat Natyam, Odissi, and Gujarati), east-west fusion music from the Nam Hatta band , a sitar and tabla performance by Aloke Dasgupta and Ajeet Pathak, and a pageant depicting the saga of Lord Rama. Lord Rama was an incarnation of god who appeared thousands of years ago in India to kill a cannibalistic tyrant named Ravana. According to tradition at the end of the pageant Rama destroys with flaming arrows and spectacular fireworks a gigantic 20' high effigy of the demon Ravana. Every year the crowd of 4,000 or more, by throwing sticks and stones at the burning effigy, enthusiastically helps Rama kill his arch enemy.
Underneath multi-colored Indian wedding tents the one acre festival site will feature a vegetarian food fair, gift shop, puppets, and llamas, as well as art, photography, and cultural exhibits on India. Vishali Ogale will be on hand, using her henna dyes to paint beautiful designs on ankles, wrists, and faces of festival goers (mehendi). Sarees and kurtas, the traditional garbs of India, will be on loan for anyone really wanting to get into the spirit (and dress) of the East.
Everyone is invited to enjoy this unique and exotic event. Admission is $1.00 adults/$5.00 family. For more information call Charu or Vai at (801) 798-3559.
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