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USA September 8, 1999 VNN4681 Comment on this story 13th Annual India Fest In Spanish Fork BY CHARU DAS USA, Sep 8 (VNN) — Date of Event: 9/18/99 contact: Charu Das or Vaibhavi Devi (801)798-3559 carudask@burgoyne.com http://www.iskcon.net/utah Utah Valley's KHQN Radio and Krishna Temple, located on South Main St. in Spanish Fork, will host the 13th Annual Festival of India on Saturday, September 18th from 4 pm. The presence of a new temple construction site adds mystical flavor to this year's celebration. After 12 increasingly successful editions of the IndiaFest, few people in Utah County are ignorant of the fact that, once a year, you can go to India without spending a lot of money. You can have India right in the middle, of all places, ... Spanish Fork! Over 4, 000 people attended last year's celebration, and IndiaFest '99 could be the biggest one yet, thanks to the enthusiastic increase of promotional efforts on the part of the organizers, and the majestic, overlooking presence of a Krishna temple-to be near the festival site. The gorgeous, North Indian styled temple is set to open around June of 2000, and promises to be a boost for tourism in Spanish Fork. "Every year we have volunteers from all over the Utah & the Western states who help us with the festival, " says KHQN's Charu Das, . "But, this year, word of the new temple has attracted even more people who think that the area enjoys a particularly strong spiritual vibe... This will be the most exciting IndiaFest yet." Stage entertainment for IndiaFest '99 will feature: * 4 p.m. NAMROCK BAND A California native, Titiksava Karunika (guitar/vocals) and NamRock (rock music where the Holy Names are sung) have played his blend of Western sounds and spiritual lyrics wherever there is some interest in the wisdom of India. Even the Eastern European block. The Iron Curtain had just come down, and the two things most feared by the Communists was rock music and religion. Titiksava Karunika's music had both, and 30, 000 spiritually-starved Russians thanked him with a memorable tour-ending Moscow show at the Olympic Stadium. The most popular figure of the Hare Krishna "straightedge" rock scene, TK is back in California and will return to the IndiaFest with his 4-piece band. * 5 p.m. MELODIES OF ANCIENT INDIA Devotional classical music in Carnatic style, with Deepa and Divya Ramachandran (vocals & violin), George Grant (tabla), and Ghatam C.K. Ramachandran Kanjira (cymbals). * 5:45 p.m. DRACULA GETS A GITA (skit) How would the Count react upon receiving a copy of the Bhagavad-Gita, India's equivalent to our Bible? Talk about immortality... Hilariously written and performed by KHQN's congregation. * 6 p.m. GUJARATI DANDIYA RASA The popular stick dance as Lord Krishna performed it with His devotees 5, 000 years ago. * 6:15 p.m. THE LOTUS DANCE COMPANY Each of the six dancers bring a unique background to the company, with elements ranging from jazz and ballet to modern and Odissi (a type of East Indian dance). Add to it yoga and tai-chi movements, and you're in for a treat that can't be missed. * 7 p.m. LARIA MEENAKSHI & BRAT GHOSE Odissi Classical Dance from the Nandita Behera School. An Indian studies UCLA Honor graduate, Laria Meenakshi has studied and danced all over India. Her teacher, Nandita Behara, is one of India's most prominent Odissi dancers ever. * 7:45 p.m. PAGEANT OF THE RAMAYANA Dramatic performance of India's original religious and historic poem written by the sage Valmiki. According to the ancient scriptures from India, Lord Rama was an incarnation of God who appeared thousands of years ago in India to kill a cannibalistic tyrant named Ravana. * 8:45 p.m. BURNING OF THE EFFIGY OF RAVANA & FIREWORKS Volunteers gladly accepted to help Rama kill the huge ten-headed demon. Faithful to the 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 enthusiastically helps Rama kill His arch enemy by throwing sticks and stones at the burning effigy. * 9 p.m. NAMROCK BAND back on stage for a "straightedge" wrap-up party. Underneath multicolored Indian wedding tents, the one acre festival site will feature a gift shop, puppet display, and llamas, as well as art, photography, and cultural exhibits on India. Delicious hot four course meals of Indian curry with home made cheese (paneer), blueberry hallava, spicy Bengali rice, and giant lentil chips (papadams) will be served throughout the evening. There will be Indian drinks such as Peach lassi, and Nimbu pani, as well as sweets and pizza for the less adventurous. Tara Brown 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, which has been growing in public attendance year after year. Admission is $1.00 person/$5.00 family. 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