A little taste of India

A small child walks in holding her mother’s hand and looks around at the brightly colored dresses and sparkling jewelry. It is that time of year again, when the Festival of India fills the Greater Richmond Convention Center with dance, instrumental and vocal performances, foods and stands of vendors selling handmade dresses, DVDs and religious icons.

The Festival of India is one of the oldest festivals celebrated in Richmond. A tradition of 25 years, the festival attracts an estimated 20,000 visitors a year. Visitors come from all around Richmond and Virginia for the food and entertainment.

Saturday and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. the festival brought “a little piece of India to America,” as the festival’s motto states.

Amit Bhatnagar, a senior premed psychology major, volunteers at the event every year and has been attending since “before he can remember,” he said. He remembers coming as a child and toting his trumpet on stage to perform for the large audience.

Despite his onstage anxiety as a child, Bhatnagar said the festival is one memory of his childhood he will not forget.

“It’s a great time to get together,” he said. “I grew up coming to this festival, and here I get to see people I performed with when I was younger.”

Gautam Verma, a senior premed psychology major, attended the festival for the first time. He said he was impressed by the amount of people who came to the festival.

“And more people come at night,” Bhatnagar said, introducing Verma to friends and showing him around the festival’s attractions.

The festival included an intense dance competition judged by professional performers from the Indian community. The contest is open to anyone and includes classical, regional, folk, modern and Bollywood South Asian dancing. Winners receive a cash prize and trophy.

Entry to the festival was free, and people walked home with a cultural education and tummies full of foods prepared on the spot with the recipes in a take-home souvenir book.

“The festival is something to look forward to,” said Bhatnagar.

On the Web: For more information on next year’s festival, visit www.thefestivalofindia.org