INDIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL

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This was my first time attending the Indian Summer Festival, at its five-year anniversary mark. This event is full of life, culture, innovative ideas and history thats seen at first glance at the Opening Gala. The Indian Summer Festival is a nine day long festival that exhibits many different avenues of arts and ideas from Canada, South Asia, and other places around the world. It is produced by the Indian Summer Arts Society, which started the festival in 2011. The Indian Summer Arts Society is a not for profit organization which enables Vancouver’s arts, ideas and cultures to grow amongst the influence and co-peers of the national and international art scenes. The well-rounded festival displays some of the brightest visionaries and artists which included award winning novelists, DJs, social entrepreneurs, set designers, Nobel prize-winning scientists and India’s most renowned musical maestros. The Opening Gala showcased much more including award winning Vancouver based culinary chefs.

The location for the Opening Gala was chosen very wisely. The Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Center was transformed into the Great Indian Railway Bazaar. The Roundhouse center had been a major hub to Canada’s great steam locomotive. The Indian Summer Arts Society had taken a bit of Canadian history and revamped it incorporating the Indian culture. It was easily transformed. The Indian Summer Festivals Opening Gale was rich with creativity using many different aspects of culture, and art to portray the Indian railway bazaar. There was a live marching playing creating a busy atmosphere seen commonly at an Indian railway bazaar bringing it to life. Different photo booths with various backdrops were setup like tourist booths at the bazaar. Photographers were busy flashing. It was an escape with music, people, and different Indian inspired delicacies from well-known Vancouver restaurants and chefs. Over ten different food vendors were set up into street vendors, available in quick demand. A dance floor was lit with Indian-style DJ band and music available for the entire community.

Simple, elegant Indian attire was worn to the Opening Gala. Dressed in a Wellgroomed Inc. black Kurtha with an embroidered floral gold nehru waistcoat exhibiting a bit of fun and culture. The kurtha allowed for easy movement in the bazaar while the waistcoat demonstrated a taste for detail in the embroidery. A gold pocket square was used to complete the look.