India Fest lands in Marion Square (update: was a hit, photos)

Image by Flickr user Stuart Chalmers

Update October 18: This year's was a hit and I'm already looking forward to next year's which will surely be bigger and better. The Post and Courier was there and has a nice write-up and some good photos.

First reporting: This Sunday, October 17th, India Fest returns to Marion Square in an effort to share and celebrate the cultural heritage of India, and it's free.

The square will be bustling with vendors offering authentic Indian food, clothing, jewelry and crafts. Get a henna tattoo, explore the intricacies of the sari, enjoy songs and dances or get loose by trying out some Jivamukti yoga.

India Fest, organized by The Indian Association of Greater Charleston, will kick off at noon and continue until 5 p.m.

There's more info below about the festival from an e-mailed release:

Food vendors will sell authentic Indian food, clothing, jewelry and handmade crafts.  Artists will paint henna “temporary tattoos” on visitors’ hands. Known as “Mehndi” the henna decoration is traditionally applied for special occasions like weddings and festivals.  

Also, demonstrations of wrapping the intricate folds of the traditional sari will take place.  The beautiful strips of sari cloth, ranging from four to nine meters, is wrapped around the body in various styles, according to respective regions of the country.

In addition a cultural program of songs and dances (classical, semi-classical and Bollywood style) will add to the fun, along with demonstrations of Jivamukti yoga.  Jivamukti means “liberation while living.”  This modern style of yoga emerged in 1984 from one of New York City’s best-known yoga studios.

IAGC was incorporated in 1984, when the residents of Indian origin in Charleston felt the need to organize a community of people who were interested in the culture and heritage of India and share the profound beauty of this culture with others. IAGC is a nonprofit, non-political and non-religious organization, and its membership is open to anyone interested in India. For more information visit http://www.IndiaAssociationOfGreaterCharleston.com.