August 8, 2018
The Great India Festival
As you already know, The Great India Festival will be at Ottawa City Hall from August 10-12. They’ve worked throughout the year to bring to you top artists from across the world. Here’s a sneak peek:
Canada Unity Dance (August 10 – 6:30 PM)
A tribute to the multicultural society that Canada is! This would be one of the unique and signature performances of The Great India Festival. Canada Unity Dance is a performance where 5 world cultures come together on one stage to showcase amalgamation arising from the beauty of these distinct dances. This year, they’ll have representation from the First Nations, Quebec, Ireland, Africa and India. Canada Unity Dance is truly a blend of fine Canadian Diverse Inclusive Dance.
More details about the Friday schedule
Bollywood and Beyond by Padma Bhushan Pandit L. Subramaniam & Padma Shri Kavita Krishnamurti (August 11 – 9 PM)
The violin maestro from India, the Paganini of Indian classical music and the recipient of India’s 3rd highest civilian award – Padma Bhushan Pandit L. Subramaniam and the megastar classical and Bollywood playback singer and recipient of India’s 4th highest civilian award – Padma Shri Kavita Krishnamurti, are coming to Ottawa to enthrall you with their magical melodies. Their performance, ‘Bollywood and Beyond’, is a confluence of the finest music from India peppered with strains from the great musical traditions of the world.
More details about the Saturday schedule
Musical Journey Towards Rising India by Padma Shri Vidushi Sumitra Guha (August 10 – 9 PM)
Sumitra Guha is an Indian classical vocalist, known for her expertise in the Carnatic and Hindustani schools of classical music. Sumitra has received many awards and honors starting from the gold medals she received from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam at Tirupati and from the All India Vaggeykar Utsavams at Bhadrachalam in 1972. West Bengal Journalists Association awarded her the Best Vocalist of the Year prize in 1991 and a year later, she received the title Vidushi, in 1995.
More details about the Friday schedule
Madhavam by Saraswathi School for Dance and Music (August 12 – 9 PM)
Madhavam is a Thematic Production in Kuchipudi, one of the major Indian classical dances, presented by Saraswathi School for Dance and Music SSDM Ensemble, Edmonton, Alberta, and performed by 10 artists. The production takes the audience through the life and exploits of Krishna.
More details about the Sunday schedule
While that’s not everything, they have loads of food for you to savor – 55 different food items from 15 distinct regions of India across 3 days. This is accompanied by all day street snacks – Chole Bhature, Pani Puri, Chat Papdi, Jalebi, as well as beverage favourites the Mango Lassi and Masala Chai.
Finally, don’t miss the workshops. Would you like to understand and learn the techniques of Yoga? Join in at 11:30 AM on Saturday and Sunday. They will also have culinary demos from renowned award-winning chefs, Holi celebrations, panel discussions, and games like cricket and kabaddi and so much more.