EVENT SPOTLIGHT: 24th Annual Indiafest in Melbourne Set For March 14-15 at Wickham Park

By  //  February 20, 2020

A celebration of India’s rich culture, history, geography and traditions

The 24th Annual Indiafest will be held on Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 15 10 a.m-5 p.m. in Wickham Park, located at 2500 Parkway Drive in Melbourne. (Indiafest in Melbourne image)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The 24th Annual Indiafest will be held on Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 15 10 a.m-5 p.m. in Wickham Park, located at 2500 Parkway Drive in Melbourne.

Tickets are $5 adults, $2 children under 12, and children under 5 are free.

Indiafest is a celebration of India’s rich culture, history, geography and traditions. Started 24 years ago, with a curious and humble effort of an ethnic community, today Indiafest is a symbol of cultural enrichment in Brevard County and is celebrated with great enthusiasm.

This is a well-run festival with a fresh and new look every year. The uniqueness is due to a different theme presented each year showing some of these unique aspects of India. This year the theme is Royal West India.

An admirable factor of this festival is its commitment to giving back to the community with a purpose of cultural enlightenment.

Indiafest is a non-profit, cultural organization, known for its charitable efforts to several local charities, including the parent organization, Manav Mandir, and aid in disaster recovery, nationally and internationally.

To date, over $1,000,000 have been awarded to various charitable causes.

Beneficiaries include: various Florida hurricane relief, Early Intervention, Daily Bread, Serene Harbor, Crosswinds, Cancer Care Center, Ruuska Village Orphanage – Haiti.

In 2012 a $100,000 Endowment Scholarship was awarded to at FIT to benefit a Brevard student yearly.

A much- needed wheelchair accessible van was donated to ‘Promise in Brevard’ and ‘The Children’s Hunger Project’ was chosen in 2016. ‘Candlelighters of Brevard’, ‘Habitat for Humanity’ and ‘Shriners of Brevard’ were other chosen charities.

In 2019 support went to Brevard Schools Foundation which provides mentoring and support to kids from low-income households and, funds were sent to a school affected by Hurricane Michael in the Panhandle area.

Please visit the website at indiafestbrevard.org for a detailed list of charitable efforts.

This year’s focus is to help folks recover from the recent earthquake in Puerto Rico and, help start an Emergency Student Loan Program at FIT to ensure students complete their degree in the face of financial hardship.

Indiafest has something of interest for everyone, from hands-on activities for the youths, to shopping for the adults, mouth-watering Indian cuisine, yoga demonstrations, and all-day entertainment for everyone to enjoy.

Indiafest has something of interest for everyone, from hands-on activities for the youths, to shopping for the adults, mouth-watering Indian cuisine, yoga demonstrations, and all-day entertainment for everyone to enjoy.

The Discover India booth will feature this theme by providing information and displays of various cultural nuances, significant places of interest, beauty and history of East India’s architecture, culture and, landscape.

The stage will come alive with performances by our local artistes dancing to traditional folk, classical, and modern Indian music while the fashion show will be the highlight of the day.

The grounds will be buzzing with vendors selling jewelry, rich colorful ethnic garments, arts and crafts, music and videos. One can indulge in exotic Henna designs while the aroma of tantalizing flavors of food being prepared entice the taste buds.

Today, as technology makes the world smaller and more accessible, appreciation of different cultures is ever more apparent.

At Indiafest you will take back with you, a part of India’s rich culture be it arts and crafts, food, jewelry, music, dance, or clothes.

You will be transcended, as you get a close-up view of the traditional and vibrant aspects of this culture.

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