Home » Indiafest Set For March 11-12 At Wickham Park Pavilion In Melbourne, Committed To Philanthropy

Indiafest Set For March 11-12 At Wickham Park Pavilion In Melbourne, Committed To Philanthropy

By  //  March 8, 2017

celebration of India’s rich culture and traditions

Indiafest, a fun family festival that brings focus and shares the Indian culture in Brevard County, will be held Saturday, March 11 through Sunday, March 12 at the Wickham Park Pavilion in Melbourne. The 2017 selected charity is Candlelighters of Brevard, which is dedicated to children with cancer and their families by offering emotional support and financial assistance.

PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT CANDLELIGHTERS

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Indiafest, a fun family festival that brings focus and shares the Indian culture in Brevard County, will be held Saturday, March 11 through Sunday, March 12 at the Wickham Park Pavilion in Melbourne. 

This eagerly anticipated annual cultural event will take place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Indiafest is a celebration of India’s rich culture and traditions. Started 20 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.

The festival features a fresh and new look year after year. This uniqueness comes from the fact that a different theme is presented each year showing the unique aspects of India’s culture, history and traditions.

This year the theme is Heavenly Northern India. 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 Northern India’s landscape.

Attended by thousands of people every year, Indiafest 2017 is a cultural explosion that will bring a taste of India to Florida’s Space Coast. (Image for Space Coast Daily)

COMMITMENT TO PHILANTHROPY

An admirable factor of this festival is its commitment to philanthropy and community service with a vision and purpose of cultural education, through entertainment.

Indiafest is a volunteer run, nonprofit, 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.

Among the projects that were supported were Disaster aid reliefs for 1998 Florida Fire Victims, Orissa Cyclone Victims in India, 1999 Hurricane Floyd Victims, 2001 Earthquake Victims in Gujarat, India, 9-11 Disaster in New York City, the Tsunami victims, 2004 Hurricane Victims and 2005 Southeast Asia Earthquake.

In 2010, efforts to help earthquake victims of Haiti raised $225,000 to benefit Ruska Village Orphanage and in 2012 the committee presented the ‘Indiafest Endowment’ award of $100,000 to Florida Institute of Technology. Returns from the endowment provide financial assistance to a Brevard student.

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In 2013, Indiafest raised $10,000 for the ‘Sentinels of Freedom’ and, in 2014, the ‘Children’s Hunger Project’ was presented a check for $10,000.

The 2016 charity was Promise in Brevard as more than $70,000 was raised to purchase a wheelchair accessible van for the residents.

The 2017 selected charity is Candlelighters of Brevard, which is dedicated to children with cancer and their families by offering emotional support and financial assistance. Visit the website IndiaFestBrevard.org for a more detailed list of charities supported.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Indiafest has something of interest for everyone from hands on activities for the youths, to shopping for the adults, and don’t forget mouth-watering Indian cuisine, and all day entertainment for all to enjoy. The Discover India booth will feature the theme, Heavenly Northern India.

There will also be Yoga and Zumba demonstrations. The stage will come alive with performances by local artists dancing to traditional folk, classical and modern Indian music while the fashion show will be the highlight of the day.

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

Today, as technology makes the world smaller and more accessible, assimilation of the different cultures is very real and the need to appreciate each other is ever more apparent.

Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for children under 12, and children under 5 are free. For more info visit Indiafestbrevard.org or call 321-720-8590.

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ABOVE MAP: Indiafest, a fun family festival that brings focus and shares the Indian culture in Brevard County, will be held Saturday, March 11 through Sunday, March 12 at the Wickham Park Pavilion in Melbourne.