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Rehana Mufti and her husband Mazhar sat down on the picnic table outside City Hall — it tilted a bit when they settled in — as Indian music stringing through the air.
In the 50 years the couple has been in Canada — an anniversary they mark this month along with their 50th wedding anniversary — they have only been back to India once. Mazhar Mufti is originally from the northern part of the country, Rehana Mufti from neighbouring Pakistan.
“It’s kind of memories of home — the music, the food,” the 70-year-old Rehana Mufti said as Mazhar Mufti went off to buy a dinner of traditional Indian food from the southern part of the country.
The latter of those two items — the food — was a central part of the weekend’s Festival of India, a buffet of food, workshops, arts, dancing and music that organizers used to highlight all four corners of the country. Organizers added day-long cooking demonstrations and workshops to the packed list of events this year, trying to add a new element to the festival, now in its third year.
Turning three was seen as a crucial test for the volunteer-run festival. Organizers said that this year’s event was a test to see if it could continue to build and be on solid ground so it was around for the long-term.
“For the festival to run, there are two resources that are important: financial and human resources,” said festival director Karunakar “Reddy” Papala. “Our finances are solid…and we have close to 250 volunteers doing 400-plus shifts.”
Among them were 40 self-proclaimed chefs, Papala said, working the kitchen from morning through to the night. Last year, he said, the festival served about 6,000 meals; this year, festival organizers are expecting that number to reach 10,000.
Also among the volunteers were parents and their children, with mothers and fathers cooking in the meal tent while their children — young adults themselves — helped visitors to the site.
“Our culture is so family oriented,” Rehana Mufti said, a plate of samosas in front of her.
Papala estimated the total number of attendees for Friday and Saturday was around 1,000. He said that this year organizers wanted to include members of the wider Ottawa community.
Among them was Caitlin Randle. The 25-year-old came for a chance to take part in the “holi,” where participants throw coloured powder and water on one another as part of an ancient tradition.
“I’ve always wanted to do it,” Randle said, covered in some greens and purples. But, she said, “I didn’t know it was a traditional thing they do in India.”
Organizers made a decision this year to make local artists the focal point of the main stage, rather than try to bring in top talent from India, which would be too costly for the community to afford.
“The focus this year has been on local artists…to give them a platform to establish themselves,” said festival president Bala Madaparthi.
The festival continues Sunday.
jpress@ottawacitizen.com
Twitter.com/jpress
查看原文...
In the 50 years the couple has been in Canada — an anniversary they mark this month along with their 50th wedding anniversary — they have only been back to India once. Mazhar Mufti is originally from the northern part of the country, Rehana Mufti from neighbouring Pakistan.
“It’s kind of memories of home — the music, the food,” the 70-year-old Rehana Mufti said as Mazhar Mufti went off to buy a dinner of traditional Indian food from the southern part of the country.
The latter of those two items — the food — was a central part of the weekend’s Festival of India, a buffet of food, workshops, arts, dancing and music that organizers used to highlight all four corners of the country. Organizers added day-long cooking demonstrations and workshops to the packed list of events this year, trying to add a new element to the festival, now in its third year.
Turning three was seen as a crucial test for the volunteer-run festival. Organizers said that this year’s event was a test to see if it could continue to build and be on solid ground so it was around for the long-term.
“For the festival to run, there are two resources that are important: financial and human resources,” said festival director Karunakar “Reddy” Papala. “Our finances are solid…and we have close to 250 volunteers doing 400-plus shifts.”
Among them were 40 self-proclaimed chefs, Papala said, working the kitchen from morning through to the night. Last year, he said, the festival served about 6,000 meals; this year, festival organizers are expecting that number to reach 10,000.
Also among the volunteers were parents and their children, with mothers and fathers cooking in the meal tent while their children — young adults themselves — helped visitors to the site.
“Our culture is so family oriented,” Rehana Mufti said, a plate of samosas in front of her.
Papala estimated the total number of attendees for Friday and Saturday was around 1,000. He said that this year organizers wanted to include members of the wider Ottawa community.
Among them was Caitlin Randle. The 25-year-old came for a chance to take part in the “holi,” where participants throw coloured powder and water on one another as part of an ancient tradition.
“I’ve always wanted to do it,” Randle said, covered in some greens and purples. But, she said, “I didn’t know it was a traditional thing they do in India.”
Organizers made a decision this year to make local artists the focal point of the main stage, rather than try to bring in top talent from India, which would be too costly for the community to afford.
“The focus this year has been on local artists…to give them a platform to establish themselves,” said festival president Bala Madaparthi.
The festival continues Sunday.
jpress@ottawacitizen.com
Twitter.com/jpress
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Caitlin Randle (middle) participates in the Holi demonstration at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014. The three-day festival features traditional Indian dance acts, workshops on cooking and pottery, Bollywood dancing and more.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen 
A cook prepared Masala Dosa, a popular breakfast dish in the south of India, at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
A volunteer makes naan at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
Pragya Shail from the Darpan Dance Group helps lead a workshop in contemporary Indian dance at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
Dancers talk before their performance at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
A Holi demonstration, where participants throw colour powder on each other, took place at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
A Holi demonstration, where participants throw colour powder on each other, took place at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
Pottery classes were led by Nirmala Chopra at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
Nirmala Chopra led pottery classes at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Darpan Dance Group led a workshop in contemporary Indian dance at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
A dancer performs at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
Festivalgoers take pictures of dance performances at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
A dancer performs at the third annual Festival of India, Aug. 9, 2014.
David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
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