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33rd ANNUAL TAMPA INDIA FESTIVAL RETURNS NOV. 5
By NITISH S. RELE
“Let’s get back into life, the routine,” says Dr. Sanjay Navadia, Chair, for this year’s India Festival set Nov. 5 in Tampa. We couldn’t agree more. After a three-year hiatus, the 33rd annual daylong event, organized by the Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay, is back at the familiar Florida State Fairgrounds. Over three decades, the event has become one of the most popular in the Southeast.
Between 12,000 to 15,000 people are expected to attend, according to Navadia, who revealed that all participants in the entertainment programs this year will receive a free entry. He also looks to “get some new young people involved in management of India Festival. Try to add new faces.” Undoubtedly, Covid-19 posed several challenges for the fest committee, especially when planning the event’s comeback. But despite the hurdles, “Within two months, we got lot of sponsors, performers, vendors, all due to hard work by the committee,” says Navadia.
In the Expo Hall, more than 100 booths will offer a variety of fashion, jewelry, arts and crafts, and home décor. Just outside the hall, food vendors will offer a variety of Indian delicacies from samosas to chicken tikka to falooda and of course everyone’s favorite chai. In the adjacent Entertainment Hall, performers of all ages will be decked out in traditional attire for four categories of dance competition – garba, raas, folk and bhangra. India Festival dance practice has become a rite of passage for many families, especially in the Bay area, one that has surely been missed the last few years. Throughout the hall, several closed-circuit TV monitors will be set up so people can shop and eat while watching the dances.
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Indian-American communities from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Melbourne, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Gainesville and Ocala among others will be participating in dozens of competitions. Hillsborough County and Tampa City Council members are expected to be in attendance, as in the past years.
The India Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa. Tickets are $12 for adults; $10 for children 2 to 12 years of age. Parking is $12.
For information, visit www.indiafestivaltampabay.com
SHREYA GHOSHAL RETURNS NOV. 18 TO ORLANDO
‘Bairi Piya’ (“Devdas”), ‘Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai’ (“Jism”), ‘Barso Re,’ (“Guru”), ‘Zoobi Zoobi’ (“3 Idiots”), ‘Radha’ (“Student of The Year”), ‘Manwa Lage’ (“Happy New Year”), ‘Deewani Mastani’ (“Bajirao Mastani”) and ‘Ghoomar’ (“Padmaavat”) are just a few of innumerable hits by Bollywood singer Shreya Ghoshal. The native of Murshidabad (West Bengal) who was brought up in Rajasthan will re-visit Florida, this time Orlando on Nov. 18.
In a career that spans nearly 25 years, the talented and melodious Ghoshal has won a National Film Award, Filmfare Award and IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer, several times over, and a Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent. She has also been honored by the then Ohio Governor Ted Strickland who declared June 26 as “Shreya Ghoshal Day” in 2010.
It was with “Devdas” that Shreya Ghoshal launched her career as a playback singer and since then there has been no looking back with film songs recorded in not just Hindi but also Assamese, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Nepali, Oriya, Tamil and Telugu.
Presented by Krish Patel, Ghoshal will take the stage from 8 p.m. Nov. 18 at Addition Financial Arena (former CFE), 12777 Gemini Blvd. N., Orlando. Tickets starting at $51 can be purchased at www.bollywoodeventsfl.com; for information, call Krish Patel at (407) 454-3334.
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