THUNDER BAY — The 16th annual Festival of India made a vibrant return to Marina Park this Saturday.
The festival began at 3 p.m. with an hour-long chariot parade, which allowed guests to pull and dance alongside an 18-foot-high chariot, representing “universal love and brotherhood.”
The parade concluded with an inauguration ceremony, featuring honourable dignitaries, including Superior North MP Patty Hajdu, Thunder Bay Police Service Chief Darcy Fleury, Mayor Ken Boshcoff and other representatives.
“We are very happy," said Prashant Jani, the local festival’s organizer. "So many hundreds of people are here and over the evening we are expecting thousands of people.”
Cynthia Gomes and her brother, Brian Charles, were among the thousands of guests who attended the festival on Saturday.
“We came down for the walk because it’s a beautiful day and we were wanting to catch the parade, which we did. That was great and everything’s good,” said Gomes.
She said they also had some food from the Masala Grille, which “was good.”
“I’ll just reiterate what she just said. It’s a great day, good atmosphere, very attractive people and we’re having a great time,” said Charles.
Before walking back home, he said they looked forward to the opening ceremony and seeing what the dignitaries had to say about everything.
The festival also featured around 15 food vendors, children’s activities, face painting, games, a henna tattoo booth, an Indian Bazaar, entertainment and performances on stage, dances and exhibits showcasing art, culture and lifestyle in India.
Throughout the evening, Jani said they had more than 25 dancers, musicians, singers and artists visiting from all over Canada and the United States.
“We have just currently going on is Odissi dance from (the) eastern part of India and it’s a very traditional dance where they offer the dance and music in devotion to Lord Jagannath,” said Jani.
“After that, we have a spectacular drama called The Age of Kali. There are 15 artists who have travelled all the way from Toronto to Thunder Bay to perform this drama. It’s going to be a spectacular drama.”
Afterwards, he added that the festival offered folk dances and live interactive music.
Hundreds of guests also lined up for the festival’s food, said Jani. The food, supplied free of charge for all guests, included East Indian meals with chole curry, naan bread, halwa sweet dish and rice.
Jani thanked everybody "so much" for being at the festival.
The 16-year celebration will continue on Sunday with the Festival of Colours, also known as the Holi Festival, where guests will have the opportunity to throw colours into the air while dancing, jumping and singing to music.
Admission to the Festival of Colours is $15 for guests. The cost includes coloured powder for the celebration.
