2021 India @75 Spring Festival, organized by Taipei Indian music center in partnership with the Cultural Affairs Department of New Taipei City Government a one-day event held at Sanchong Air Force Military kindred Village No.1 last Saturday (April 24), was Hundreds of Taiwanese, new immigrants and foreigners attended this event.
The festival showcased the Indian culture through performance arts and Indian cuisines. NIA Global News for new immigrants live-streamed the event on Facebook. Those who missed this festival can watch the performances online here.
The open ceremony started in a Bollywood style. A group of performers, dressed in traditional Indian clothing, lead a parade onto the stage. Guests were also in the parade, all wearing a neck lei.
The Indian handicraft markets and Indian food markets drew a large crowd eager to learn about the Indian culture and taste the delicious Indian cuisines.
India @75 Spring Festival has been held in Taiwan for 17 years, Since 2004.
The NIA reporter interviewed Priya Lee, one of the organizers and the host of the India @75 Spring Festival. Priya is a Taiwanese new immigrant from India. She has lived in Taiwan for over 30 years. She has her translation studio in Taiwan.
Priya mentions, every year, international artists will be invited to the festival. However, this year, due to the coronavirus, international artists were unable to participate in the 2021 India @75 Spring
This year, the performers and booth owners were all local Indian residents (new immigrants) in Taiwan.
This group of new immigrants was not professional performers or artists. They did a lot of practice, hoping to present the best performance.
The NIA Global News for new immigrants reporter spotted many people lining up at an Indian turban booth. And saw Viveknalia, the owner, helping people wearing the Indian turban, and at the same time, explaining the diverse cultures in India. Viveknalia, a Ph.D. researcher at National Center for Research on Earthquake on Engineering.
Viveknalia says India is one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse nations in the world, with some of the most deeply religious societies and cultures. Through this event, Viveknalia hopes to let more Taiwanese learn about the Indian diverse culture.
The Indian food booths are the most popular section during the festival. The NIA Global News for new immigrants reporter met an Indian new immigrant Dan who could speak fluent Chinese. Dan recommended Gulab jamun, an Indian traditional dessert to the reporter. Gulab jamun is a milk-solid-based sweet from the Indian subcontinent. It is an Indian traditional dessert eaten at major celebration events.
The reporter found another booth displaying ancient Indian instruments and photos taken in India. The booth belonged to an Indian couple, who were both science researchers working at Academia Sinica. The photos displayed on the wall were all taken by Mayank Tiwari. The photos show the beautiful scenery and colorful festivals in India. People were all amazed by the beautiful photos, and Mayank would always to happy to explain the theme and the story behind the photo.
The India @75 Spring Festival features performing arts, Indian clothing, and Indian cuisines. Children and adults were able to learn more about the Indian culture.
As international travels have all shut down, and India @75 Spring Festival provides a possible chance of exchange in the time of COIVD-19.
