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Indian festival brings flavor downtown
By Michele Steinbacher
msteinbacher@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON — In the real world, Gujarat, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Kashmir states are spread far apart on the Indian subcontinent.

But on Saturday — as part of the McLean County India Association’s Festival of India — visitors could see the sites and cultural history of those and seven other Indian states, all in downtown Bloomington.

The festival, held throughout the day at the McLean County Museum of History, and spilling into the evening’s downtown “Hot August Nights” food and music event, was a chance to showcase the culture, trades and languages of 11 Indian states.

The museum and National City Bank co-sponsored the festival with the India Association.

“It’s part of our mission to tell the stories and to preserve the stories of the people of this county,” said Jeff Woodard, the museum‘s marketing and public affairs director.

Vasu Krishna of Normal, an organizing committee member, said the group’s been planning the festival since January.

Though India’s national language is Hindi, and many people also speak English, each region also has its own individual language. For example, in Orissa’s towns people speak Oriya; in Gujarat, they speak Gujarati, and so on.

“I didn’t know there were so many languages there,” said Mark Royalty of Bloomington. He was shopping outside the museum, at the weekly downtown Farmers’ Market, when he overheard people talking about the indoor India festival.

Around the courtroom, stopping at different booths, visitors could get a “passport” stamped.

On the western side of India sits the state of Gujarat. On Saturday, Pinky Desai of Bloomington taught mini-lessons about her state.

“Do you know of Gandhi?” she asked Royalty, who nodded affirmatively.

Known worldwide as the father of nonviolence, Mahatma Gandhi is Gujarat’s most famous son, said Desai, pointing to a display about Gandhi.

Desai later pointed to designs on her sari, explaining how the bandhani tie-dye process results in signature Gujarati designs. She also drew smiles from children, writing an English name and translating it to Gujarati on a keepsake bookmark.

Across the room, representing the eastern Indian state of Orissa, Jnanendra Nayak of Bloomington talked about tourism. With many Buddhist temples and monuments filling the area, Orissa draws people throughout the year.

The festival was a great coincidence for Amanda Gilpin of Bloomington, a Central Catholic High School student who just last week landed a geography assignment to write about India.

“I didn’t realize there were so many states in India,” she said, walking with her brother Daniel Gilpin.

Outside, on the museum lawn, the Festival of India was welcomed with an inaugural dance, performed by a trio of Indian teenagers dressed in colorful saris. A crowd clapped along to the modern music, playing from a CD.

Tiny Rujuta Durwas — a 3-year-old dressed in a bright aqua sari trimmed with gold embroidery — held her grandmother’s hand descending the museum steps.

Jingle, jingle, jingle went each step as Rujuta jumped, landing both feet to the next point, working to get the most sound from her silver anklets.

When asked her favorite part of the festival, the shy toddler leaned up to her grandmother Jayashree Deshpande and whispered something quietly in the Maharash language.

“She said ‘the stickers’,” laughed Deshpande, pointing to a sticker-filled passport. Jayashree and her husband Ramchandra Deshpande are visiting from Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra, and had babysitting duty while Rujuta’s parents volunteered at the festival.

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Reader comments on this story - 9 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Re : What happened? wrote on Aug 31, 2007 3:56 PM:

" In the daytime, it was inside the Museum. There was a sign outside the Museum to that effect. All the evening performances were outside the Museum. "

jackie wrote on Aug 30, 2007 7:50 PM:

" sounds like fun!!! "

What happened? wrote on Aug 27, 2007 9:06 PM:

" We went downtown to find the festival around lunchtime on Saturday-the time the Pantagraph said it was going on, and there was nothing there. Was it just in the evening? "

Response to "Grumpy" wrote on Aug 27, 2007 7:51 AM:

" First of all, Grumpy, speak for yourself. Don't speak for the "peoples of B/N." They don't necessarily share your view. Additionally, like it or not, the demographics of the U.S. are changing. And, like it or not, we are dependent on several countries for many things. Keep in mind that your people are descendents of immigrants too. At some point, your ancestors went through the same struggles and road blocks that these Indian immigrants are going through in terms of trying to preserve their culture in an innnocuous way. It would be good to acknowledge and respect that. "

Jessica Poppe wrote on Aug 26, 2007 9:29 PM:

" My husband, young sons and I really enjoyed ourselves while watching the dancing. Not being Indian ourselves, it was nice to learn more about a fascinating culture and I felt privileged to be able to experience that with my children. Thank you to everyone involved! "

Re: Grumpy wrote on Aug 26, 2007 7:04 PM:

" Grumpy.. No doubt it is too much for you guys... Isn't it... But you know what we shall be flexible enough to encourage and entertain non-Europian cultures, guess what we are global now... our products/services are going global. If they shall accept ours, why can't we accept something new ? "

Nanha wrote on Aug 26, 2007 1:07 PM:

" We enjoyed a lot at the first time conducted (road side )Indian festival.I being a Punjabi,spectially enjoyed bhangra by young boys. All the participants were full of energy and talented. Our best wishes are with MCI. "

Amanda wrote on Aug 26, 2007 10:01 AM:

" I say it's about time for a European festival! "

Grumpy wrote on Aug 26, 2007 12:56 AM:

" This is just WAY too much culture for the peoples of B/N. "
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