SPANISH FORK — The Utah community got a little taste of India this weekend at the 28th Annual India Fest.
The India Fest is held every year at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in south Spanish Fork. The festival, which is set around the Rajastani-style multi-domed temple, allows attendants to have an authentic Indian experience without having to travel all the way across the world.
“It’s mostly about Indian culture,” said Ashish Mahajan, an India Fest volunteer from Sandy. “You have some musical programs about the aspect of Indian culture. Henna is one part of it, there is Indian food, Indian classical dance, which is all related with the religions of Indian and all the stories of India.”
Events at the festival include live musical entertainment, Indian cuisine, henna tattoos, cultural exhibits on India, the pageant of Ramayana and the burning of a 20-foot-high, ten-headed demon named Ravana.
“I love the festival because it’s so cultural,” said Momi Quereto, a BYU Spanish translation major from Danville, California. “It gives you a taste of going to India without having to go to India. I love that so many people are willing to learn about this stuff.”
The India fest has many visitors every year, including BYU students. Many students visited the festival after learning about it from a world religion class on campus.
“I’m in a world religion class, and they advertised it,” said Issac Wilson, an accounting major from Wilsonville, Oregon. “My friend and I thought it would be cool to come to the festival. I would definitely come back to the festival again next year; it was really fun.”
The festival closed with the burning of the Ravana effigy, symbolizing the burning of bad character and the triumph of good over evil, according to the temple’s website. The effigy was ignited with flaming arrows and fireworks.
The India Fest will be held again next September. Visit www.utahkrishnas.org for upcoming India festivals, including the Diwali Festival of Lights and the Holi Festival of Colors.
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