'Taste of' offers view of India

04-29-2003, 04:21 PM

Good News from Cincinnati, Ohio
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'Taste of' offers view of India

Interested in learning about Indian culture, food, crafts, even a
folk dance called Bhangra that originated in the fields of Northern
India?

It all happens at the fifth annual Taste of India, 4-8 p.m. Sunday
May 4th, at Old St. George Church, 42 Calhoun St., Corryville.

"We will have a wide range of mouth-watering Indian delicacies from
restaurants such as Mayura, Sitar and Myra's Kabob,'' said Sailesh
Rao, a member of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Association of India
Development.

Rao

Rao said art and crafts will include Mehendi and Rangoli. Mehendi is
a temporary tattoo that stains the surface of the skin with a reddish
brown dye, Rao said.

"Rangoli is a traditional art of decorating courtyards and walls of
Indian houses and places of worship,'' Rao said.

And then there is Bhangra.

"This is an energetic celebratory dance. It is done during a harvest
festival celebration, usually with 10 people wearing very colorful
costumes. I have seen it done, but I have never done it. I would like
to try it.''

Rao said the group is having the event to inform the public about
activities of the chapter, which is a nonprofit, student-based
organization at the University of Cincinnati.

Chapter activities involve collaboration with grass-roots groups in
India and learning about the social and economic issues involved in
development.

For more information, call 556-7514.