Sunday, October 15, 2017, 12noon-6:00pm, Rain or Shine, FREE

Celebrate Diwali Festival on Sunday, October 15th from 12:00 -6:00 pm in the Takoma Langley Crossroads. This family-friendly free event celebrates the festival of lights and offers a unique cultural experience with Indian performances, food, vendors and more.
Don’t miss the full day of cultural performances. With Classical, Folk & Bollywood Dance. Plus children’s storyteller, Meena Nayak, sharing Indian myths. See complete schedule below.
Check out the variety of vendors offering traditional jewelry, clothing, housewares, home decor, gifts and more. A henna artist will be available to apply ceremonial designs. Food vendors, including award-winning Indigo DC, will be at the event preparing authentic South Asian vegan and non-vegan dishes including street food, traditional beverages (signature Mango Lassi’s) and regional specialties including curries, samosas, pakoras, cumin basmati rice and more.
Sponsored by Takoma Langley Crossroads Development Authority (CDA), Prince George’s County, and City of Takoma Park, MD – Municipal Government with the Hindu Temple of Metropolitan Washington, Adelphi, MD.
Event Location:  HAMPSHIRE PLACE,  7505 New Hampshire Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
Free parking. See MAP.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES

3:30-4:30pm   Ganesh Band:  Bollywood-style music will be performed by Ganesh Jagtap and other musicians on traditional instruments with vocalists Kshama Garg and Himanshu Chaudhari.

4:30-6:00pm    Raag Rang: Ta Thoi   Musicians Debu Nayak (tabla, below), Soumya Chakraverty (sarod), Arindam Ghosh, Swati Kanitkar, Surendra Rajak, Nabeel Reaz, and Parmoa Sanyal will perform as Raag Rang: Ta Thoi, with vocal performances, narration and dance depicting the Diwali theme.   The performance will be based on Diwali, drawing from Indian mythology depicted through Indian classical dance and a medley of Indian classical and folk music.

2:00-5:00pm   Storyteller Meena Nayak will be telling myth tales to children of all ages.  Dr. Nayak teaches English and Mythology at Northern Virginia Community College and is the author of many children’s books including About Daddy and Endless Rain.

Vendors 

FOOD

Indigo – Indian Street Food

El Carreton –   Organic Artisanal Frozen Treats/Heleados Artesanales Organicos

Chef Hogate’85: Asian food, Pad Thai, Lo Mein, smoothies,  eggrolls, fried rice, fried sweet plaintains

GOODS

Artemiya –handcrafted jewelry and organic seed designs

B&P Jewelry & Gifts – Nepali handicrafts and jewelry

Bollywood Bazaar – clothing

Diya Candles – candles, diyas

Ekaa Couture  – festive clothing

GVA – CDs, children’s books, harikaths, bhagavat katnas

Naina Tara

Nafhhat Gohar  – clothing

Primorose – Jewelry

Priti’s Fashion & Jewelry – plazo, kurti’s, sari’s, costume jewelry, sal khameer, skirts, kaftans, diya, children’s clothing, Diwali items, Henna tattos

Quilltastic Jewelry – Handmade silk-thread jewelry

Rams Fast Tax Service

Royal Arts & Crafts Kashmir – beautiful hand-embroidered cashmere shawls, scarves, clothing, and accessories

Silver Paisley – rangolis

Tuhina Creations – paintings

Trend Umbrella – semi-precious stone jewelry

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Talisha Searcy for Ward 6