What you need to know about Thunder Bay's Indian festivals this weekend

Thunder Bay's Marina Park will be filled with music, colour and community spirit this weekend as the Festival of India and Festival of Colours return for their 16th year.

Organized by the Vedic Cultural Centre, the back-to-back festivals will feature a traditional chariot parade, live performances, interactive dance workshops, children's activities, cultural exhibits and food vendors.

"This is the celebration of unity and diversity.  We may come from different countries, cultures, and languages. But when we unite and celebrate, it brings people together and makes our lives enjoyable," said Dr. Prashant Jani, one of the festival organizers. 

The weekend kicks off Saturday with the Festival of India, a family-friendly cultural event that begins with a chariot parade at 3 p.m. The event runs until 8 p.m.

Rooted in an ancient Indian tradition, the parade features a large, ornate chariot pulled by participants to symbolize unity, love and inclusiveness.

"Everybody pulls the chariot with the ropes. There are singers and musicians who sing and play musical instruments in the parade. Everybody dances in the parade. So it's a very joyous occasion," Jani said. 

Following the parade, attendees can enjoy classical and folk Indian dance, interactive workshops, a spiritual drama, free vegetarian food, henna art, and a cultural bazaar offering Indian crafts, decor and philosophy exhibits.

This year's entertainment includes a performance by Janardana Das of The Butter Thieves, a U.S.-based musical group that blends hip hop, reggae and sacred Sanskrit mantras.

"What I do is blend musical elements of hip hop reggae, along with mantra and also utilize the musical elements with words from our scriptures to make it more palatable for the modern ear, to share and convey a message of positivity and love," said Das, who is based in Florida. 

Das calls the group's music "transcendental sound," a fusion of upbeat rhythm and spiritual depth aimed at sparking introspection through dance and chant.

"It represents the strength of Indian culture. A lot of people may think that India is a very poor country. Everyone wants to be westernized, but the reality is that the culture of India is the heart. This is where our strength and power are," said Das.

Sunday's Festival of Colours draws inspiration from the Indian spring celebration of Holi, known globally as a festival of joy, renewal and community. It runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Marina Park.

"When we throw colours into the wind, which means that we throw worries into the wind and make our life joyful and colourful. It is one of the happiest celebrations on the planet, actually," said Jani.

The event will feature hourly colour throws, live DJ sets, interactive dance performances, kids' crafts and a wide range of food vendors.

Tickets are available online at festivalofcolours.ca or can be purchased at the gate.

Know before you go

Parking:

Parking at Marina Park is limited. Organizers recommend arriving early or parking nearby and walking to the venue. Volunteers will be on site to assist.

Admission:

• Festival of India (Saturday): Free

• Festival of Colours (Sunday): Ticketed, purchase at the gate or online