Charleston residents will be able to experience the culture of India this weekend without having to leave the Kanawha Valley.
The India Center is hosting its India Heritage Fair on Saturday to showcase Indian culture, food and art.
The fair will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the center, located at 800 Green Road off Corridor G, across from the Southridge Center.
Ashish Sheth, who helped organize the fair, said it's a great way for Charlestonians to experience the sights and sounds of India without physically traveling to the country.
"It's hard to afford to go to India. This is a way for them [people] to experience stuff from India here at home," Sheth said.
The center started the fair several years ago to expose the community to the culture of India. Sheth said community members typically ask him what the India Center is, so the fair is the center's way of inviting the public in to see what India is all about.
"We usually get a lot of questions from the community [so] this is our way of holding a free event once a year to invite the local community to come in," Sheth said.
There will be live performances of traditional and folk dances of different regions of India at 1 and 4 p.m. Sheth said these performances are popular among the crowd each year.
Dr. Sanjaya, who also helped organize the fair, said he looks forward to inviting his American friends and colleagues to the event each year.
"The main goal is to demonstrate or showcase what Indian tradition is and celebrate our friendship with Americans and local community," Sanjaya said. "By doing so, we can start a friendship message."
Sanjaya said Indian children will also be performing during the two live performances. The children have worked hard over the last few months and are excited to showcase what they've learned, Sanjaya said.
Vendors at the fair will be selling clothing, jewelry and traditional food from various regions of India. Local artists will also be available to use "Mehendi," or henna, paste to draw intricate designs, typically on hands and feet.
Sanjaya said the henna tattoos, which typically last anywhere from 10 to 15 days, are extremely popular among the children and teenagers who attend the event.
Both Sheth and Sanjaya said their favorite aspect of the fair is the food.
"There will be lot of opportunity to taste authentic Indian food," Sanjaya said. "A lot of volunteers ... and different volunteer groups, they prepare different varieties of food that is authentic. Each are affordable and cheaper than eating outside in a restaurant."
There will also be a photobooth with traditional Indian clothing and accessories for attendees to dress up in. People can buy gently used traditional Indian clothing at a consignment-type booth, as well.
Admission to the event is free, and everybody is welcome to attend.
Reach Laura Haight at laura.haight@wvgazettemail.com,
304-348-4843 or follow @laurahaight_ on Twitter.