Indian Women's Association hosts celebration of cultures
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — This weekend, the Indian Women’s Association wants to celebrate the Asian communities in the Greater Lafayette area and share their rich tradition and heritage with the community at their first-ever “Celebration of Indian and Asian Culture” event.
Event organizers want to immerse the community and showcase several Asian cultures by featuring cultural performances by local and international artists, offering food for families to enjoy, jewelry and crafts for sale, a fashion show showcasing traditional costumes from different areas in Asia, and ending the night with a fireworks show.
The event will host performances from Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya, an internationally acclaimed Odissi dance exponent from India, who will be performing with local dancers from West Lafayette. The group will perform, The Draupadi Phenomenon, a dance theater that aims to highlight women’s empowerment.
The event will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at Gathering Acres, 5074 E 550 S, in Lafayette. Tickets to the event can be found on the Indian Women’s Association website, $15 for adults and $12 for students. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $20 for adults and $15 for students.
“After three years of social disruption due to COVID-19, as communities revive and regroup, the Asian Americans realize the new realities of this post-pandemic world, where many Americans with Asian origins have had to face some form of racial slander across this country, they call home,” reads the press release from the Indian Women’s Association.
“Indian Women’s Association counters post-pandemic Asian hate with a positive message of uniting all Asian communities to come together to celebrate and share their rich tradition and heritage with the Greater Lafayette community.”
The Indian Women’s Association of Greater Lafayette is a non-profit 501 (c) organization, and this event symbolizes IWA’s dedication to solving issues of women's inequality in society and championing children’s causes.
The IWA has also collaborated with several organizations like the local YWCA, International Center for Research on Women, Bauer Center, Lafayette Urban Ministry, Lafayette Food Bank and Imagination Station to work towards uplifting and empowering marginalized women and children. Over the past 15 years, IWA has donated over $100,000 to fund charitable causes pursuing these goals.
This year IWA will be supporting Lafayette Adult Resource Academy (LARA) at the local level, and on a global level, Heifer International, a worldwide nonprofit, working to eradicate poverty and hunger.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Indian Women's Association hosts celebration of cultures
