The immensely popular ASIAN FESTIVAL will include the HERITAGE INDIA FESTIVAL (designed by Rushi Entertainment) which celebrates the culture, cuisines and colors of South Asia. A star attraction to the fest, this year, will be Bollywood’s rocking sensation, Sumitra Iyer. Check her out — she is enchanting!
By Sam Prasad Jillella – Special to India This Week
The immensely popular ASIAN FESTIVAL will include the HERITAGE INDIA FESTIVAL (designed by Rushi Entertainment) which celebrates the culture, cuisines and colors of South Asia. A star attraction to the fest, this year, will be Bollywood’s rocking sensation, Sumitra Iyer. Check her out — she is enchanting!
By Sam Prasad Jillella – Special to India This Week
Fairfax, VA — A two-day free event for the whole family, including free on-site parking — you can’t beat that! This year’s Asian Festival venue is the George Mason University Campus, on 4400 University Drive in Fairfax, Virginia, and the hours are 10am to 10pm on Saturday, July 23, and 11am to 6pm on Sunday, July 24. (For a complete schedule, visit (www.asianfestivaldc.com).
Organizers say the festival will feature allday 
cultural shows on 3 stages, mobile interactive tennis Smash zone, tennis tournaments, exhibition games, and food and product booths. This year’s four main villages are Wow Philippines, Image of China, Amazing Thailand, and Heritage India.
“ E v e r y y e a r, thousands come with their families and friends,” says George Duangmanee, Asian Festival founder. “When we started this festival, we didn’t know it would be this huge.” He added: “For the past seven years, we couldn’t have done it without community support and those individuals, businesses, and organizations that have been generously supporting the Asian Festival. This includes United States Tennis Association and our title sponsor, Singha Beer. We can’t thank them enough.” The free, non-stop entertainment will showcase live bands: Ralf Toledo and The Speaks, Paperdoll, Ivy Rose, The Embassy, etc. Filipino American standup comedian Rex Navarete will perform on July 23, Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center. General admission for this show is $20.
C u l t u r a l performances will feature over 200 performers from Metro Washington’s Asian American organizations
Authentic Asian cuisine from over 40 booths will cater selections from Thai, Chinese, Korean, Filipino and Indian food. Many festival-goers also start their Christmas shopping early in one site. There will be several booths with unique Asian products — jewelry, ladies apparel, baskets and other arts and crafts.
But, what’s special for South Asians at the Asian Festival?
The center of attraction for South Asians will be the Heritage India Village, which is setup by Rushi Entertainment Inc, who’s management team includes Shishir Misra, President; Gagan Nirula – C r e a t i v e s, G r a p h i c s, PR and Marketing; Rena Surana-Logistics and Stage management; Charu Misra – Creative strategy.
Besides organizing Metro Washington’s two annual festivals (spring and fall), Rushi Entertainment also holds Heritage India festivals across the nation, including New York and New Jersey, San Francisco, Orange County, Atlanta and Chicago. Rushi Entertainment has, this year, arranged dozens of exhibitors to display South Asian apparel, arts
and handicrafts, gold and costume jewelry, books, DVDs and music, spices and snacks. For more information email (info@hifestival.com) or call Rushi Entertainment at 703-459-5000.
South Asian music and entertainment will be provided by local bands, and regional dance and music schools.
An added attraction to the festival, this year, is Bollywood’s smoking-hot performer, Sumitra Iyer. She flew from Mumbai just in time to rock Washington’s Asian revelers.
As for children, a host of family-friendly a c t i v i t i e s h a v e b e e n planned — Asian Spelling Bee, kite flying, t-shirt and face painting, quizzes and games, etc.
And, no South Asian festival is complete without sumptuous pot-belly cuisine. Area restaurants will offer delicious South Asian delights, including street food, desserts and popular specialties.
Shishir, who has been organizing Heritage India Festivals since 12 years, urges the South Asian Americans — “Come! Bring your family and friends. Make this your best, funfilled summer weekend!”
Courtesy: "INDIA THIS WEEK" – Washington D.C. based Newspaper
