Vancouver will host a major summer celebration of Indian film, dance, music, literature, yoga, and food.

Indian Summer will take place at the SFU Woodward's Goldcorp Centre for the Arts from July 7-17. It will feature more than 20 events, including free outdoor concerts and workshops.

Today, Sirish Rao, artistic director of the Indian Summer Arts Society, explained that India-based Teamwork Productions is working with SFU Woodward's and the local Indian consultate to bring the festival to the city.

"What we'd really like to see is more cultural traffic—more real conversation, more real collaborative work between Canada and India," Rao said.

He added: "Being Indian, maybe we have this feeling of creating a joint family."

Rao said the festival's lineup of performers will be announced on May 25. However, he revealed today that local chef Vikram Vij will be one of the participants.

Vij told the Straight that he'll offer a cooking demonstration supplemented with other entertainment.

Michael Boucher, director of cultural programs at SFU, said today that Indian Summer will show Vancouverites why the SFU Woodward's Goldcorp Centre for the Arts is such an ideal venue for festivals.

The festival coincides with Vancouver's 125th anniversary. Indian consul-general Shri Ashok Das pointed out that Indian Summer can be seen as part of the "Year of India in Canada", which was announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.