The Georgia Straight proudly sponsors the 10th anniversary of Vancouver Sawan Mela

by The Georgia Straight Staff on August 14th, 2012 at 4:48 PM

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The 10th annual Vancouver Sawan Mela festival takes place at the Plaza of Nations (750 Pacific Boulevard) on Friday and Saturday (August 17 and 18). Presented by the South Asian Family Association, Sawan Mela brings the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of India to Vancouver.

On Friday, starting at 6:30 p.m., performers including Manraj Hassan, Luv Randhawa, the Stranger Family, and Taz of the UK’s StereoNation will take the stage, as will an entourage of Bollywood dancers. The following day, local artists such as dancer Sujit Vaidya, table and ghazal player Cassius Khan, Pandit Salil Bhatt, recording artist Will Blunderfield, and Surrey rockers IndaNation will all be performing starting at 2 p.m. Capping off the festival is an outdoor screening of Qurbani, the highest-grossing Indian film in 1980.

Sawan Mela is a free family event that runs from 6:30 to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturday.