Arts & Culture
Festival of India sheds light on impoverished
The Pointer Contributor
mbiem244@uwsp.edu
Stevens Point residents got a taste of India over the weekend at the Festival of India. This year’s Festival of India was not just an opportunity to eat traditional Indian food, watch dancers and shop for scarves and jewelry. The event, held at Stevens Point Area Senior High on Saturday Oct. 10, was sponsored by the Stevens Point-based nonprofit SHAMA, Inc. and was the 22nd year of the festival.
The first festival in 1988 was sponsored by Women in Higher Education of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and the SPASH Peace Club. Proceeds from the afternoon’s activities were used as scholarships for women attending a college in Bombay, according to SHAMA, Inc.’s Web site.
Since its incorporation as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization in 2000, Shama, Inc. has developed several programs to aid the impoverished women and children of India.
According to the Shama, Inc. Web site, the help that is given to women in need holds the possibility of providing for needs anywhere in the world. It also states that education helps everybody in the long run. This chain of possibility is the driving force behind SHAMA, Inc.
The word “shama” means “flame of the lamp,” and through aid and education, this organization has provided light to many individuals.
Shama, Inc. president Mrs. Jyoti Chander spoke at this year’s festival about several of the group’s projects.
“WOW–Women on Wheels” is a program that trains women in motor car repair and taxi driving for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Chander recalled her recent visit to India, where she met with the women training for these revolutionary occupations.
A new branch of Shama, Inc. is called “SHAMA SlumKids” and is a completely volunteer-run program. The program provides a daily two-hour mobile school for children living in the shanty towns of Chandigarh.
Currently, about 300 children attend the seven schools, and about 50 children a year are sent to regular schools when they show an interest in education.
These projects, and others, were highlighted at the Festival of India. In addition, three hours of workshops provided information to festival attendees. Topics ranged from “Families with Adopted Indian Children” to performances on the sitar.
With so many options available, attendees found no shortage of activities to consume their time.
Chao Yang, a senior at UWSP, came to the festival for the first time this year. Along with taking in the music and traditional costumes, Yang’s favorite workshop was about arranged marriages.
“It’s something similar to my own culture, so I thought it was interesting. Couples often have their marriages arranged when they are younger,” she said.
Other festival-goers came with ideas of activities already in mind.
“I always like to go to the palm reading,” said Debbie Kreb. “The dances are also really unique. We found it interesting how the children start young, and dancing becomes a part of their daily lives.”
Another favorite of the attendees included the India Bazaar and the henna tattoo stand.
“They have tubes of the henna ink for sale this year, so I’m going to get some,” said Molly Kreb.
For dinner, food lines extended down the hallways of SPASH. This year’s menu included tandoori chicken tikka, channa massala, paneer sabzi, basmati rice biryani, naan, rayta, chutney & achar and mango ice cream.
The Krebs, who originally heard of Festival of India through the Portage County Cultural Festival held in May, have attended the Festival of India for four years and say they enjoy the cuisine.
“A lot of the things we’ve learned have to do with food,” Debbie Kreb said. “After we went to the festival the first time, we found these recipes online and learned about all the spices and colorings.”
This is the goal of the Festival of India: to enlighten members of the Stevens Point community while providing a spark of hope to the impoverished of India through Shama, Inc.
To learn more:
Shama, Inc.’s Web site: http://www.uwsp.edu/multicultural/shama/index.htm
