35th ANNUAL TAMPA INDIA FESTIVAL NOV. 23

Holding an event successfully for 35 years is truly commendable. Hats off to Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay for the annual India Festival that celebrates Indian culture and heritage. The daylong event will be on Saturday, Nov 23, at the Florida State Fairgrounds. About 8,000 to 10,000 people are expected to attend, according to Event Chair Nikunj Patel. The festival has become one of the biggest and largest in the Southeast in the last three plus decades.

In the Entertainment Hall, performers of all ages will be decked out in traditional attire for four categories of dance competition – garba, raas, folk and bhangra. Throughout the hall, several closed-circuit TV monitors will be set up. This year, one major change will be the shifting of vendors to the nearby Special Events Center. Event Chair Patel informs us that the move is due to damage caused by Hurricane Milton to the Expo Hall where vendors are typically set up. About 200 booths will offer a variety of fashion, jewelry, arts and crafts, and home décor. Just outside the hall, food vendors will offer a variety of Indian delicacies from samosas to chicken tikka to bhel puri and of course everyone’s favorite chai.

Indian-American communities from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Melbourne, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Gainesville and Ocala among others will be participating in dozens of competitions.

India Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa. Tickets are $14 for adults; $12 for children 5 to 12 years. Kids under 5 are free. Parking is $14.

For information, call Nikunj Patel at (727) 804-4513 or visit www.indiafesttampa.org

DIWALI FESTIVITIES CONTINUE IN FLORIDA

TAMPA BAY AREA
Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay is hosting a Diwali dinner from 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10, at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa. The event is exclusively and free for GSTB members only. For information, call GSTB Vice President Bhavik Modi at (813) 557-4555.

Sanatan Mandir in Tampa will hold fireworks and rangoli celebration on Nov. 2. Annakut will be the next day. The mandir is at 311 E. Palm Ave. For information, call (813) 221-4482 or visit www.sanatanmandirtampa.org

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirwill celebration Annakut/New Year on Nov. 2 from noon to 7 p.m. with aarti every hour. Mahaprasad will be served. Kids’ Diwali celebration will be from 1 to 6 p.m. on Nov. 9. BAPS is at 9556 E. Fowler Ave. in Thonotosassa. For details, call (813) 986-5473.

SOUTH FLORIDA
FORT LAUDERDALE: The Indian Regional and Cultural Center will hold its Diwali festivities from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, at Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. The program will include music and dance performances, including bhangra, Bollywood, folk dances. Other attractions are food, fashion, jewelry and henna. For tickets and other information, call Sanjay Gupta at (954) 461-4003 or visit www.irccflorida.org

WEST PALM BEACH/WELLINGTON: And the Palm Beach India Association will hold Diwali dinner and show from 5 p.m. at Palm Beach Central High School, 8499 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. on Nov. 9. The event is free for PBIA members, and $75 for non-members. Visit www.gopbia.org or email [email protected]

ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY/WINDERMERE
Hindu Society of Central Florida (1994 Lake Drive)in Casselberry will celebrate Diwali and Annakut on Saturday, Nov. 2, with several competitions and cultural programs, fireworks. For information, call (407) 574-1814 or visit www.orlandohindutemple.org

Gujarati Society of Central Florida will hold Diwali Celebration 2024 from 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Grand Cypress Resort, One Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando. Festivities include variety of foods, cash bar, kids programs. Cost is $75, $100 and VIP for members, $150 non-members. For information, visit www.gujaratisocietycfl.com or call (407) 797-9407.

The Punjabi Association of Central Florida will hold its annual Diwali celebration from 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at Pines at Windermere, 3409 Maguire Road, Windermere. Cost is $70 adults, $30 kids 6-12 years of age. Social hour begins at 7 with entertainment, dinner and dance from 8 onward. There will be a cash bar. For information, call Shyam Kotwal at (407) 408-9129.

JACKSONVILLE/ST. AUGUSTINE
Gujarati Samaj of North East Florida will present Patel Brothers Diwali 2024 from 3 p.m. at Renaissance World Golf Village 500 Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, on Nov. 10. Members are $15 per person and non-members pay $50. The evening will feature folk and Bollywood performances with entertainment by DJ Pav, and buffet-style Gujarati dinner. For information, call (904) 209-9445 or visit https://www.gsnef.org/

Indian Cultural Society of Jacksonville and Patel Brothers will hold Grand Diwali celebration from 2 p.m. Nov. 17 at Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., #300, Jacksonville. For information, email [email protected] or visit www.jaxics.org

BARTOW/WINTER HAVEN/LAKELAND
Bhartiya Samaj of Central Florida will celebrate Diwali at 6 p.m. on Nov. 3 at Bartow Civic Center, 2250 S. Floral Ave., Bartow. For information, call Subhash Patel at (863) 838-0969 or visit www.bscfl.com

Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple (ISSO), 2793 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, will celebrate New Year and Annakut on Nov. 2. Tulsi Vivah will be on Nov. 23. For information, call (863) 687-4776 or visit www.issolakeland.org

Anoopam Mission, 4685 U.S. 98 S., Lakeland, will celebrate Nutan Varsh Sabha at 6 p.m. on Nov. 2 and Annakut Utsav from 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 9. For information, call (863) 698-8342.

OCALA
India Ocala Association will celebrate Diwali from 6 p.m. Nov. 9 at Cultural and Educational Center, 2030 N.E. 36th Ave. For details, call (352) 575-1111 or visit indiaocala.org

FORT MYERS/NAPLES
India Association of Fort Myers will hold a Diwali Gala from 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers. Cost for adults is $75 members, $100 non-members, $35 kids of members, $50 non-members. To purchase tickets, visit www.iaftmyers.org/diwali-gala02024

India Association of Naples will celebrate Diwali from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Naples Middle School, 16165 Learning Lane, Naples. Highlights include dance performances focusing on history and traditions of Diwali, DJ and a buffet. Tickets are $40 for current members and $15 for their kids, $75 non-members and $40 non-member kids. For information, email [email protected]

MELBOURNE/VIERA (SPACE COAST)
Manav Mandirwill hold Diwali celebrations (Laxmi Puja, fireworks) at 5 p.m. on Nov. 1 and Annakut Utsav the next day. The temple is at 7400 Waelti Drive, Melbourne. For information, call (321) 426-0668 or visit www.mmbrevard.org