Feature Story
TANTALIZE YOUR TASTE BUDS AT TAMPA INTERNATIONAL CURRY FESTIVAL SEPT. 17
Signature curry creations prepared by chefs from around the world, including India, Guyana, China, Thailand, Africa, Canada, England, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United States will leave your taste buds watering Sept. 17. That’s when the Tampa International Curry Festival will be held at Bayanihan Arts and Event Center in Tampa.
The Tampa International Curry Festival (TBICF) and host Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel Foundation are presenting foods, specifically created beers and wines pairings and be educated on the spices of India and from around the world. The evening will be filled with food presentations, silent auction, fabulous entertainment acts from around the world featuring England’s newest sensation recording artist, Sonna Rele. Mingle with American Idol winner and super vocalist Ruben Studdard and Donnie Klang and many other artist and local celebrities.
As a kickoff the night before, a Black Tie event will take place Friday, Sept. 16, featuring curry dishes, special wine and beer tasting and pairings at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road. Tickets are $150 per person and $250.00 for couples. Proceeds go to various charities.
The Tampa International Curry Festival team.
On Sept. 17, the Tampa International Curry Festival will showcase a myriad of national, local chefs, restaurants, individuals and caterers vying to claim the first-place cash prize of $5,000 but most important the bragging rights of having the best curry at the Tampa Bay Curry Cook Off.
Master chefs will spotlight a variety of curry cuisines, food preparation seminars and demonstrations, music performances, and adult beverages that are paired with curries. The festival will feature local bands such as Geetanjali, Strange Brew, Vain Rachel, mega entertainer Sonna Rele of London, Donnie Klang of New York, and Roach Killa of Canada, Mr. Majestic, Jamaica and headliner American Idol winner Ruben Studdard.
The festival will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Bayanihan Arts and Event Center, 14301 Nine Eagles Drive. It is free to attend till 3 p.m.; thereafter, cost is $10.
Event proceeds will benefit various organizations and charities that help support global education and world hunger in Asia and throughout the world.
For information or to sign up for the competition, call Ram Jakhotia at (813) 863-3048, Dr. Sadhana Ramcharran at (727) 798-4258, 1-855-LUV-CURI or visit www.tbicf.com
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News
DANCE TO THE BEAT OF DHOL AND DANDIYA
Here are some of the Florida communities celebrating Navratri:
ORLANDO/CASSLBERRY
The Gujarati Society of Central Florida will hold Garba from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 7-8 at Lyman High School, 865 S. Ronald Reagan Blvd., Longwood. Performing groups are Lakhia Brothers and Raj Pandya. It is free for society members. For information, call Nilkanth Kapadia at (407) 832-3835, Sunil Patel at (407) 474-4773, Sunil Panchal at (386) 479-3055, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.gujaratisocietycfl.com
Also, the Hindu Society of Central Florida (HSCF) temple will present Navratri at 8 p.m. from Sept. 28 to Oct. 6 with evening and midnight pujas, garba and dandiya dance in the community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry. Snacks will be available at the canteen stall. For more information, call the temple at (407) 699-5277, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.hindutempleorlando.org
And Maa Durga Sri Sai Baba Temple will present Navratri Garba & Raas from 8:30 p.m. to midnight (10:30 p.m. aarti) at JCC Hall, 11184 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, which is in close vicinity to the temple. Performing will be a seven-star group from Ahmedabad. On Oct. 4, Raj and Smruti Pandya Group from Chicago will perform. For information, call (407) 437-6709, (407) 461-8174, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.durgasaitemple.org
TAMPA BAY AREA
The Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay will celebrate Navratri over two weekends on Friday, Sept. 30, and Sunday, Oct. 2, at India Cultural Center (ICC), 5511 Lynn Road. The Saturday, Oct. 1, Navratri will be at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 N. U.S. 301. Musicians will be Hemant Chauhan and group. The festival of nine nights also will be held on Friday, Oct. 7, and Sunday, Oct. 9, at ICC. On Saturday, Oct. 8, the garba will be at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Musicians will be Lalit Sodha and group. The event is free for Samaj members. Non-members pay $20 per night and students pay $10 per night. For more information, call Samaj President Dr. Ashok Modh at (813) 935-3439 or visit www.gujaratisamaj.org
Devi Navratri begins Sept. 27 at the Hindu Temple of Florida, 5509 Lynn Road. For information, call (813) 962-6890.
The Sanatan Mandir at 311 E. Palm Ave. will celebrate Sharad Navratri from Sept. 8 through Oct. 5. For details, call the temple at (813) 221-4482.
Also, SOIKOT (Bengali Society of Tampa Bay) will hold a Durga Puja on Oct. 8-9 at ICC on Lynn Road in Tampa. Performing on Oct. 9 will be the popular Bangla band Bhoomi. For more information, call Jyotirmoy Sarkar at (813) 971-0564, Raja Sarker at (813) 994-5834, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.soikot.org
SOUTH FLORIDA
PEMBROKE PINES: The Indian Religious & Cultural Center (IRCC) will celebrate Navratri 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 7-8 at Silver Trail Middle School, 18300 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines. For more information, call Sanjay Gupta at (954) 461-4003 or visit www.irccflorida.com
SUNRISE: The Bengali Association of South Florida is organizing Durga Pujo Oct. 1-2 at Westpine Middle School, 9393 N.W. 50th St. (just south of Commercial Boulevard near the Sawgrass Expressway, in between Nob Hill Road and Pine Island Road). Flossix live band and Torsha Sarkar of “Indian Idol” fame will perform Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 respectively. For details, call (954) 646-5957, (954) 646-8238, email [email protected] or visit www.basfl.org
OAKLAND PARK: The Shiva Mandir, 3000 N.W. 29th Ave., Oakland Park, will hold a Navratri Yagya from 6:30 p.m. till 9 p.m. Sept. 27 through Oct. 6. For more information, call (954) 735-3560, (954) 854-6929, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.fhosm.com
MELBOURNE
The Indian Association of the Space Coast will hold Navratri celebrations Oct. 1, Oct. 8 and Oct. 15 at Viera High School, 6103 Stadium Parkway, Viera (incorporated part of Melbourne area). For more information, call Hitesh Patel at (321) 961-7776 or visit www.iascbrevard.com
BARTOW/WINTER HAVEN
The Bhartiya Samaj of Central Florida will celebrate Navratri on Sept. 23-24, Sept. 30, Oct. 1, Oct. 7-9, at Bartow Civic Center, 2250 S. Floral Ave., Bartow. For more information, call Jayant J. Patel at (863) 802-1868 or Sandeep Bosmia at (863) 205-5929 or visit www.bscfl.com
DAYTONA BEACH/ORMOND BEACH
The Indian Cultural Society of Daytona will hold Garba/Dandiya Raas 7 to 11:30 p.m. Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 7-8, at South Ormond Neighborhood Center, 176 Division Ave., Ormond Beach. For more information, call President Rita Patel at (386) 795-0008 or visit www.icsdaytona.com
Children at an Ekal-sponsored school in India.
Orlando Hosts Ekal’s National Conference Sept.16-18
The Ekal Vidyalaya USA’s Florida chapter will host the organization’s annual national conference Sept. 16-18 at Park Square Homes, 5200 Vineland Road, in Orlando. It will bring together participants from all over North America to review the past events and discuss plans for future fundraising and program goals. The non-profit and tax-exempt organization is “dedicated to education and village development in rural India”. Ekal's philosophy is to take a holistic approach to economic development by sending one trained teacher who can educate the children in the 3Rs, train the villagers better health techniques and teach sustainable farming methods.
All it takes to support a school for a year is $365, and by holding fundraising events throughout the United States and India, Ekal has collected donations for almost 30,000 schools in rural and tribal areas of India and educated more than 800,000 children.
The Ekal conference organizers have included time for open house for anyone who would like more information, talk with representatives and see the exhibits; people are welcome to stop by from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 16 and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 17.
For more information, visit www.ekal.org
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