India Live in downtown core today
Vancouver: A Vancouver based not-for-profit; the South Asian Family Association is bringing the culture of India to the downtown core. India Live will highlight cultural activities of the Indian diaspora through music, dance, art and sport from 12-8pm on Saturday, August 27 on the 700 and 800 blocks of Granville Street.
This year the South Asian Family Association will kick off the event with the legendary King of Bhangra, Malkit Singh! He will take the stage at 1:30 pm and ignite Granville street with the sounds of his superhit songs such as “Gur Nalo Ishq Mitha”, “Tootak Tootak Tootiyan”, “Kurri Garam Jayee”, “Hey Jamalo”, “Chal Hun”, and “Jind Mahi”, the latter two from the soundtrack to the popular film Bend it Like Beckham.
Malkit Singh was the first Punjabi singer honoured with the Member of Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), presented to him by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in London. His many accolades include being the first singer and the first Asian recipient of a place on the Birmingham Walk of Stars. He was also recognized as the biggest selling Bhangra artist in the world in the Millennium Edition of the Guinness Book of World Records in 2000.
Besides Malkit Singh, on the main stage, the event focuses on providing a highlight of Canadian talent. With so many amazing artists in our local community, the event will showcase performance pieces that vary from traditional to modern in style. There are the vocal sensations, the dynamic duo of the South Asian Community: Nishant Sharma and Kirti Arneja, who will take us on a journey through some of the best Punjabi and Bollywood classics. There will also be a Time Travel dance segment where the multi talented Nishant Sharma, the beautiful Nancy Bhullar and the Bollywood drama queen Karima Essa take us through the ages of Bollywood as showcased through dance.
Other artists on stage include renowned tabla and ghazal master; Cassius Khan (www.cassiuskhan.com), Sharanjeet Singh Mand on the Sitar, and Abhishek Iyer playing Harmonium; all accompanying Amika Khushwaha as she mesmerizes the audience with her grace and elegance dancing kathak. India Live 2016 would just not be the same without the sounds of the Dhol played by South Asian Arts and a Bhangra performance by Vancity Bhangra along with another power packed Bollywood performance by the world’s largest Bollywood Dance School, Shiamak Vancouver whose energy and enthusiasm will make you want to get up and dance along to their beats.
Throughout the rest of the street, attendees will have the opportunity to get more interactive and join in with physical activities such as yoga classes, Bhangra 101, Gatka (an Indian martial art) demonstrations by the Guru Nanak Sikh Academy, Cricket lessons and much more. They will also be able to participate by creating a large scale rangoli run by Raj Thandhi of Pink Chai Living, have their hands adorned with henna tattoos, dress up in South Asian outfits in front of our photo backdrop, dance along with a live music from MiB Roadshow and explore cultural goods through a small vendor marketplace.
