An unmissable event in the Lot Valley as spring approaches, the Festival of India returns for its 26th year from March 22 to 24 at the Casseneuil Multipurpose Room.
She spent the weekend decorating the Yves-Duclos space in Casseneuil in the colors of India. Radha Devi and her team of volunteers from the association Laxmi – Indian for “light” – will be mobilized throughout the week to celebrate this country, its traditions and discover all the actions carried out with Indian children. Dance, music, gastronomy and culture will be in the spotlight again this year.
If the general public is expected from 16:00 on Friday, the week will be reserved for schools. “This year there will be nine schools in Greater Villeneuvois and Lot-et-Garonne, but also the Villeneuve Home for the elderly,” rejoices Radha, who is interested in discovering everyday lives of children supported by the association, which was established almost three decades ago. The goal is clear: send money and reconstruct the buildings according to health standards and establish a school there. In 1995, she founded “India Day”, which became the Festival of India in 1998. 26 years later, the event has become unmissable. And above all, uniform.
Saturday color festival
This 2024 edition has a special flavor as the last few months have been marked by inclement weather in India. “Three of our schools were under 1.5 meters of water,” says President Laxmi. “It was very complicated, there were three weeks of flooding. During this period, 1,000 packages were sent through Villeneuve’s structure, Radha even visited the site a few days later. “The houses there are not solid,” he says. To reflect the work of Laxmi – 2,400 children, spread across seven schools in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh – a photo exhibition will be displayed during the festival.
In addition to the exhibition, the India Festival will be punctuated with regular events such as traditional dance and music shows, but also yoga classes and Indian cooking workshops. “Every day will be different,” adds Radha. The second godmother of the association, Karine Salmon, will also be present at the sacred dance demonstration. The highlight of the event is the public is invited to a fireworks display… of colors! As in India, where spring is celebrated for 40 days, participants will throw colored powder at each other: “We will do it on the banks of the Lot, you must dress in white,” warns President Laxmi. A festive moment that will also allow Villeneuvois to welcome sunny days.