“Mela ‘23,” a new arts gala celebrating Asian culture, will unfold at 5:30 p.m. at April 15 The Commons, 300 Washington St., in downtown Columbus.
The word Mela refers to an Indian festival, fair or gathering. Bartholomew County is home to more than 500 families and as many as 2,000 people including visitors from India, according to the organizing Hindu Society of Southern Indiana working in association with the South Asian Network on the gathering.
Rajkumar Subramanian, an India native who is helping promote the event, explained the idea behind the gathering.
“South Asians practice a rich set of cultural traditions that includes great food, fun, and hospitality,” he said. “Columbus is home to many families from the south Asian region.
“By organizing an annual gala evening, we want to provide an opportunity for the local community to experience the richness of the South Asian culture. The evening not only combines dance, music, food, and people connections, but also aims to raise funds for good causes.”
Part of the proceeds will go to the Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation, according to organizers.
The event will include drinks, dinner, dancing, additional performances and more, according to mela23.com, the effort’s website. Reservations are available there for $100 per person.
In the past, heavily India-themed events, from street celebrations to the Ganesh Festivals, have been among the best attended programs in Columbus the past decade, and have attracted everyone from Columbus natives to visitors beyond the city.
For tickets
To obtain tickets, visit mela23.com.
