The vibrant colours and flavours of the subcontinent meet the equally riotous Lan Kwai Fong in Hong Kong’s first Incredible India Festival. Organised by the Lan Kwai Fong Association in collaboration with the Indian consulate, the event promises a kaleidoscope of music, dance, art and cuisine over the weekend of March 15 and 16.
The festival will begin with a lively baraat, a traditional Indian wedding procession. Weaving through the streets of Lan Kwai Fong, the parade of dancers and musicians will wend its way past food stalls offering dishes that span the diverse cuisines of the vast country, such as spicy curries, pani puri and biryani from the Michelin-recommended Bombay Dreams, and podi idli, a protein-rich south Indian breakfast dish, from Sangeetha Vegetarian Restaurant. Spiced chai will also be available.
Overseeing the festivities on D’Aguilar Street is a seven-metre-tall mural by Kerala-based artist Adarsh Appukkuttan, which blends traditional Keralan motifs with iconic Hong Kong skyscrapers.
Food stalls will be offering dishes that span the diverse cuisines of India at the festival in Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong. Photo: courtesy India Festival
Over at the Lan Kwai Fong Amphitheatre on Wo On Lane, a host of high-energy cultural performances will take place, including classical Indian music recitals and dance performances. Kathak and Kuchipudi dancers, hailing from two of the eight major Indian dance traditions, are set to mesmerise audiences with their intricate footwork and expressive storytelling. For those eager to join in, Bollywood dance and garba workshops will be held on the evenings of March 15 and 16, respectively.
Elsewhere, guests can adorn their hands with traditional henna designs, enjoy screenings of Indian blockbusters, such as Hindi biographical sports drama Dangal (2016) and the Telugu-language historical epic RRR (2022), and explore the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda remedies.
Yoga workshops are being held at the India Festival in Hong Kong, albeit against backgrounds very different to this one. Photo: courtesy India Festival
If dressing up is your thing, make your way to the booth of spiritual community ISKCON Hong Kong to don traditional Indian attire and snap photos in front of a beautifully decorated Indian chariot.
“The canvas of Indian culture is so rich and diverse that it was felt that there should be an attempt to bring it all together over a packed, exciting weekend,” says Satwant Khanalia, consul general of India. “We hope this will bring Indian art and culture to an accessible space for all Hongkongers, and foster an appreciation and better understanding of India’s rich cultural heritage that goes back millennia.”
