The spring edition of ArohaFest will take place in Ottawa this May, highlighting different aspects of Indian and South Asian culture.
The two-day event will kick off with a pair of free performances of Indian styles of dance, including kathak and bharatanatyam. The second day will feature free workshops on yoga, bhangra, and Bollywood dancing. Attendees can also take part in activities like henna painting and a community mural. There will be a visual arts exhibit featuring the work of local creators like Johanne Richer and Jayanthi Dunn, and a dance party hosted by DJ Vjay. Other participating organizations include the Jegatheeswaralaya Fine Arts Centre and the Gujarati Cultural Association of Ottawa.
The festival will conclude with a paid multidisciplinary show, featuring dances as well as a multilingual, semi-classical vocal performance by the Dhwani Ottawa choir. The festival is produced by dancer and choreography Anjali Patil and dancer Geoffrey Dollar, and will be presented in a bilingual manner. Festivals like this often use methods like banner printing and other decoration to create an atmosphere that can transport the visitor to another country. The goal is to promote local connectivity and encourage people to become involved with dance and other cultural activities.
The 2025 ArohaFest will take place on May 2 and 3, with all events taking place at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Ottawa.
