NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, The Hon John Ajaka MLC, and Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Councillor Scott Lloyd, today officially launched the full event program for Parramasala 2015.

 

This is the sixth year of Parramasala, a free festival celebrating the many cultures of western Sydney.

The free event will take place from Friday 23 October to Sunday 25 October 2015 in Parramatta’s Prince Alfred Square and at Wigram Street, Harris Park.

 

Parramasala 2015 presents a more diverse range of cultures than ever before, with more than 36 cultures and nationalities represented through dance, music, art, food and theatre.

 

This year’s festival will also host the inaugural India Tourism Week with an India Tourism Pavilion in Prince Alfred Square, Parramatta and a Saturday morning program has also been added in Prince Alfred Square.

 

Three international acts will appear at Parramasala 2015:

–        Rajasthani Folk Group ‘Prakash Kala Prashikashan Sansthan’ and ‘Debapriya Adhikary and Samanwaya Sarkar’, a vocal and sitar duo, are both appearing at Parramasala with the support of the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations)

–        Angikā – Contemporary Kathak Expression, performed by Sanjukta Sinha and produced by IceCraft Creations will premiere in Australia at the Lennox Theatre on Saturday 24 October and is part of Parramasala with the support of the Government of Gujarat.

 

Minister Ajaka said the NSW Government is proud to support a festival that celebrates the cultural diversity of Sydney and more broadly, Australian society.

 

“As a leading cultural celebration in NSW, Parramasala plays a vital role in bringing people and cultures together through a shared appreciation of music, food, dance, art and much more,” Minister Ajaka said.

 

“Events like Parramasala help us learn about each other to appreciate what makes us different and discover what makes us the same. Through these experiences we can work towards building a harmonious society that embraces many cultures and enriches our lives.”

 

More than 600 people are expected to take part in the popular Opening Night Street Parade on Friday 23 October.  The Parade starts at Parramatta Town Hall, dances its way along Church Street and culminates in Prince Alfred Square where an Official Opening Ceremony and Concert will take place.

 

Parramasala has also specially commissioned ‘Fire and Earth’ by Sydhwaney Productions in association with eminent Western Sydney Indian classical dance schools.

 

Lord Mayor of Parramatta Cr Scott Lloyd said Parramasala is a true highlight on the City’s event calendar and draws thousands of visitors every year.

 

“Parramasala is a vibrant, fun festival that celebrates the diversity of cultures we have here in Parramatta,” said Cr Lloyd.

 

“The event offers something for everyone from fantastic musical and dance performances, to delicious foods offering flavours from around the world. I encourage people to come and see what Parramasala has to offer.”

 

Other highlights of Parramasala 2015 include:

 

• On Friday afternoon, the markets in Prince Alfred Square will open from 12noon, allowing people to wander through on their lunch break and begin gathering in the park.

 

• The Friday Opening Night Street Parade in Parramatta will feature a singalong of the special Parramasala song ‘Mida Wawasi (Welcome)’.

 

• Friday night in Prince Alfred Square will feature Marsala world music, western Sydney hip hop group Soul Benefits and Colombian dance band Cumbiamuffin.

 

• Saturday in Prince Alfred Square starts with yoga, meditation and ancient vocal practises, Balinese Gamelan and dance, plus breakfast at Morning Masala from 8:30am.

 

• Saturday afternoon in Prince Alfred Square features performances reflecting Indian, Chinese, Kurdish, Indonesian, Macedonian, Uruguayan, Hungarian and Syrian cultures.

 

• The India Tourism Pavilion will showcase performer workshops and a Chai Tea Stall – meet Indian performers, learn about their culture and find out more about the instruments and dance movements.

 

• On Saturday night, the ladies take over the stage for Masala Divas at Parramatta with performers includingBaby et Lulu and Sirens Big Band.

 

• The Flavours of the World Spice Market takes over the streets of Harris Park on Saturday night, where Curry Puff Daddy will add some hip-hop heat on stage. There’s also Indian drummers, special guest Rajasthani folk groupPrakash Kala Prashikashan Sansthan, Lebanese zaffee, Syrian dance, ribbon dancers, Indigenous didgeridoo and beats from Gumaroy, North Indian folk dance Bhangra All-Stars, Sousaphonics, Coco Varma and Ethnocyberfunkall putting their own flavour into the Harris Park mix.

 

• Sunday afternoon in Prince Alfred Square offers music and dance of Spanish, Ghanaian, Bangladeshi, Indigenous, Mexican, Chinese, Croatian, Indian and more cultures. There’s pop-up flamenco, Bollywood flash mobs, a funky harp, tabla players and more.  Shop the markets, find out how to use spices, meet a camel and pile your plate with food from around the world.

 

• Sunday night the festival wraps up with crowd favourites Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra, an 11 piece orchestra assembled from Western Sydney and featuring artists from cultures including Mongolian, Mexican, Singaporean, Vietnamese, Aboriginal, Croatian, Iranian, Malaysian, Uyghurian and Ghanaian.

 

• A celebration of South Asian cinema from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand and our very own Australia is on at Cinema Thali in Raffertys Theatre. The festival will include the winner of the My Masala film competition celebrating young Australian short stories.

 

 

• The photography exhibition Adorned will be staged in the Courtyard of Riverside Theatres. Adorned features photographs by Liam Benson in partnership with Parramatta Artist Studios and the WeAve Project which brings together women from across Parramatta’s diverse cultural community through creative workshops.

 

• Two events are being held under the umbrella of Parramasala:

–       Love Desire and Riches – The Fashion of Weddings: an exhibition presented by the National Trust, at Old Government House Parramatta Park, Parramatta

–       Bollywood Movie Festival presented at Event Cinemas, Westfield Parramatta

 

Full details of the Parramasala program can be found at www.parramasala.com.

 

Follow Parramasala on Twitter and Instagram @parramasala or Like us on Facebook

 

ENDS.

Attached:  Full performance schedule for Parramasala 2015

Media contacts for Parramasala 2015:  Nicole Browne   0414 673 762    or   Sonia Gandhi    0414 497 791

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

 

There are 36 nationalities and cultures represented in performances at Parramasala 2015, including:

 

 

 

ASIA

–       India

–       Nepal

–       Singapore

–       Indonesia, including Balinese

–       Mongolia

–       Vietnamese

–       Sri Lanka

–       Bangladesh

–       China

–       Uyghur

 

OCEANIA

–       Fiji

–       Indigenous Australian

–       Australian

–       New Zealand

 

AFRICA

–       Kenya

–       West African

–       Ghana

 

NORTH AMERICA

–       Mexico

 

MIDDLE EAST

–       Afghan

–       Assyrian

–       Syria

–       Lebanese

–       Kurdish

–       Iran

–       Sudan

 

SOUTH AMERICA

–       Colombia

–       Uruguay

–       Brazil

–       Peru

 

EUROPE

–       Armenia

–       Bulgarian

–       Spain

–       Serbia

–       Croatia

–       Macedonian/Anatolian

–       Hungarian

 

 

• There are 26 performance groups from Western Sydney taking part in Parramasala 2015 & Western Sydney groups represent 74% of all performers at the Festival.

 

• Of the performers taking part in Parramasala 2015:

 

–      28% are from the Asian subcontinent (11% of this is from India)

–      19% are from Europe

–      17% are from the Middle East

–      11% are from Oceania

–      11% are from Africa

–      11% are from South America

–      3% are from North America

 

 

• There are more than 30 food stalls at Parramasala 2015 offering a range of cuisines including:

 

–        Nepalese

–        Turkish

–        Malaysian

–        European

–        German

–        Jamaican

–        North Indian

–        South Indian