Community groups being are being invited to stage their own celebrations for Utsav, the Year of South Asian Culture, across Birmingham this summer.
Businesses, community and cultural groups are invited to attend a special briefing event at the Library of Birmingham next week (31 May 2017).
This year marks an important milestone in South Asian history – the 70th anniversary of the UK’s friendship with the Indian subcontinent – but it also presents a great opportunity for communities across the city to come together.
The community briefing – which takes place at 6pm on Wednesday 31 May – will provide information on how groups can get involved in the celebrations by staging their own street party or event during August. The event will also feature performances from arts groups supporting Utsav.
Piali Ray, Director of Sampad – who chairs the Utsav steering group – said: “Utsav 2017 is an open invitation for people across Birmingham to connect with the Year of South Asian Culture and celebrate our city’s rich diversity.
“Sampad is proud to be joining hands with partners, communities and people from all walks of life to share, discover and enjoy the rich tapestry of cultures that exists in every street and neighbourhood of our ambitious world city.”
Our city’s greatest strength is the energy, creativity and diversity of its people and this year in particular presents a real chance to celebrate the contribution of South Asian culture to Birmingham’s past, present and future.
Utsav, which means festival / celebration, was launched in January and features a wide variety of events throughout the year, including the Birmingham Indian Film Festival, Nowka Bais dragon boat races, Big John’s Birmingham Mela and Birmingham Weekender.
To book a FREE ticket to this event, please visit www.eventbrite.co.uk and register by Tuesday 30 May.
Details of all the cultural events confirmed so far can be found at www.utsav17.co.uk
