South Asian Heritage Festival coming to St. Charles
Rao Chilakala, a St. Charles resident originally from Nalgonda, India, has organized the event to promote South Asian businesses and culture.
The fair will include food and information about the many different areas of South Asia, which include India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives."It's not only to promote the culture," he said. "I just want them to feel like they are in their homeland."
Chilakala said that while many of the local associations from each country have festivals throughout the year, he wanted to have an event that would promote the whole region.
"All of the countries have similar food and culture," he said.
Chilakala is hoping as many as 3,000 people show up to the inaugural event that will also bring publicity to local South Asian businesses.
"I hope it helps a new business to start," he said. "It's very hard to survive, and this will give them a platform."
The growing South Asian population in St. Louis has few places to turn for clothing and jewelry, so they usually return to their home countries to buy it, he said.
Chilakala started his own business selling Indian clothing about a year ago. Most of his customers came through word of mouth, but he also sold the clothing at more than 20 cultural festivals around the country last year.
"Look at the Chinese festivals, the Thai festivals," he said. "That made me think, 'let's start doing one here.'"
Chilakala said he has encountered a lot of curiosity about his culture from co-workers at Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Chilakala said he and several other people he works with brought in Indian food to share on India's Independence Day.
He said the fair will be a chance for people to learn more about South Asian culture.
Want to go?
What: South Asian Heritage Fair (will include, jewelry, clothing, food, live music and dancing, a job fair and kids activity center)
When: Sept. 9, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Where: The Columns Banquet and Conference Center, 711 Veterans Memorial Parkway
Cost: Free
Information: 314-496-0685 or www.sahf2007.com
