The Indian spice story
Spices have long been intertwined with India’s trade history. Black pepper, cardamom,
cloves, and cinnamon were highly valued in Europe and eventually drove the
Portuguese explore Vasco da Gama to land on the shores of India. What is it about
these spices that made them so valuable? How have spices shaped traditional regional
Indian cuisine? Dive into the aromatic sea of Indian spices at this talk and walk out with
a “secret” recipe or two!
Presenter: Nikhat Khan and Taruja Borker
March 20, Thursday, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Herbert C Young Community Center
May 3, Saturday, Eva Perry library, 3:30 to 4:30 pm
Sept 7, Sunday, Cary Regional Library, 2 pm to 4 pm
Bollywood 101
You know Hollywood but what is Bollywood? Is there a connection? Allow us to
demystify
Bollywood for you. Join us for a fun, interactive session as we walk you through the
typical themes of Hindi-language films, their song-and-dance routines, their mirroring of
the realities of Indian society, and more! Here’s your chance to ask all the questions you
have always wanted to but didn’t know to whom. This presentation will be led by a
creative Triangle-based dancer and actress who also has her own dance studio.
Presenter: Sanskrit Inamdar and team
May 22, Thursday, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Herbert C Young Community Center
Madhubani Art
Madhubani art, known for their fine, intricate patterns, often featuring themes from
nature, mythology, and folklore, is believed to have been first developed by women in
rural Bihar, India, to decorate the walls of their homes, especially during weddings and
special occasions. Want to learn more about it? Register for this free workshop.
Presenter: Manisha Goel
June 5, Thursday, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Good Hope Farm
Breath, Mindfulness, and Gut health: Your path to wellbeing
Mindfulness emphasizes being fully present in the moment, observing thoughts and
feelings without judgment, and responding to situations with awareness.
Decades of neuroscience studies show the power of mindfulness to relieve stress,
awaken our positive capacities, and bring balance to our lives. Mindfulness gives us the
power to meet any situation wisely, to be fully present, and to operate with
compassion. This workshop includes guided practices to develop awareness, work with
breath and body in a mindful way, and develop a wiser relationship to life as it unfolds.
Did you know that the gut is often called the “second brain”? In this session, we’ll dive
into the fascinating world of gut health, exploring how the gut-brain connection impacts
overall well-being. Discover how daily choices—like food, stress management, and
lifestyle—affect your gut, and learn simple, effective ways to restore balance. Walk away
with practical insights to nurture you gut and boost overall well being.
Presenters: Pallavi Jois and Manisha Goel
June 26, Thursday, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Herbert C Young Community Center
Indian Marriage Traditions
Indian weddings are often multi-day events, full of pomp and color, love and laughter,
and music and dance! Each region has its own unique marriage customs, costumes,
and cuisine. But the overarching common thread is the coming together of two families,
not just two individuals. Join us for a fascinating journey into the heart of an Indian
wedding set in a traditional “mandap” or focal area of the festivities.
Presenter: Nikhat Khan and team
July 24, Thursday, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Page Walker Art &History Center
India: Unity in Diversity
A county of multiple faiths (officially 6) and languages (officially 22) , “unity in diversity”
is a lived fact of everyday life in India. What is it that keeps the rhythm of life going amid
such confounding diversity? What does it mean to be Indian? What is the common
thread that defines the India story? What is Sanskrit, the classical mother language,
from which many other languages are derived? Let us help answer these and other
questions about “Bharat”, the traditional name for India!
Presenter: TBD
August 14, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Page Walker Arts & History Center
Kolam Art
Kolams are beautiful patterns made up of lines that flow through and around grids of dots made
of rice flour which are then joined to take the form of a symmetrical shape or a regular polygon.
Traditionally drawn by women on the threshold of a house or business as a symbol of
auspiciousness, the kolam is considered as the meeting point of the internal and the external.
Each dot, line, curve, interlinking design, circle, triangle and square, has a symbolic value
representing the basic energies of the universe. In kolams, no dot is left unconnected or hanging.
The grid of dots is based on the Fibonacci series and algebraic and numeric principles and the
kolam epitomizes geometrical properties of symmetry, periodicity, and recursion.
Join our kolam artists to learn more!
Presenters: Veena Kannan and Rohini M
Sept 18, Thursday, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Cary Arts Center
Costumes of India
Discover the mindboggling range of everyday and festive costumes for Indian men,
women, and children at this presentation. The sari may be the most recognizable of
Indian garments for women, but did you know that there is more than one way in which
it is draped? Would you like to try out one of these styles and take a picture for keeps?
Spend a fun evening exploring the world of Indian fashions!
Oct 24, Friday, 6:30pm to 8:30 pm, Cary Arts Center
Presenters: Hum Sub team and volunteers
Indian folklore through puppetry
Puppet shows remain a favorite form of storytelling in India to this day. Traditionally,
Indian mythology has been passed down generations though the spoken rather than
written word. Indian society has relied heavily on stories to sustain its culture and
identity. Come and enjoy this unique session that will take an innovative approach to
tell a well-loved tale through puppets.
Presenter: Sridevi Jagannath
Nov 14, Friday, 6:30pm to 8:30 pm, Cary Arts Center