• 3^rd Regional Festival of India @ Matthews 
  
  • Date: April 27, 2024, Noon - 6PM
  • Location: Stumptown Park in Matthews, 120 S Trade St., Matthews, NC 28105
  • For any questions contact the FOI PR Lead:
  • Himanshu Gupta <iac.prinitiatives@gmail.com>, Cell: (704)-425-9866

Indian clothes are very colorful and have gained immense popularity all around the word. The quintessential Indian dress for women is the  ageless Saree, with Salwar Kameez growing as a more pragmatic choice in modern times.

The Saree has been a favorite of Indian women over the millenia and is normally six meters long, although that can vary some for custom designs. The Saree is draped around the waist with one end going over the shoulders, and the other around the waist. The Saree is worn along with a Petticoat and a Blouse. The Petticoat is the inner wear below the waist area while the Blouse covers the top body area and the Saree is draped over it. The Saree flatters any shape and highlights grace, elegance and the essence of Indian tradition. The Saree has variants from various states across India, with different fabrics, prints and embroidery.

The Salwar Kameez dates back to the 12th century and has evolved with new designs, styles, to cater to the taste of modern Indian and Western women. Variations of this are worn for casual living, office wear, wedding, parties, and other functions. The Salwar Kameez has three components - the trouser called Salwar that is tied by a string, the top shirt called Kameez, which flows down to the knees, and the Dupatta that is a free flowing fabric about two meters long.

Indian Jewellry is worn at home, work and at special events like weddings. Indian Jewelry has been an intrinsic part of Indian culture & heritage, and when worn during a weddings or festivals, is considered very auspicious and signifies the richness or status of the person wearing it. Mostly the jewelry is made from 22 carat gold with inlayed precious stones like diamonds, rubies & kundan to make it even more attractive. Indian Jewelry offers a variety of designs from traditional Indian to modern Western styles and includes necklaces, earrings, nose rings, anklets, and bangles or bracelet.

The concept of decorating our homes with handicrafts, is a tradition that has been alive and thriving for thousands of years in India. Handicraft artifacts, which represent richness of Indian cultural heritage, values and customs, help make an Indian home connect with one’s roots. One of the world's oldest handicrafts is Dhokra - a sort of metal casting that has been used in India for over 4,000 years.

Animal images particularly elephants, a symbol of prosperity, are used in very many decorative artifacts. Variety of handcrafted products inspired by arts like Blue Pottery, Dhokra, Meenakari, Bamboo & Cane craft, Wooden Carvings, Ceramic art, Kantha Embroidery and Block Printing are also very popular. There are unique designs in décor that include wall hangings, carved wooden figurines, wall paintings, traditional Indian paintings, and a lot more, that give a home a spectacular look.