After 10 years of hosting the annual summer event, Sawan Mela, in Vancouver, BC the South Asian Family Association thought it was time for a revamp. This year the association is launching Desi Dhamaka, a one day summer event to be held in Surrey’s Holland Park on August 31 from 2pm – midnight (movie screening at approximately 8pm). The event will include 5 hours of multicultural programming, a vendor marketplace, an outdoor Bollywood movie screening and the headlining star Jassi Sidhu, all the way from the UK.
“After celebrating our milestone 10 years in Vancouver, we felt it was time for a change. Moving the festival into the Cultural Capital of Canada is a great way for us to expand our reach across Metro Vancouver as well as reach new audiences,” says Suki Grewal, SAFA President.
In a celebration of cultural harmony, the day’s programming promises to be full of colour, song and dance, great eats and cultural wares. It will culminate with a finale performance by Jassi Sidhu. Sidhu left the bhangra boy band B21 in 2002 to come back to audiences in 2004 with his first solo album “Reality Check.” Since then he has had a blossoming career with three more solo releases. Best known for songs such as ‘Darshan’, ‘Pabi’, Ama Ni Ama’, ‘Ki Kehne’, ‘Raahe Raahe’ and ‘Jaan Mangdhi’, his chart-topping hits have given him a top spot in bhangra music and has established him as a recognized international star having toured across Canada, USA, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Africa and Europe. His newest single after two years is releasing just days before this event and this may just be the audiences opportunity to hear the new track live!
Lastly, the evening will finish with SAFA’s Bollywood Under the Stars outdoor movie screening. The movie of choice this year is the 2009 hit “Dil Bole Hadippa!” starring Rani Mukherji (as Veera) and Shahid Kapoor (as Rohan). A story about gender roles in society, the plot follows a young woman who pretends to be a man to join an all-male cricket team and becomes an integral part of the team. This fun film includes such memorable soundtrack numbers as ‘Discowale Khisko’ and distinct fashions that set trends upon the movie’s release. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, umbrellas and blankets for the screening.
