Parramatta is the home of a three-day a festival of cultures
MORE than 40 cultures will come together for a three-day festival at Parramatta next month.
Parramatta
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PARRAMATTA will be home to a celebration of multiculturalism next month, featuring food, music, dance and theatre from more than 40 cultures.
Parramasala began in 2010 as an Indian festival but has since evolved to become a celebration of Sydney, and the west’s, cultural diversity.
Festival director Paul Osborne has brought together performing artists from Sydney and around the globe to take part in the eighth annual Parramasala, which will be held from March 9-11.
“In 2018 we are thrilled to present a Parramasala program made up of local and international acts that is rich in colour and full of energy, representing all corners of the globe,” he said.
“More importantly, we have captured the essence of the true Sydney, the international flavour of our city, present in our extraordinary cuisine, the diversity of our artists, the beauty of dance and our incredible musicians.”
Osborne, who studied anthropology, said he has “always had a love of culture” and enjoyed pulling together aspects from a range of cultures.
“To me the festival is about holding up a mirror to Sydney,” he said.
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This year’s program includes Grammy award-winning artists Tinariwen and Hiatus Kaiyote, the Dreamgirls of Bollywood, and Masala Nights — World Dance Congress, a journey around the world through dance.
The festival will begin with a welcome parade featuring more than 500 performers winding from Parramatta Town Hall to Prince Alfred Square where the opening ceremony will take place.
The festival program was launched in Parramatta last Friday, where Parramatta Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson thanked the Indian community for being “the backbone” of Parramasala over the years.
“The (Parramasala) slogan is ‘Many Cultures, One Sydney’ and if ever there was a term that applied to one suburb of Sydney, that would be Parramatta,” he said.
NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Ray Williams also attended the launch, where he announced an additional $600,000 of State Government funding - creating a total of “some $2.2 million of investment” from 2016 until 2020.
“Because we recognise the importance of this cultural festival, we recognise the importance of bringing people together,” he said.
Mr Williams described Parramasala as “one of the greatest cultural festivals not only in New South Wales but indeed in this country”.
“Some 35,000 people will come and join with us as they do each and every year right here in Parramatta in the beating heart of multiculturalism between the 9th and 11th of March and I can tell you that this year will be bigger and better than ever,” he said.
“We have celebrations of dance, music and food like you’ve never seen before … we have something for everyone.”