The largest multi-disciplinary South Asian Arts festival outside of South Asia, Masala! Mehndi! Masti! has celebrated annually for 9 years presenting South Asian culture and South Asian inspired culture in a professional, fun and mainstream environment, downtown Toronto (originally at Harbourfront Centre and now at the CNE grounds).
This spectacular multi-generational presentation connects today’s world with the wonders of 5,000 years of civilization, its ancient traditions and modern influences. Our vision is not only to make South Asians proud of their heritage but to make them proud partners in Canadian culture. It provides an opportunity to established and emerging artists in traditional and contemporary spheres of music, dance, film, theatre, literature and poetry, natural health practices, social issues, cuisine, arts & crafts and much more. We open doors to cross cultural collaborations and diverse thinking.
The facts:
- Attendance growth: 25,000 to over 100,000, from 2001 – 2009
- Free entry and over 80 free events/performances each year 4 stages, film theatre, art gallery, 12 restaurants, 24 vendors, kids camp, workshops & seminars Artists from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, UK, Trinidad, Pakistan, India, US Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and across Canada
- Sponsors have included: Rogers, TD Canada Trust, OMNI TV, General Motors, Toronto Star, State Farm Insurance, Telus Mobility, Royal Bank of Canada, Sumeet Kitchen Machines, Knorr Foods, J.W. Marriot Hotel, Patak’s, Magic Feet Canada and various media sponsors
- Grant support: Heritage Canada, Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Trillium Foundation, British Council, Ontario Ministry of Tourism Programming partners: FILMI Film Festival, South Asian Visual Arts Collective (SAVAC), Coalition of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA), Alliance for South Asian Aids Prevention (ASAAP), South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO), South Asian Women’s Centre (SAWC) and the Masala! Mehndi! Masti! Programming Team.
Today, South Asian culture is the hippest thing shaking the planet; from Bollywood to classical music, haute couture to hot cuisine. This big wave of culture will not just make a mark on arts and entertainment, but with India becoming an economic super power and South Asians succeeding in every industry they enter, the populace has become more influential, socially, economically and politically. South Asians make up the largest visible minority group in the Greater Toronto Area (source: STATSCAN).
Come celebrate with us! ‘Global South Asians, Proud Canadians!’
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