The Indian Summer Festival is a celebration of modern India. An expressive, free thinking, creative and open minded India – the India of today. The Indian Summer Festival, a collaboration between the Victorian Government and Cricket Australia, will launch for the Bupa Family Day on the 23rd December, which will see both the Indian Test Team and the Australian Test Team making an appearance on stage . The main festival days will then coincide with the Domain Boxing Day Test Match vs India on the 26th and 27th December.
The Indian Summer Festival is based on five shared cultural pillars which are Food, music, art, film and cricket. Attendees will be able to enjoy live music from an array of international music talent, modern Indian street art painted by Indian and Melbournian artists, a host of family cricket activities, along with some of the best modern Indian food in Australia and even an open-air cinema screen showing short Bollywood films and music.
Food & Beverage:
It goes without saying that Indian food is a focal point of Indian culture. In the modernization of Indian culture we have seen more experimental fusion food come to popularity, something also reflected in Melbourne’s dining scene with the likes of Tonka and Horn Please. The Indian Summer Festival will showcase a selection of the best modern Indian restaurants along with a mixture of Indian food trucks and market stalls offering a variety of Indian flavours.
· Adam D'Sylva
Adam D'Sylva is one of the most prominent Melbournian chefs who owns two restaurants in Melbourne. He also been featured on MasterChef Australia and is known for changing perceptions of Indian food. He is constantly experimenting with modern techniques and ancient traditions. He has won multiple awards including The Age Good Food Guide's Young Chef of the Year title back in 2008. Adam has built himself an enviable culinary reputation in Melbourne.
Adam is the ambassador at Indian Summer Festival. Yarra Park will showcase the best of modern India with food trucks, market stalls, art & film and live music during the Australia and India test match. He will be creating Cricket Australia’s corporate hospitality menu at the Boxing Day Test. Other chefs involved are Indian-born Jessi Singh (Horn Please/Babuji fame) and Masterchef winner, Singaporean-Indian Sashi Cheliah (Gaja by Sashi)
· Chai Walli
Chai Walli is a Melbourne-based chai business specialising in high grade Ayurvedic Indian teas. Hand crafted by Founder, Uppma Virdi, our products are completely natural, Ayurvedic, sugar free, preservative free, vegan and have caffeine free options. Starting from humble beginnings, blending teas in Uppma's family home kitchen, Chai Walli teas are now a house hold favourite. Now Chai Walli has been blessed to win numerous awards, allowing it to grow into a team of Chai Crusaders.
· Two Fat Indians
Established in May 2006, brothers Khush and Michael founded Two Fat Indians. While the name pays a cheeky homage to the appetite of the two brothers, the real passion for authentic Indian cuisine comes from the brothers Father, Chef Ajit Singh. Since they were little boys, Khush and Michael grew up helping their Father in the kitchen, learning all the traditional Indian cooking methods and tricks to create delicious food and it is these learned skills and passion that make Two Fat Indians what is today; a place to eat, drink and be happy.
Art:
The Indian street art scene is booming, with artists expressing their culture, creativity and identity through beautiful public artworks. Walking the streets of New Delhi you will see an amazing array of modern street art, much like Melbourne’s iconic laneways.
· The ST+ART India Foundation have been responsible for much of this rejuvenation and they will also be part of the Indian Summer Festival. They will be collaborating with local Melbourne street artists 90 degrees to transform a shipping container park into a modern Indian art installation.
Music:
Melbourne is the music capital of Australia and vibrant music is engrained in Indian heritage. Recently there has been a shift in the Indian music landscape, with genres such as hip hop, RnB, dance, alternative and rock growing in popularity in India and many artists putting a distinctly Indian twist on their chosen style. The Indian Summer Festival will showcase local and international Indian artists, with a selection of big names set to be announced. There will also be a community stage, providing a platform for local emerging artists to showcase themselves as part of the festival.
Cricket:
Cricket is an integral part of both India and Australia’s cultural fabric. The most popular sport in each country, cricket unifies both nations in a way that no other sport can. Cricket is a central pillar of the Indian Summer Festival. Held alongside the Domain Boxing Day Test, the festival will celebrate all things cricket. Highlights include an appearance by the Indian and Australian cricket teams at the Bupa Family Day, offering fans the chance to get up close and personal with the players, guest appearances by Australian and Indian cricketing legends and our very own version of Azad Maidan – a free play cricket area where attendees can grab a bat and ball and play some cricket.
Bollywood:
Bollywood is a major part of the Indian story over the past 20 years. It mirrors the development in Indian culture and is a beacon of the ambitious, creative and inspirational characteristics of a modern Indian society. Bollywood will be featured heavily at the Indian Summer Festival with an open air cinema showing a selection of Bollywood music and short films over the three days. Big screen will also show the WBBL fixture on the 23rd and the Test match on 26th and 27th so you will be able to watch the cricket even if you haven’t got a ticket to the game.
Boxing day:
The Boxing Day Test is arguably one of the greatest and highest profile Test matches on the world cricket calendar. On 26th December’18, Boxing Day will see the Australian Cricket team attempt to take on the World #1 in test cricket -Team India, at MCG. The annual cricket test match will have an interesting set of cricketing events from the 26th of December till the 30th of the month. The Indian team lead by Captain Virat Kohli & Australian side led by Tim Paine will be looking to re-build their world standing against each other. You can visit the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground and be a part of this great sporting tradition.