SAFA - South Asian Family Association

South Asian Family Association (SAFA) is very pleased to announce that the Sawan Mela festival has now grown to 2 days of events spanning the Lower Mainland: Friday July 11, 2008 beginning at 6:00 pm in Cloverdale and Sunday July 13, 2008 starting at 12:00 pm in Vancouver's Punjabi Market.

On Friday July 11, 2008; SAFA will present a very unique event at the Cloverdale Millenium Amphitheatre in Surrey: Bollywood Under the Stars, which is an outdoor presentation of Sholay. SAFA has contracted Fresh Air Cinema (www.freshaircinema.com) to show this movie on a massive 44 * 31 foot screen. Fresh Air Cinemas is North America's premiere outdoor movie company which has provided services to the White Rock BIA, Canadian Cancer Society, the City of Brandon, Park Royal Shopping Centre, amongst many others.

Beginning at 6:00 pm, SAFA will host the pre-screening celebrations which will include entertainment by local talent, a poetry and essay-writing contest as well as a birthday cake celebration to mark the province's 150 Years. Face-painting, mehndi, children's activities, and food will be available. Also, there will be a sneak preview of R. Paul Dhillon's documentary "The Bhangra Generation" prior to the Bollywood movie screening.

At 9:00, the show begins. Described as the ultimate Bollywood Curry Western: "Sholay", produced in 1975 by G.P. Sippy Films stars Bollywood veterans Amitabh Bachchan, now husband & wife team: Dharmendra and Hema Malini and the late Amjad Khan. It is the highest grossing film for all time in India and ran for 286 weeks (more than 5 years) in one cinema in Mumbai. In 1999, BBC India declared "Sholay" to be the "Film of the Millenium" and it has been awarded the Filmfare Best Films of 50 Years.

Families are encouraged to participate in this very unique and reminiscent experience by bringing their blankets and lawn-chairs to the Amphitheatre to enjoy this classic movie. There is no fee for the movie and parking is available at the Amphitheatre.

On Sunday July 13, 2008; Sawan Mela 2008 will kick off in the heart of the Punjabi Market at the new Sunset Community Centre in Vancouver.

Now in it's 6th year, Sawan Mela is a celebration of cross-cultural harmony integrating South Asian culture and heritage with other cultural groups. Throughout the day, performers from around the Lower Mainland will sing, act and dance their ways into the crowd's hearts whilst others can savor in culinary delights and the colours of India. Poetry, Rangoli, Mehndi, arts & crafts, face-painting will contribute to the "Mela" atmosphere. SAFA will present the Scholarships for Academic Excellence and Community Involvement at the event. Many other competitions such as "Roti-making", "Turban-tying" and many more will take place for attendees to participate in. Sawan Mela remains a free festival and street parking is available in the area. In past, 5,000 attendees have enjoyed the festival.

SAFA is pleased to have partnered with the new Sunset Community Centre for this event. With its world-class and innovative architecture, the community centre is a welcomed addition to Vancouver's Punjabi Market. Street parking is available in the area. SAFA graciously acknowledges the support of the City of Vancouver and the Province of British Columbia to produce this event.

MyBindi West is a proud sponsor of SAFA's Bollywood Under the Stars and Sawan Mela.

For more information, visit www.safa.ca or Email: info@safa.ca