Indiafest Brevard Scholarship Endowment
Purpose
Provide financial support for a Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) graduate to transfer to Florida Tech. (GF000100)Description
Students must have filed their FAFSA; must be in good academic standing; a graduate of EFSC; have a proven history of community involvement and volunteering; residents from Brevard County are eligible. If the candidate meets all other criteria except residency, Central Florida residents from the following counties will be considered: Volusia, Osceola, Orange, Seminole, Indian River, and Polk. Preference is given to renewal to the same student in subsequent semesters.
History
Indiafest started in the 1990s as a celebration of India’s rich culture and traditions. Indiafest is a symbol of cultural enrichment in Brevard County and is celebrated with great enthusiasm. This well-run festival has a fresh and new look year after year. A different theme is presented each year showing the unique aspects of India’s culture, history, and traditions.
Indiafest is a fun family festival that brings focus and a sharing of Indian culture in Brevard County.
An admirable factor of this festival is its commitment to community service with the purpose of cultural enlightenment. Indiafest is a volunteer-run, non-profit, cultural organization, known for its charitable efforts, supporting over $1 million for a variety of charitable causes including Florida Tech.
Other beneficiaries have included: Haitian earthquake relief, Florida hurricane relief, early intervention programs, Daily Bread, Serene Harbor, Crosswinds, the Cancer Care Center, and Sentinels of Freedom – Veterans Re-Training Program as well as The Children’s Hunger Project, Promise in Brevard, Habitat for Humanity, and Shriners of Brevard.
In 2011 Indiafest established an Endowment Scholarship at Florida Tech for a Brevard student and in 2020 named the Panther Dining Atrium with a gift that provided emergency loan support for students.
Indiafest offers something of interest for everyone, from hands-on activities for the youths, to shopping for adults, to mouth-watering Indian cuisine, yoga demonstrations, and all-day entertainment. The stage comes alive with performances by local artists dancing to traditional folk, classical, and modern Indian music while the fashion show is a highlight of the day.
The grounds buzz with vendors selling jewelry, rich colorful ethnic garments, arts and crafts, music, and videos. Participants enjoy temporary body art of exotic Henna designs while the aroma of the tantalizing flavors of food being prepared entices the taste buds.
Today, as technology makes the world smaller and more accessible, assimilation of the different cultures is very real and the need to appreciate each other is ever more apparent.
At Indiafest visitors take back a part of India’s rich cultural heritage – be it arts and crafts, food, jewelry, music, dance, or clothes.
