Explore India with a flavour and spice fiesta

‘‘It's driven by our community and it's getting stronger and stronger.’’

One of the best ways to explore different cultures is through their food.

That’s exactly what the Indian Cultural Society is hoping to do with its annual upcoming Indian Food Fiesta, full of spices and flavour.

Society vice-president Sam Rama said the food fiesta has been held annually for the last 10 years or so in Petone’s Indian Culture Hall and the event just keeps on growing.

‘‘It’s driven by our community,’’ he said, ‘‘and it’s getting stronger and stronger.’’

Most of the food served on April 1 will be from the Gujarati province of India, rather than more southern style food found in many Wellington restaurants.

Festival goers can expect a range of food from sweet drinks like mango lassi to savoury cakes called dhokla.

Rama said he was looking forward to the dosa, a type of pancake. Dosa had proved popular year after year and Rama said there was normally quite a queue for the food.

As well as food stalls, Indian clothing will be on sale. Many women in the community had donated saris to the event.

The fiesta will be a fundraiser for the Indian Cultural Society’s Gujarati language school. About 40 students learn the language through the school .

Rama said it was an important way for them to learn about the culture.

Rama said preparations for the fiesta came together in the last couple of days when the food prep took off.

He expected between 300 and 500 people to attend the event. Entry into the hall will be free and he said people were welcome to come in and sit down or could get food to takeaway, whichever they preferred.

For those who couldn’t handle spicy dishes, Rama promised there would be mild versions of the plates. ‘‘Come and give it a go. These dishes, you won’t get in a restaurant.’’ The Indian Food Fiesta will be held on April 1 from 10am in the Indian Culture Hall, on the corner of Udy St and Nelson St in Petone. Entry is free.