The Asian Cultural
Festival fosters pride in younger Asian-Americans, keeping them connected to their respective cultures.
The Asian Cultural Festival on Saturday represented more than just a parade of colorful dragons, martial arts demonstrations and Bollywood dance moves to Orlando resident Monthep Hongsyok.
He said the event encourages young Asian-Americans — both on stage and in attendance — to share their culture with others and carry on traditions that could otherwise die off.
“We don’t want the next generation to forget about the heritage,” said Hongsyok, whose family is from Thailand. “It’s not just about dance moves. It’s not just about songs. It’s feeling a connection with others and the spiritual connection they have with their ancestors.”
The festival, which featured more than a dozen Central Florida performance and instructional groups, marked Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, a designation signed into law by then-President George H.W. Bush in 1990.
The declaration expanded what had been a week’s worth of celebration to all of May.
At the festival, the celebration came in the form of ribbon dances from Taiwan, martial arts routines from Vietnam and fan dances from Indonesia, among other demonstrations.
Most of the groups included young performers, which event organizers said was deliberate.
“With public support, it makes it easier for kids to accept and buy into,” said Shally Wong, president of Asia Trend Inc., which hosted the festival. “It makes kids proud of their culture.”
As performers went through a Chinese yo-yo routine on stage, 26-year-old Mayuko Ishikura said that pride extends beyond just kids.
She said holding events in public spaces like Fashion Square Mall helps expose others to new experiences.
“This country has so many different cultures,” said Ishikura, who sat at a booth representing the Japan Association of Orlando. “It’s important to not just keep it to ourselves. It’s important to share it and make it open to others.”
The event, which raises money for college scholarships, has been going on for six years.
The fact that it includes people from so many backgrounds
shows how widespread the culture is, said University of Central Florida student Khaled Itani, 19.
“The definition of Asian is so broad,” said Itani, whose family hails from Lebanon. “We found a reason to unite because we face similar struggles. We have ideas about how we can help each other and be part of the community. It reminds me I’m not alone and America is a melting pot.”
The 2016 population estimate found that 3.8 percent of Orlando residents, or 16 percent more than the 2010 U.S. Census, have an Asian background.
As that number grows, so does the need to develop an appreciation of one’s background alongside U.S. pride, said Anthony Chung of REACH, an Asian cultural heritage group.
“We need organizations like this to help foster that pride,” the 17-year-old Lake Nona High School student said. “These kinds of festivals allow us to get involved and help out. People who have not grown up in the culture may be reluctant to join us.”