INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
Various cultures celebrated during Festival of Nations
ALBANY >> Thousands of event-goers experienced numerous different cultures on Sunday afternoon at the 45th annual Festival of Nations.
The festival, held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, was a local celebration of cultural diversity in the Capital Region.
Representatives from 26 of the area’s many cultures brought food, music, dance, fashion and knowledge to the table Sunday for a great international exchange.
This year’s festival was presented by ethnic groups from all around the world, including Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Burma, China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Korea, Liberia, Lithuania, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia, Scotland, Taiwan, Turkey and Ukraine.
The festival featured a parade followed by music and dance performances as well as the crowning of 2016’s Miss Festival of Nations.
Now in its 45th year, the festival has become a regional tradition since its inception in 1972,
when ethnic group leaders got together with an idea to organize an art and cultural festival in the Capital District. The first event was held at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, then moved to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute field house the following year for a larger space. In 1978, it was moved to the newly built convention center in Albany.
Almost a half-century later, the event is still going strong. “Not too many thing have been around and survived that long,” said Manoj Ajmera, chairman of the Festival of Nations.
Ajmera said the purpose of the festival is to teach children that everyone is not the same, but they can all get along and appreciate what each other has to offer. It’s an example of “how you can work together with different backgrounds, different cultures, different upbringings,” he said.
Furthermore, it’s a fun time for kids and adults to explore different countries’ cultures, all in one afternoon. “They’re presenting their arts and crafts, their dances on the stage and also delicious cuisine, which people look forward to year after year,” Ajmera said.
The local Armenian community participated in the event by sharing treats like paklava and musical performances. “It’s our honor to partake and help make it successful,” said the festival’s Chair of Armenia Rafi Topalian of Watervliet, noting that Armenia was the second country involved when the event started 45 years ago. Aside from being a tradition, “We learn from each other,” Topalian said. “I love the diversity. I love the friendship.”
The festival is also about teaching youth. “We want to instill in our kids to perform, to partake, to help out,” Topalian said while selling food at the Armenian booth during the festival. “We want to show a good example, because our ancestors showed a very good example by starting this festival.”
Quite a few different languages could be heard throughout the convention center, dozens of different fashions were worn, and many delicacies were served up to share.
Many event-goers enjoyed the food, shopping and entertainment. “It is fabulous,” said first time attendee Valerie Bellon of Saratoga County, surprised with the festival’s large turnout.
Bellon especially liked the performances, “and the fact that so many children are a part of their family’s culture,” she said, noting that the traditional outfits were beautiful.
Additionally, Bellon appreciated the “awesome variety of food to explore and taste different dishes from around the world,” she said.
New this year, event organizers created a Festival of Nations Cookbook, adding another element of education that attendees can take into their homes.