Parramasala - Australian Festival of South Asian Arts

Parramasala - the Australian Festival of South Asian Arts, now in its 11th year is an annual major three-day festival held in the historic city of Parramatta in the geographic heart of greater Sydney. The idea of Parramasala was established in 2009 by Events New South Wales, Parramatta City Council and an independent not-for-profit company – The Parramasala company with a Board of Directors, initially chaired by the Hon David Borger MP, Minister for Western Sydney, Minister for Roads and State Member for Granville in the New South Wales Parliament. The company is managed by Philip Rolfe and Charles Pashi. Philip, the inaugural Artistic Director, was Executive Producer, Sydney Opera House from 2000 to 2009. Charles was previously the Financial Controller for the Sydney Festival.

Parramatta is home to the biggest population of Indian and South Asian people in Australia. Parramasala will place Western Sydney on the world stage and embraces the cultural diversity of the region.

2009 to 2022:

Parramasala aims to become a major arts and cultural festival recognised worldwide for the outstanding quality of its programs.

2009	Idea of Parramasala was conceived. Committee was established and planning for the first Parramasala event from 4th to 8th November 2010. It was known as PARRAMASALA: Australian Festival of South Asian Arts
2010	The inaugural festival was held on 4th to 8th November 2010. It featured a vibrant program of both free and ticketed events across a range of genres including traditional arts, contemporary dance, theatre, popular music, films, and exhibitions. Some of the highlights of the 2010 festival program include: Kailash Kher and Kailasa – one of India’s most popular bands making its Australian debut with a free concert in the Crescent Amphitheatre, Parramatta Park A Throw of Dice – a free outdoor screening of the 1929 Indian silent film masterpiece, with a new score composed and performed live by world renowned UK composer, DJ and music producer Nitin Sawhney, with full orchestra (also at the Crescent) The Chennai Tapes – one-off concert featuring India’s Sruthi Laya Ensemble and Paul Grabowsky’s Australian Art Orchestra Tap Kathak – India’s kathak dance master Pandit Chitresh Das with award-winning American tap dancer Jason Samuels Smith Desert Wedding – a performance featuring traditional folk groups from the Indian state of Rajasthan A Million Eyes – Western Sydney resident and Indian dance legend Anandavalli in collaboration with world renowned contemporary Indian musicians Anil Srinivasan and Sikkil Gurucharan The Guru of Chai – comic one-man play by New Zealand’s Indian Ink Theatre Company
2011	Parramasala was held from 30th October to 6th November 2011. The Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Cr John Chedid, together with the Premier of New South Wales, the Hon. Barry O’Farrell, launched the Parramasala program at the Riverside Theatres, Parramatta over 60,000 people attended
2012	Held over four days from 8th to 11th November 2012. However, there were preview performances of three comic plays from 6th November 2012. The festival footprint - two central Parramatta hubs within easy walking distance of each other with stages, stalls, outdoor performances and venues: The central city precinct around Town Hall and St John's Cathedral square The Riverside Theatres and Eat Street (Church Street) These hubs were linked by Church Street and were close to public transport, parking and many good value restaurants. Susheela Raman and Kutle Khan performance: Susheela belongs to a Thanjavur Tamil Brahmin family from India; she was born in the UK and raised in Sydney. She is known for energetic, vibrant, syncretic, and uplifting live performances built on the sacred Bhakti and Sufi traditions of India and Pakistan. Her music is an eclectic mix of sounds a reflection of what most of us feel as immigrants. It has an instant appeal. Kutle Khan is a multi-talented Rajasthani folk musician who has performed on various stages across the world.
2013	Held over the four days of the Labour Day Long Weekend 4th to 7th October primarily in Parramatta’s Prince Alfred Park and the adjacent Riverside Theatres. Parramasala Parade - Started with the inaugural “Parramasala Parade” a street parade on the Friday night, the festival featured 60 performances in the Park, at the Theatres and at nearby venues. Performances were complemented by exhibitions, an extensive food and good market, and activities for children. Introduction of the Chai temple which linked free and ticketed events Mallakhamb Acrobats by incredible Indian athletes Fearless Nadia musical celebration of a Bollywood’s silent film goddess Temptation Reloaded with Indian film star Shahrukh Khan attracted over 5000 people from Sydney and interstate Masala Markets and Harris Park Link to 16-page program: https://www.slideshare.net/JacquiBonner/parramasala-a5-program-26813lowres
2014	The South Asian arts festival in Parramatta, in its fifth year, was launched in late August by Premier of NSW Mike Baird. Parramasala festival is from 17th to 19th October 2014. The Yard - Shaun Parker and Company’s National Dance Award winner and Helpmann nominee, this dance theatre is inspired by Lord of the Flies and features multicultural schoolboys from Western Sydney L-FRESH The Lion – our own local hip hop star who is creating waves through his music, positive attitude, and message for today’s youth Kanjoos - An Indian adaptation of Moliere’s The Miser, this play is directed by Saba Zaidi Abdi ParramaSLAM - a unique event where Poetry Slam meets Mushaira! Diva Divine - Opera singer Heather Lee presents the life of her own great aunt, an opera singer who toured India in the 1890s ByOb - Bring your own Bollywood - photographic endeavour to become part of a Bollywood fillum poster Chindian Diaries - an exhibition of stories of people with mixed Chinese and Indian heritage Chants of love - Marvel at the high-energy qawwals of Sufi devotional music from around South Asia Masala Markets - an upmarket Meena Bazaar with outdoor food, the markets at Prince Alfred Park Chai Temple - masala tea at Chai Temple Food carts – street-hawker style Indian food carts called raidiwallahs!
2015	From 23rd October to 25th October 2015, Parramasala was back with new spice blend – tourism. First ever Indian Tourism week was designed to built cultural ties between New South Wales and India. More than 50,000 people were attracted to Parramasala. Parramasala Parade – started with parade, Parramasala held at Prince Albert Square, Church Street and Harris Park The first ever interstate Female Tabla Ensemble in Australia performed at the 2015 Parramasala festival. See SBS link https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/parramasala-taaleshwari Masala Markets - an upmarket Meena Bazaar with outdoor food, the markets at Prince Alfred Park Chai Temple - masala tea at Chai Temple Food carts – street-hawker style Indian food carts
2016	In early 2016 the Parramasala Board, led by Chairman, Dr Harry Harinath OAM, secured a new funding partnership with Multicultural NSW (MNSW), replacing Destination NSW, to co-fund the Festival with the City of Parramatta. In May 2016, MNSW confirmed their 4-year commitment to support the delivery of the Parramasala festival with an annual financial contribution of $400,000. City of Parramatta’s annual contribution is $200,000. Currently, there is no multi-year funding agreement beyond the current financial year between Parramasala and the City of Parramatta. Through consultation with MNSW and the Parramasala Board, the dates for the Parramasala Festival have been moved from mid-October to March each year. One reason being to align the festival with MNSW Multicultural March signature program and Harmony Day (held in March each year).
2016	Parramasala is aligned with Harmony Day and was held from 10th March to 12th March 2016. Parramasala Pantry - Riverside Theatre courtyard will come alive with celebrity and guest chefs performed live cooking demonstrations. This was enough to tantalize the tastebuds and fill the room with the aromas of freshly cooked meals from around the world! Im/Modesty – a Sound Installation by Shoeb Ahmad What happens after midnight in Parramatta – It was a Theatre Project commissioned Director Roslyn Oades to collaborate with five young people from the Parramatta area on the creation of a new work – What Happens After Midnight? This talk will provide audiences with a valuable insight into the collaboration and is a chance to hear first-hand about making a new work that is connected with the local area. Jal – Parched Emotions - Jal – the Hindi word for water – is the essence of life, and the very core of this one-hour dance drama produced by Sydney-based Swastik Institute of Dance. India-born renowned Kathak and Bollywood choreographer Sumati Nagpal creates a parched canvas on stage, populated with characters craving water. Chinese Wisteria Dancing - Chinese Wisteria dances and performances portray the diversity of cultural elements amongst the Chinese national minorities, revealing the delicacy as well as the rusticity of Chinese folk dances. It will guide the audience into the snowy lands, great desert regions, mountains and villages. It will trigger the imagination; provide an appreciation of Chinese history and culture, adding enjoyment in the charm of Chinese folk customs. Kapture - ‘Kapture’ was the long-awaited debut release in 2016 by one of Australia’s foremost Indian-jazz ensembles featuring Sandy Evans (saxophones), Bobby Singh (tabla), Brett Hirst (bass) and Toby Hall (drums and percussion) with special guest Sarangan Sriranganathan (vocals). It is a moving musical tribute to South African freedom fighter, Ahmed Kathrada (Nelson Mandela’s cell mate). Western Sydney Story - The Western Sydney Migrant Story showcases the cultural dances, rhythms, music and costumes of people from all five continents of the world.
2017	Parramasala held over three days from 10th March to 12th March 2017 in Prince Alfred Square, Riverside Theatres and along the Parramatta River foreshore. Parramasala Parade - The festival commenced with a Friday evening street parade which showcased the colour and diversity of more than 36 cultures within the City of Parramatta community. The Parramasala weekend program featured a wide-ranging program of music, dance, food, film Attracted more than 45,000 attendees. Parramasala mascot – Kiko introduced
2018	Parramasala festival was held from 9th March to 11th March 2018. In 2018, the festival delivery model changed to an “outsourced agency delivery model” via an open EOI submission process. It included a mix of predominantly free, and selected ticketed programs, showcasing and celebrating cultural diversity through both traditional and contemporary arts and culture across many art forms including music, theatre, dance, film, food and the visual arts. Dream Girls of Bollywood - Swag se swagat, Parramasala! On opening night, the razzle dazzle of Hindi film dance was brought home to us in a Mumbai musical. It showed the evolution of the hybrid dance form that is now known as Bollywood, Jyotica and Kushal - Zee TV Sa Ra Ga Ma Pa sweethearts Jyotica Tangri and Kushal Paul - duo balanced each other off superbly in what turned out to be a perfect night for this kind of music. Seeta Patel - The UK-based dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker Seeta Patel was in full Bharatanatyam mode as she presented two beautiful numbers at Lennox Theatre. Gayatri: Singing for the Divine Beloved - Carnatic and Khayal vocalist Nadhamuni Gayatri Bharat presented the work of age-old Indian women poets.
2019	Parramasala was held from 15th March to 17th March 2019 Program featured the very best in international and local acts, including free concerts by singer-songwriter Thandi Phoenix, ARIA nominated rap-duo Remi Indigenous modern electric group Electric Fields, Sydney local CLYPSO and the widely-acclaimed, Sampa the Great. Parramasala Parade - Breathtaking Opening Night Parade Inaugural Long Table Sunday Brunch – a shared multicultural and interfaith feast for all members of the community. https://artsreview.com.au/parramasala-reveals-2019-program/)
2020	Celebrating 10 years of Parramasala – was scheduled from 13th March to 15th March 2020 but was postponed and then cancelled due to Covid-19
2021	Scheduled for March 2021 but was cancelled due to Covid-19
2022	TBA - https://www.sydneypoint.com.au/events/parramasala/

Neera Sahni, Research Services Leader & Anne Tsang, Research Assistant, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta, 2021