Shefali Arora and the Finland-India Society bring the colors of India to Espoo
In India, weddings are multi-day events where it's not just two people coming together, but two families. On May 18th, the sounds of Indian wedding bells will ring in Espoo as the Folklore 2024 - Treasures of India event takes place at Otaniemen lukio.
The annual Folklore event is organized by the Finland-India Society(external link, opens in a new window), which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. This year, the event will showcase wedding ceremonies from different parts of India.
"We want to share information about India and Indian culture through the event and offer a colorful spectacle that showcases the richness of Indian wedding ceremonies," says Shefali Arora, chairperson of the society's board.
From Delhi to Vaasa
Shefali moved to Finland from Delhi, India, in 2002. The move from a metropolitan area with 11 million people to Vaasa was quite a leap into the unknown. In addition to the change in scenery, Finnish culture had its own peculiarities, such as the sauna.
"In India, we don't need separate hot rooms; just park the car in the sun and close the doors," Shefali jokes.
"But all in all, moving to a new environment, experiencing nature, snowy winters, meeting new people, and encountering new things, it was a cultural shock, but also something beautiful and wonderful," she says.
Culture is a matter of the heart
And when talking about cultural shock, the question of cultural differences between countries also arises. However, Shefali emphasizes that art should not be pigeonholed based on cultures:"We should open our hearts to art and let it affect us. There's no right or wrong way to experience culture."
"I've also become acquainted with Finnish culture through my daughter, who is a choreographer-dancer. When we were watching her at a stadium concert by Kaija Koo, I felt really connected to Finnishness," Shefali recalls.
Three events in May
Shefali picked three events from the KulttuuriEspoo May event calendar to encourage Espoo residents to explore - in addition to Folklore, of course.
Stories from the Espoo Manor. Guided tour in Finnish: (May 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st, from 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm, KAMU Espoo City Museum):
"It's a great feeling how the history and art of different places come alive when guides vividly tell their stories."
Waterfront Walkway Day (May 25th, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Espoo Waterfront):
"This sounds like a nice outdoor event for the whole family, with music and all kinds of activities. In events like these, you get close to Finns and Finnish culture."
Sourdough Workshop (8.5. at 17.00-19.30, Lippulaivan Library)
"I love cooking and have always been interested in the cultural significance of food. In India, for example, culture and food culture are very strongly linked. This would be a great opportunity to learn the secrets of Finnish sourdough bread baking."
Folklore 2024 - Treasures of India (May 18, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Otaniemi High School)