DIWALI - Saturday, November 9, 2013

STICA Signature Events Information

Potluck Dinner (January)
Welcomes new people and families, providing an opportunity to introduce themselves, to make friends with members of the Indian community, and to learn about STICA as an organization.

Holi - Springfest (March/April)
Celebrates Holi, an Indian spring festival, with a catered meal and various fun activities, to expose second-generation Indian-Americans to Indian culture, values and traditions.

India Day (August)
Provides a first-hand experience of the rich Indian cultural heritage to the local residents of the Southern Tier, while also celebrating the shared values between India and the U.S. This is an outdoor event at the Centerway Square and Centennial Park in Corning, with Indian food, snacks, variety entertainment and many fun activities for children.

Diwali (October/November)
Marks the Festival of Lights, a holiday celebrated all over India. It's a great time for friends and families to get together and enjoy a delicious Indian dinner along with a variety entertainment program featuring local talent.

Professional Cultural Show
Cultural Event Offers at least one Indian music and/or dance performance by a professional group, for the local community. Indian classical dance programs and fusion music concerts have been received enthusiastically by the general public in recent years.

STICA also participates in local community events like the Colonial Days Parade with beautiful and colorful traditional costumes and music.

STICA Sponsored Program(s) Information

Adopt a Highway
STICA members have adopted an approximately two-mile stretch of Interstate-86 (between exits 49 and 51). In the spirit of giving back to the community, STICA volunteers support the Highway Department by picking up trash along this portion of the highway twice a year.
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Hindi School
STICA members offer Hindi classes to anyone interested in learning the language. Currently, the weekly classes (held on Sundays at the Southeast Steuben County Library in Corning) are aimed at three different levels of competency, ranging from introduction to the alphabet to simple reading, writing and speaking comprehension. Contact STICA Board for details.

Indian Classical Dance Classes
STICA supports three privately run dance classes. If interested, please get in touch with the contacts provided below.
Kuchipudi Dance: Babita Marala: 607.974.4788. Classes are held in a private home in Painted Post, NY.
Ananda Tandava Dance School: Vani Akula: 607.739.3869. Classes are held at the Big Flats Community Center.
Bharata Natyam: Mugdha Thakur: 607.974.3397. Classes are held in a private home in the area.

STICA members generously give back to the local community through organized programs for volunteering and donating to local food banks, the Salvation Army, Relay for Life, etc.