Entertainment
2 August, 2025
Indians celebrate their food and culture
THE Cairns Indian Festival returns to Fogarty Park on Saturday, August 23, promising a vibrant day of music, dance, food and multicultural celebration in the heart of the city.
Now in its seventh year, the free community event presented by GOPIO Cairns Inc. has grown into one of Far North Queensland’s most vibrant and widely celebrated festivals.
Following a turnout of more than 7000 people in 2024, this year’s event is expected to attract up to 10,000 attendees, cementing its place as one of the region’s largest multicultural celebrations.
Festival president Subash Chetry said this year’s theme was about elevating the experience while remaining true to the festival’s community roots.
“The Cairns Indian Festival isn’t just an Indian event. It’s a Cairns event. A Queensland event. A celebration of the multicultural spirit that defines who we are,” he said.
Headline acts include Brisbane’s award-winning Bollywood group Dance Masala, high-energy dhol drumming by Brisbane Dhol Tasha and a live DJ set by DJ Ashu blending Bollywood, Bhangra and South Indian hits.
Visitors can also enjoy a live Indian cooking show and traditional dance performances from Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Assam and Maharashtra.
Enhancing the festival atmosphere is a vibrant cultural marketplace filled with food, fashion and art.
A major feature of this year’s event is a community raffle, with a grand prize of two return flights to India. Half of the raffle proceeds will go to the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation to support local healthcare initiatives. GOPIO Cairns is inviting sponsorships, donations and stall bookings.
Visit: https://bit.ly/4kw4oDi or phone 0469 217 141.
