
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 20, 1994                   TAG: 9404200081
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: EXTRA-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FOR ONE NIGHT, IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT LIKE BEING IN INDIA

Ambiance, entertainment, culture and cuisine add up to a total experience that the India Association of Roanoke Valley and India Heritage Society hope to convey on India Night, when they'll fill the American Legion Building in Salem with an atmosphere close to home.

"We got the idea from the Greek community, which has done this type of thing successfully for a number of years," said Dr. Jitendra Desai of the groups' upcoming maiden venture.

Desai, chairman of the board of trustees, said the 15-year-old association, which has about 100 families as members, and its complementary society, dedicated to preserving Indian heritage, felt that the total picture of the Indian community had not been presented in this area up until now.

He said it is hoped that India Night will expose more people to Indian culture and further the groups' goal of within the next two years building an Indian cultural center in Southwest Roanoke County.

Desai estimated that there are about 700 or so Indians living in Southwest Virginia. He said there are two Indian restaurants in Roanoke: Sitar, in the Roanoke City Market food court, and A Taste of India in Lakeside Plaza, Salem, which plans to reopen soon following a recent fire.

The association and society participate in the annual Local Color Festivals, Desai said. But it was still felt that India's rich culture and particularly its cuisine haven't been accurately represented.

India Night will feature authentic Northern Indian cuisine catered by Nawab in Norfolk. "There will be chicken curry, lamb delicacies, probably no beef, lots of vegetarian choices, about four or five entrees and four or five appetizers," Desai promised.

There will also be fragrant Indian-style tea, which Desai described as somewhat like an herbal tea served hot and creamed.

Members of the association's youth forum will provide dance entertainment, and there will be other glimpses of Indian art, culture and attire and a special appearance by Congressman Bob Goodlatte.

The flyers announcing the May 14 event described the dress code as formal. Appropriate attire for the adults-only affair will actually be a jacket and tie for men and a nice dress or suit for women.

Tickets are $20 per person. Respond to Jitendra Desai at 989-3515 by April 25.

by CNB