INDEPENDENCE DAY FETE VALLEY FOLKS, VISITORS GET A TASTE OF INDIA AT WEEKEND FESTIVAL.Byline: Alexa Haussler Staff Writer Southland residents from India celebrated the nation's Independence Day in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. for the first time Saturday, signifying the area's growing population of Americans of Indian heritage. Thousands of celebrants gathered at Pierce College In 2006 the Library won a national Excellence award. Academics Pierce College offers associate's degrees, mainly in the arts and sciences. There are also certificate programs in early childhood education, social services, dental hygienist, and others. in Woodland Hills, browsing through Indian costumes and art, listening to music and sampling the country's traditional fare. ``We felt that there are enough people in the Valley and there is a lot of interest,'' said Gurdip Saran, the event's publicity chairman. The festival, which has been held since 1981 in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , has been in Artesia until this year. Nearly 50,000 people from India live in the San Fernando Valley, estimate the festival's planners. Now, the Valley has six temples, several grocery stores and restaurants and other Indian-American businesses. Saturday, residents from as far as the Conejo and Antelope valleys trekked to the day-long festival. Organizers estimated that 10,000 people would attend between noon and 11 p.m. ``It's also an opportunity for the community to learn about India,'' Saran said. ``Hopefully it will be some sort of introduction to the American community.'' In addition to feasting on Tandoori chicken Tandoori chicken is a chicken dish that originated in India. The chicken is marinated in a yogurt seasoned with either prepared tandoori masala. It is traditionally moderately hot, but the heat is toned down to a "mild" taste level in most Western nations. and Birani rice, visitors cruised by more than 50 booths, including informational booths, and shopped for jewelry. Festival-goers also could have their blood pressure checked at a health fair or their future told by a psychic crystal reader. County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich Michael Dennis Antonovich (born 1939 in Los Angeles, California) is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors representing the Fifth District, which covers northern Los Angeles County, the Antelope, Santa Clarita, Pasadena, and parts of the San Fernando and San , who represents the San Fernando Valley, checked out the food and sights at the festival. ``This is a beautiful setting, because of the trees, the shade, the grass, and people are able to relax and enjoy the cultural activities of India,'' Antonovich said. John Schouweiler and his wife, of Studio City, brought their 4-year-old daughter Lucy, whom they adopted from India. The family sampled Indian food and bought some prints. ``This is some attempt to immerse im·merse tr.v. im·mersed, im·mers·ing, im·mers·es 1. To cover completely in a liquid; submerge. 2. To baptize by submerging in water. 3. her in some Indian culture,'' he said. ``I think it's of some value to her to be aware that there is an Indian population here.'' CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) Six-year-olds Mahak Goel, left, and Manu Diwedi, dance at the India Festival at Pierce College on Saturday, above. At left, Sunny Kumar, left, and Kumar Jawa dish up dish up Verb to serve (food) Verb 1. dish up - provide (usually but not necessarily food); "We serve meals for the homeless"; "She dished out the soup at 8 P.M. traditional Indian food for festival participants. (3) Santok Patel, 81, a resident of India, enjoys visiting the Indian Festival. Michael Owen
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