Happy Friday. It’s fun time!

If you’re still looking for something to do tomorrow, consider checking out the second annual Festival of India at Elmwood Park.

The festival is put on by the Shantiniketan Temple on Branico Drive in Roanoke, where many members of the Indian community go to worship. Since today is India’s Independence Day (they broke from British rule in 1947), this weekend is a great time for a celebration.

Dr. Jitendra Desai of the Indian Heritage Society at the temple told me the event will include live music, drummers walking through the crowd, henna paintings, palm reading (purely for fun) a photo booth and an exhibit hall where festival goers can see musical instruments, artifacts and Indian currency.

Did you know there are some 20 different languages spoken in India? Each piece of currency has the denomination written in English on one side and in the different Indian languages on the other.

The cuisine of India is just as diverse, depending on which part of the country you travel. At the festival, Nawab restaurant will serve up Northern Indian cuisine, which is their specialty. And Roanoke’s newest Indian restaurant, Taaza, will offer Southern Indian cuisine, the style they serve at their establishment.

Desai said there will also be booths offering homemade treats such as a sweet, deep-fried pretzel that resembles the American funnel cake. And most exciting, in my opinion: the folks from Ambika Indian grocery will be on hand, selling packaged Indian foods that you can take home for your very own Indian feast.

It should be fun for the entire family, so head on out and fill up on spicy, delicious fare! The festival lasts from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free.