Global Indian Festival 2024 targets 150,000 visitors

KUALA LUMPUR: The Global Indian Festival 2024 (GIF 2024) is targeting up to 150,000 visitors at its 19th edition of ‘All Things India’.

Founder and CEO of Agenda Suria Communications Sdn Bhd as the organiser of the carnival, Jaggarao Simancha said the exhibition, which started on Wednesday (April 10) and runs until Sunday (April 14), aims to make Malaysia a hub to promote Indian culture in the region.

“Taking a closer look at this exhibition, since 2003, the average attendance of visitors is approximately five million people, while the number of traders reaches three thousand people. This festival not only attracts the interest of the Indian community, but also Malays, Chinese, and foreign tourists.

“This exhibition not only aims to showcase the culture of the Indian community (such as clothing, food, and dance) but also provides a platform for traders from various backgrounds, including the Indian community and other nationalities, to network and prosper,” he said.

He said this after the GIF 2024 inauguration ceremony which was officiated by Klang MP V. Ganabatirau at Midvalley Megamall here on Thursday (April 12).

At this year’s festival, more than 120 vendors offer a variety of Indian apparel and food, as well as a host of activities for visitors to engage in.

In the meantime, for Ismail Khan Ahmad Khan, 69 was excited to attend the exhibition while describing the items on sale as cheap and unique.

“I never miss coming to this exhibition every year. Looking at the items sold, they are affordable and the clothing designs are unique and change every year.

“At the same time, I also get to experience the Indian culture more closely,” he said.

Meanwhile for Indian citizen Nisha Tated, 49 admits that exhibitions like this somewhat cure her longing for her motherland.

“I feel like I’m in Little India when I come to this festival. I see a lot of Indian society, food like panipuri (a common street food in the Indian subcontinent) and sweets similar to those in India. I like it,” said Nisha who works as a Hindi language teacher. – BK