Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts is proud to announce The 3rd Annual Summer Mela on Saturday, July 12, 2025, from 12 – 8 p.m. at the Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens (1801 S. Indiana Ave, Chicago, IL). The eight-hour family-friendly event presents live music & dance, and features South Asian cuisine, retail vendors, independent artisans, and hands-on arts and craft activities for kids and adults. The summer Mela is presented by Chicago’s iconic non-profit, Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts and is open to all ages with a suggested donation of $15 at the gate.
The 3rd Annual Summer Mela Headliner Funkadesi (bottom left), music group Nizami Qawwali (top right), And Kalapriya dancers (top left and bottom right)
“We are so proud to be presenting our 3rd Annual Mela, where we can share all of the wonderful food, dance, art, and music from the many regions of South Asia with our Chicago community,” said Dr. Mridu Sekhar, President of the Board of Directors at Kalapriya. “In the two short years of presenting this festival, we have been able to expand the event to include more artists, vendors, and activities that the whole family can enjoy. This year is on track to be our best festival yet!”
Founded in 1994, The Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts presents India’s artistic diversity through performing arts that preserve traditional South Asian art forms and build bridges between the performing arts and our contemporary lives. Kalapriya strives to make authentic and important contributions to Chicago’s rich culture through programming that is educational, inspirational, and focused on creating a community that builds connections and shared traditions, while instilling ahimsa, the Hindu belief symbolizing love, genuine care, and compassion towards all living beings.
This year’s festival will be headlined by Chicago’s favorite funk fusion band, Funkadesi. The stellar lineup also features Indian Pop Band Do The Needful, Sufi music by Nizami Qawwali from Austin, TX, and romantic favorites from 84 years of Bollywood history performed by The Swamanathans. Dance performances will include a range of genres from Bollywood to traditional South Indian Christian dance "Margom Kali'. Other dance elements include an entertaining Muslim wedding dance 'Oppana', and not-to-be-missed special performances by Kalapriya’s own Bharatanatyam students. The festival will get kicked off at noon with a vibrant welcome by Chicago Kalakshetra.
The 3rd Annual Mela is free and open to the public with a suggested donation of $15 per person. For more information about Kalapriya’s school programs, summer camps, classes, and other events, please visit https://kalapriya.org.
ABOUT KALAPRIYA
Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts was founded in 1994 to serve the Indian diaspora in Chicago and around the world, and it later became a 501(c)3 organization in 2000. Dedicated to presenting India’s artistic diversity through performing arts and preserving traditional South Asian art forms, Kalapriya builds bridges between the performing arts and our contemporary lives. Serving all Chicagoans, Kalapriya strives to make authentic and important contributions to Chicago’s rich culture through programming that is educational and inspirational. Its programs are focused on creating a community that shares traditions and builds connections, with particular attention to the needs of its most underserved people. Kalapriya offers classical dance and music classes, summer camps, school programs, and community events at its facility at 2101 S. Wabash Ave. and throughout the Chicagoland area. Many of its presented works speak to current issues on the global challenges of migration, intolerance, violence, hate crimes, gender discrimination, and climate change. For more information, visit www.kalapriya.org.