Desi music festival to hit Punjabi Cultural Centre

NORTHWEST WINNIPEG

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/06/2023 (942 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg’s first outdoor Desi music festival is set to drop on July 10, at a site behind Winnipeg’s Punjab Cultural Centre at 17770 King Edward St.

Desi is a word of Hindi origin, meaning “Indigenous” or “one from the country.” It’s mostly used when referring to people of Indian, Pakistani or Bengali origin. Consequently, the music to be featured at the Desi Summer Music Fest 2023 will be rave and sparking DJ remixes of Punjabi and Bollywood sound.

Event organizer Mohit Saini, who put the festival together with his brother, Amit, and their colleague, DJ Nish, who will be conducting the show, said that he often hears about people being disappointed by lack of accessible Desi parties— especially during the hot summer months.

“We’ve been doing the nightclub parties, and in those parties people were coming to us and mentioning that they need something, they need this kind of thing outside and in the summer,” Saini said.

“In Winnipeg, the Punjabi and Bollywood community has grown significantly over the years and people have become more interested in these types of things…” he said. “When we were initially deciding to do this event, we talked in our community, and people got excited.”

Saini and his crew, under the name Winnipeg Desi Entertainment, already have ample experience from putting on regular nightclub parties, under names such as Bhangra Vibes and Holi Party, at local venues, and want to use the momentum they’ve built to turn Desi Summer Music Fest into a tradition.

“We’re hoping to continue growing this event and making it an annual celebration of Punjabi and Bollywood music in Winnipeg,” Saini said.

Saini describes the party’s vibe as that of a lively summer festival, reminiscent of other outdoor music and rave parties. Food vendors will also be on hand.

He also said that a large group of people have already shown interest, and they are currently expecting over 1,000 attendees.

Discounted early bird tickets are sold out, but tickets are still available online or at the door on the evening of the show. The doors will open at 6 p.m.

The venue will be spacious, with plenty of room around the building.

Those interested can visit the festival’s Eventbrite listing, www.eventbrite.ca/e/desi-summer-music-fest-2023, or Winnipeg Desi Entertainment’s Facebook group: www.facebook.com/winnipegdesientertainment/