Since its humble beginnings in 1986, the annual Festival of India in Spanish Fork has attracted thousands of visitors from all over the country.

This year, however, the Hare Krishna's have something more to celebrate. With the completion of the Radha Krishna Temple and Cultural Center, visitors to the festival will be able to more fully experience Indian culture, food, music and dance.

Roshan Khandpur of California has been coming to the festival for five years. Khandpur donated the doors and altars at the temple, and believes that he was blessed with prosperity so he could share it, he said.

Each year nearly 4000 visitors attend the festival. BYU students alone account for 25 percent of the crowd, Caru Das, director of the festival said.

Roger Keller, professor of religion at BYU, has encouraged his students to attend the festival since 1986. He hopes that his students will gain a real appreciation for the good that lies in the Hare Krishna religion, he said.

"I hope students recognize that God doesn't leave his children alone," Keller said. "He has a profound concern for all."

This year, the three main parts in the Pageant of the Ramayana were played by BYU students Janel Crane, Doug Stewart and Richard Franklin.

Crane, a 21 year-old acting major from Glendale, Calif., got involved in the festival because of her boyfriend, Sulabh Gupta, who occasionally took her to the Krishna Temple with him.

Last year, Crane read for the drama, and for the past two year years has played the role of the heroine, Sita.

"The Hare Krishna's who run it are excellent people. They have high standards and a great outlook on life," said Richard Franklin, 23, a music dance theatre major from Houston, Texas.

Franklin has been involved in the drama for the past two years, and believes that the festival is a great place to learn more about the Indian culture.

Students attended the festival for various reasons.

Margaret Tueller, a 17 year-old who has not declared her major from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, attended the festival to learn more about the Indian culture.

"I think Indian culture is really cool," Tueller said.

Hannah Pritchett, an 18 year-old linguistics major from Belmont, Mass., attended the festival for the food and the dancing.

David Ollmann, a 19 year-old accounting major from Seymour, Ind., hoped to broaden his perspective of other cultures and beliefs, he said.

Organizers of the festival hope to familiarize people with the culture of India, said Das.

Each Sunday, visitors may visit the temple to learn more about the Hare Krishna's through food, music and discussion.

"Big cities have things like this, but not places like Spanish Fork," said Khandpur.

Copyright Brigham Young University 16 Sep 2002