Mandala Makers Festival

Mandala South Asian Performing Arts, which connects audiences and students with the vibrancy, flavors, and colors of the performing arts traditions of South Asia, presents its fifth annual Mandala Makers Festival June 4 and 11 at the Republic Bank parking lot, 2720 W. Devon Avenue, Chicago. All events are free and open to the public.

The festival features nationally recognized artists, including Sonny Mehta and his ensemble Riyaaz Qawwali, and artists from the Chicago area to encourage residents to enjoy the culture in the Devon Avenue community, a hub for immigrants and members of the South Asian diaspora. Performances include South Asian folk music, contemporary Indian dance, jazz and rock ’n roll, Bollywood, and more, responding to specific cultures, art forms, and perspectives from South Asian traditions

“We are bringing the Makers Festival outdoors on Devon Avenue to make it visible to more people,” said Mandala Executive Artistic Director Pranita Nayar. “Brian Keigher, who has curated national festivals in Boston and New York City, as well as the Ragamala Festival in Chicago, is bringing his talent and vision this year, combining artists from our previous Makers Fest events as well as new talent, like Sonny Mehta.”

The line up of the event is as follows:

Sunday, June 4

2 p.m.: Kabir Dalawari (contemporary jazz)

2:45 p.m.: Roosha Mandal (contemporary Indian dance) 

3 p.m.: Maninder Singh (bhangra, electronics and live drumming)

4 p.m.: Riyaaz Qawwali (Sufi qawwali music)

5 p.m.: Radia Ali (contemporary Indian dance)

5:30 p.m.: Aqil Brothers (Bangla qawwali and Lokgeeti folk music)

6 p.m.: DJ SpinCycle (Rajasthani folk to electronic music)

7 p.m.: Sadman Rehman (funk and rock ’n roll)

Sunday, June 11

2 p.m.: Palini Ramnarayan (Hindustani vocal)

3 p.m.: Hindole Majumdar and Ayushman Majumdar (father and son Indian classical tabla duo)

4 p.m.: Chethan Anant (Hindustani classical bansuri flute) 

5 p.m.: Ashwin Rode (Hindustani classical vocal music)

6 p.m.: Saraswathi Ranganathan (South Indian Carnatic music)

6:45 p.m.: Shalaka Kulkarni (contemporary Indian dance)

7 p.m.: Jimmy Singh and Bhangratheque: (Bhangra and Bollywood)

The Mandala Makers Festival is funded in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Event’s Together We Heal initiative supporting the revitalization of the Devon Avenue community.

The Mandala Makers Festival takes place June 4 and 11, 2023 at the Republic Bank parking lot, 2720 W. Devon Ave., Chicago.

All events are free to the public

Donations are welcome at mandalaarts.org/donations.

Host or Publisher Mandala Arts