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\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nMontreal\u2019s Old Port is set to come alive this weekend as the Indo-Canadian Diaspora of Quebec (ICDQ) presents the Indian Food Festival and Holi celebration, also known as the\u00a0Flavours & Colors Festival 2026.<\/p>\n
Running Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., the event promises a vibrant mix of India\u2019s culinary diversity alongside the joyful spirit of Holi.<\/p>\n
A taste of India in the heart of the city<\/p>\n
Visitors will be able to experience a wide range of Indian street food, regional dishes, and traditional desserts.<\/p>\n
Organizers describe the festival as a celebration where bold flavours meet cultural tradition, offering a chance to explore India\u2019s food heritage in a lively outdoor setting.<\/p>\n
For Sachin Gupta, co-founder of the Indo-Canadian Diaspora of Quebec, the festival is about much more than food.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to marry Indian culture with Canadian culture,\u201d Gupta said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing a lot of activities off and on different parts of the island, but now we\u2019ve decided to take one step up and do it on a bigger scale.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gupta said the organization has hosted Holi-inspired colour celebrations for the past six or seven years, but wanted to expand the event into a larger cultural experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, we said it\u2019s not enough. We need to integrate more into the culture, more diversity, and introduce Indian culture to the wider society.\u201d<\/p>\n
Music, culture, and eco-friendly colour play<\/p>\n
Beyond food, the festival features music, cultural programming, and eco-friendly colour celebrations inspired by Holi, the Indian festival of colours.<\/p>\n
Gupta explained that the two-day event is designed to offer different experiences.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first day is more about Indian performances, Indian dance, Indian music, meditation, yoga, food tasting, and cooking preparations,\u201d he said. \u201cDay two is more about the Canadian culture. DJs from Quebec and from North America, from wider Canadian provinces. Tomorrow is more like a party.\u201d<\/p>\n
He hopes the festival becomes a bridge between communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really want to show the wider community in Montreal what India is about, what our culture is, and the types of foods we eat,\u201d Gupta said.<\/p>\n
Family-friendly activities by the waterfront<\/p>\n
The festival also includes a children\u2019s area with bouncy castles, making it a family-friendly outing.<\/p>\n
Set against the waterfront backdrop of the Old Port of Montreal, visitors can enjoy entertainment and scenic views throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n
For many attendees, social media helped bring them to the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe saw reels and posts on Instagram and social media,\u201d one festivalgoer said. <\/p>\n
The visitor said they were especially looking forward to experiencing the food and entertainment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the food and the music,\u201d they said. \u201cI know tomorrow there are a lot of DJs, so I\u2019m excited for that and all the food that there is.\u201d<\/p>\n
An unmissable summer celebration<\/p>\n
Gupta said the idea for the expanded festival also came from conversations with restaurant owners looking for a larger platform to showcase Indian cuisine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of Indian restaurants now, but they always told us they didn\u2019t have a platform to promote their food,\u201d he said. \u201cWe promised last year that we would do something big, and today we\u2019re here at Montreal\u2019s international stage promoting Indian food.\u201d<\/p>\n
He hopes the event encourages Montrealers to embrace the city\u2019s cultural diversity by attending festivals from different communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should encourage all our communities, our Canadian community\u2026to participate in these types of events,\u201d Gupta said. <\/p>\n
Quoting an ancient Sanskrit saying, Gupta said, \u201cThe world is one family. If we consider the world as one family, then let\u2019s explore more about this family. Let\u2019s eat their food, enjoy their culture, their music, and celebrate together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tThe entrance to the Flavours & Colors Festival 2026 is seen at Montreal\u2019s Old Port on June 27, 2026. (CityNews) <\/p>\n
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