ANNUAL ASIAN COMMUNITY CELEBRATION INTRODUCES ASIANS TO ASIANS
May 23, 2002

< 1 , 2 >

Denver’s Asian Community met and mingled with other Asians on May 18, in an annual event sponsored by the Asian Roundtable of Colorado. The event, which ran from 10 am to 3 pm at the John D. Hershner Room at 1700 Lincoln, featured cultural performances, displays and food from a rainbow of local Asian communities.

The event began three years ago, and has become the area’s main celebration to mark May as Asian Heritage Month. But unlike other ethnic celebrations that invite the public at large to attend and learn about community’s culture, the Asian Community Celebration acknowledges the wide variety of cultures that fall within the umbrella of "Asian-Pacific Islander" communities, and is aimed primarily at letting Asians learn about other Asians.

The free event featured performances by Chinese, Indian, Hmong, Polynesian, Mongolian and other local Asian groups, in traditional fashions and showcasing traditional or folk culture. A steady stream of spectators came to the event throughout the day, with the heaviest concentration around when a feast including homemade Indian and Chinese food was served for the free lunch buffet.

For many of those who attended, the introduction to other Asian cultures was an eye-opening experience. ( more > )