Inauguration of new India Culture Center will provide a new way to share diversity in Utah

                In an evening involving food and dancing, the India Cultural Center in South Jordan at

1142 West South Jordan Parkway

, was inaugurated by Governor Gary Herbert on April 1.

                “There was a great deal of anticipation for this inauguration and support for the ICC building amongst the greater community,” said Venkatesh Subramanyan, President of the India Cultural Center.

This interest has been attributed to the efforts of the Lifetime Trustees and ICC board in involving the participation of the entire community.

                Preparations and construction have been ongoing since 1999. The purpose of completing the center is to promote and preserve the educational and socio-cultural traditions of people of Asian Indian ethnic heritage and to organize and develop arts, charitable, social, cultural and educational activities of interest.

                Dr. Dinesh Patel, a lifetime trustee and benefactor of the ICC, and Subramanyan gave the governor a tour of the temple and the new center before Governor Herbert cut the ribbon on the Dinesh and Kalpana Patel Auditorium. After cutting the ribbon, the governor spoke briefly to the audience about the importance of diversity in Utah.

                “We have a great opportunity to experience many cultures in Utah and it makes us, as a community, stronger,” Governor Herbert said.

Governor Herbert said there are more than 5,000 Indian people living in Utah or at least have ethnic ties to the country. “The culture is known for their hard working ethic and it’s a great thing to have that here in Utah,” Herbert said.

                Governor Herbert also stressed that the center is completely debt free. All efforts and funds that were given to make the center were through donations and volunteering. Every donator and volunteer has been given recognition on the center’s website at http://sghtu.org/ICC.

Over the past 10 years, the all-volunteer fundraising team has raised over $1.8 million with broad based support from various corporations and foundations and from the community.

“We are very grateful to all the donors and volunteers for helping us realize our dream of building this wonderful facility,” Dr. Patel said.

Project Avalanche was added in February 2010 as a fund-raising campaign to help raise the final monies that were needed for the completion of the center. Various fund raising projects were held by different community organizations and volunteers; these included concerts and festivals. The goal of Project Avalanche was to raise $300,000 to finish the center, however, the project managed to raise over $450,000.

                To close the evening the announcement was made that Zion’s Bank is planning to give the cultural center $30,000 every year.

                “We knew that this was a great undertaking but that we would be provided for,” Patel said in response to the gift.

In addition to providing the community with a gathering place for important social gatherings and functions, it is expected to be a performance space in the South Wasatch front area. The center will host a number of events that showcase the heritage of India and South Asia.

The India Culture Center was built next to the Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple.

The center will be the new venue of choice for music recitals, dance performances,

art, craft and photography exhibitions, plays and lectures.

By Alisha Tondro for The South Valley Journal

Published in Riverton, Utah