"I think the more you learn about other cultures, the more you get to know different people," Kim Wiljanen said. "In the cooking demonstration, I loved how the flavors blend together and how the different spices smell."

The Dewitt resident said she found the cooking demonstration to be the most fascinating.

About 500 people attended the bazaar and about 60 volunteers helped organize and run the event.

"I'm hoping to put together a group of events like these for all the different backgrounds we have in our community," East Lansing Deputy City Manager Jean Golden said. "We're a city of diversity, and festivals like these really celebrate that and add to the community."

Some MSU students volunteered at the bazaar, and more events are planned for the week.

"I want to help the community learn more about Indian culture," Nisha Dedhia said.

The telecommunication junior was decorating people's hands with an ink called mehndi, also called henna, and said each hand takes about 10 minutes.

Other events are taking place throughout the week. A book discussion on "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Road. The East Lansing Film Festival will show "The Middle Man" by Academy Award-winning Indian Director Satyajit Ray Friday evening in Wells Hall. The MSU Museum also has a new exhibit called "Life is Color," which lets visitors see the meaning of color in traditional Indian celebrations, arts, games and clothing.

This is the first time different Indian groups collaborated to plan an entire week's worth of activities.

"We really want to unveil the various aspects of what India really is," Paula Gangopadhyay, co-chairwoman of the India Week committee, said. "The Indian population in Lansing and the surrounding area has grown so much recently."

For information, call (517)432-1472.

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