Events: Arizona - Phoenix - Scottsdale

Arcosanti welcomes the public to enjoy a day of celebrating Indian divine dance and delicious delicacies! On Indian Cuisine and Culture Day, Saturday, Sept. 30 Arcosanti hosts a full day dedicated to honoring and celebrating Indian culture and cuisine featuring special guest Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya. Known as the “Cultural Ambassador of India,” Guru Sanchita

Bhattacharya is a specialist in Odissi, the classical dance from East India as well as the founder of Sanchita Odissi Dance Foundation in Kolkata, India and in the Raleigh-Durham in the U.S., where training in Odissi dancing is given. She is a social activist whose projects and choreography speak of social, humanitarian and women-oriented issues. Events take place from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and include:

Indian Culinary Workshop

9 a.m.-noon

Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya will guide guests through the process of preparing classic Indian delicacies including: Palak Paneer, cottage cheese and Arcosanti greens gravy; Chicken Rogan Josh, flavorful spicy chicken from Kashmir; and Kheer, Indian creamy rice pudding.

Lunch

Noon-2 p.m.

Lunch available in the Arcosanti Café

Odissi Dance Workshop

2-6 p.m.

Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya will teach the foundational basics of Odissi dance. The workshop will cover movements such as torso work and Mudras hand gestures as well as an invocatory dance to Mother Goddess DURGA.

Complimentary Tour of Arcosanti

5-6 p.m.

Guests will receive a guided tour of the unique environment that is Arcosanti.

Indian Dinner at the Café

6-7:30 p.m.

Guests can enjoy traditional Indian fare such as Pakora — onion, potato and vegetables fried in spicy gram flour batter; Raita — lightly spiced yogurt with cucumber and onion; Palak Paneer — cottage cheese and Arcosanti greens gravy; Dal — lightly spiced Indian lentils; Jeera rice — basmati rice cooked with cumin and ghee; Chicken Rogan Josh — flavorful spicy chicken from Kashmir; Chatni — sweet and sour dip; Puri — Indian wheat fried bread; and Kheer — Indian creamy rice pudding.

Odissi Dance Performance by Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya

7:30-9 p.m.

Guests can enjoy a visually stunning performance to end their day of celebration and culture. An Odissi lecturer, orator and choreographer with creative originality, Bhattacharya is known for her ability to mesmerize her audiences into a higher spiritual trance through her breathtaking repertoire.

Tickets range from $35-$50 per activity listed above and can be purchased via eventbrite.com/e/indian-cuisine-and-culture-day-tickets-711423235047?aff=oddtdtcreator. For more about Arcosanti, visit arcosanti.org.