INDIAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE

A woman makes roti at the inaugural Roti Festival, held by the National Council for Indian Culture in Jamaica, on Lady Musgrave Road in St Andrew in 2004. - File
Roti, synonymous with the Indian presence in the country, is not new to Jamaica, and on February 24, there will be a celebration of the versatile flour item which will also naturally extend to the people who brought it here.
The 2008 Coca-Cola Roti Festival, which will be held at Club India, New Kingston, on Sunday, February 24, was launched at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, also in New Kingston, last Tuesday morning.
Carcell Campbell, sponsorship and events coordinator at the WISYNCO Group Ltd, which is title sponsor of the Roti Festival through its Coca-Cola brand, said "we have been partnering with them for the past four years".
He said the company's brands, which also include Ocean Spray, had benefited from the association, hence the decision two years ago to take up title sponsorship.
The 2008 Coca-Cola Roti Festival begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends at about 5:00 p.m.
Although roti is the base, literally and figuratively, the festival will feature a variety of Indian cuisine, Campbell saying that there will be many curry dishes, mango and other items. In addition, there will be Indian dancers and music.
Admission is $200 for adults and $100 for children with an additional cost for meals.
And Campbell said WISYNCO's association with the Roti Festival will continue, as "we are committed to next year as well".