India has 18 recognized languages, newspapers published in 87 different languages, radio broadcasts in 71 languages and movies in 15 languages.

That is why for the past four years OMKAR, an Indian cultural festival put together by the Indian Graduate Students Association (IGSA), tries to represent a new facet of Indian culture.

"India, being composed of so many languages and 28 different states, is a very diverse country," said Narayanan Veeraraghavan (graduate-industrial engineering).

This year's theme will focus on rural India.

"Omkar is the name given to the chanting at the beginning of an activity," IGSA president Amol Khatkhate said. "It is a good omen."

The show will begin with a procession into the State College Area High School North Auditorium and will be followed with an invocation and welcome speech by Mandar Deo (graduate-industrial and manufacturing engineering).

Deo has been involved with OMKAR since its beginning in 2000 and is one of its founding members.

"We would like to emphasize cultural and religious diversity at Penn State," Deo said.

Khatkhate said following Deo's invocation, there will be a performance of traditional Srishti dances.

"They are performed by a group that performs all over the United States," he said.

Veerarghavan said the performance would be colorful.

"They will have very elaborate costumes and the performance is mind-blowing," he said.

Next will be an honor ceremony for Penn State alumni and a presentation of "Moraya Purskar," a life-time achievement award, to Rustum Roy.

"Dr. Roy is originally from India and holds the honor of the Evan Pugh Professor Emeritus at the Penn State Material Research Institute," Deo said. "He is being given the award in recognition of his academic achievements and his contribution to society for his work with Whole Person Healing."

The festival will also include a dinner, Aarti (an Indian thanksgiving), and Bollywood Beats by HindiMidi.

"Bollywood Beats is music that will be played from Bollywood films," said Veeraraghavan. "It is a fusion of modern and traditional music."

This year OMKAR hopes to achieve something new.

"This event was primarily attended by people of Indian origin until last year," Deo said. "This year our goal is to attract people from different backgrounds and traditions as well."

OMKAR will take place at 4:45 p.m. tomorrow at State College Area High School. Entry is free and a free shuttle service will run to the high school from the HUB-Robeson Center between 3:30 and 5:00 p.m.