They might be located in different hemispheres, but Indian and American cultures are not as different as one might think.

For this reason, the Indian Graduate Students Association (IGSA) is planning to showcase Indian culture to the students and the community at OMKAR 2005, IGSA Treasurer Param Iyer said.

OMKAR is a free Indian cultural festival that showcases 5,000-year-old traditions to people of Indian heritage and to community members who are unfamiliar with Indian traditions, Atul Rangarajan, IGSA webmaster, said.

Iyer said organizers expect between 600 and 700 people, and this year's theme will focus mainly on Indian music.

He said that in India, music is a popular form of entertainment, and Indian movies are usually musicals.

The band Aalaap will perform music from Bollywood, a popular Indian film industry, for the crowd.

Many students have enjoyed the music at past OMKAR festivals, Iyer said.

In addition, brothers Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, who play the Sarod, a guitar-like instrument, will play Indian classical music.

Iyer said the Ali Bangash brothers are very popular and well known around the world. They are the sons of the iconic figure of the Sarod, Amjad Ali Khan, and seventh-generation Sarod players.

"It is mind-boggling to see a seventh-generation family of musicians," said Neela Yennawar, acting director of crystallography at Penn State's Huck Institute.

Both Amaan and Ayaan began their official music careers when they turned 8 years old.

They have played at many important occasions, such as for Prince Charles at Temenos Academy and at the 2004 Athens Olympics torch relay in New Delhi.

IGSA Vice President Tanmoy Maiti said the music performed tomorrow will be a formal tradition among families and consists of three types of instruments: the Sarod, the tabla and the tanpura.

The Sarod is one of the many types of Indian guitars, and the tabla is a percussion instrument similar to the bongos, Rangarajan said.

Yennawar said that the Sarod is played like a guitar, but there are no frets on the neck of the instrument, making it difficult to play.

She said the tanpura is a drone string instrument that is used for toning during a concert and does not contribute to the creativity but is essential to the music.

Yennawar will perform the tanpura with Amaan and Ayaan at OMKAR, and she said she is excited because it is her first time performing with these artists.

In addition to the music, there are other activities during the festival.

Henna/Mehendi, traditional Indian hand and body painting, will be available for people throughout the evening for free. Iyer said Indian girls usually get this painting done, especially for weddings or any other special celebration.

Daawat, an Indian feast, will present a variety of Indian foods, Iyer said. Tickets cost $5, and tickets can be purchased at Webster's Bookstore Café, 128 Allen St., India Pavilion, 222 E. Calder Way, or the Student Book Store, 330 E. College Ave., until today or for $7 at the event. Food will be served at 7:30 p.m.

OMKAR will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 at the State College Area High School, 653 Westerly Parkway.

Parking is available, and a free shuttle service will run from the Pollock Road entrance of the HUB-Robeson Center between 4 and 5 p.m.