The sounds of Bollywood music and the smell of curry will excite diners Saturday night at "A Taste of India," an event filled with Indian culture and food that will benefit India's less fortunate.

The Penn State Chapter of Association for India's Development (AID) will sponsor the 10th-annual event, which will feature food, costumes and merchandise stands selling homemade jewelry, Indian art and henna tattoos. AID is a volunteer organization committed to promoting "sustainable, equitable and just development" in India, according to the chapter's Web site.

Penn State AID member Shakuntala Sundaradajan (grad-chemistry) described some of authentic food available at this year's fest.

"The food will be from different parts of India, because it is not all the same. There will be Indian fast-food, desserts and drinks," she said. "You can't get this food anywhere else."

Despite the succulent flavors associated with Indian cuisine, Sundaradajan said the event is about culture as well as food.

"We get to tell about our culture at this event. Every year is a learning experience, and we try to bring more people together," she said.

Piyush Thakre (grad-mechanical engineering) said the event organizers try to do something new each year and listed some of the cultural attractions in this year's fest.

"There will be posters of Indian architecture, henna tattoos, a magic show for the kids, Bollywood music featuring karaoke and a silent auction," he said. "There are lots of attractions apart from food."

The money -- whether it's earned through food or culture -- helps fund different humanitarian projects throughout India, Sundaradajan said.

Thakre said the event has increased its profits every year.

"Two years ago we raised $5,000. Last year we raised $8,500 and this year we hope to do the same or better," he said.

Sundaradajan said the tickets are sold at a few local venues and there are about 400 to 500 available.

"Usually by the last few days the tickets sell out," she said.

She also said the planning for the event is done two months in advance and many families in the community help to prepare all the food, increasing profits because they don't have input costs for the meals.

Sundaradajan said the festival is also a great place for the community to learn about the projects that AID helps to fund. She said in the past five years the Penn State Chapter of AID has funded eight to 10 projects all across India.

"Our main theme is education. But we also work with programs in unemployment and health issues in rural India," she said. "Most of our projects tend to be in rural India because our chapter has taken an interest in villages."

She said the organization does not like to be identified as a charity because it supports "projects for people that we think will attain self-sufficiency."

She said this is a great opportunity for Indian students looking for a way to volunteer.

"Many students want to give back to their country," she said, "and this is a satisfying way to raise awareness and money for a cause."