The AKKA World Kannada Conference will be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center from August 30 to September 1. The 12th annual event will bring fashion, entertainment, celebrities and artists from India to Richmond to promote cultural awareness.
AKKA is committed to promoting and preserving the Kannada language and culture across North America. Kannada is one of the oldest languages in India with over 2,000 years of history and is spoken primarily in the south of the country.
The conference begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday with a free parade around the GRCC. The parade begins at the corner of 5th and Lee Streets, travels a half-mile around the Jackson Ward neighborhood, and lasts about an hour. It serves as the opening event.
The event features dance drama, ballet and singing. This year’s headliner is Vijay Prakash, whose song for Slum Dog Millionaire won an Oscar.
The conference will also feature sports such as cricket, pickleball, golf and chess and will give away prizes.
Seven different forums will be held throughout the weekend, covering topics ranging from business to medicine.
The conference is expected to be attended by over 4,000 participants from the US, India and around the world. Conference organizers have partnered with Richmond Region Tourism to bring the event to the Richmond region.
The AKKA World Kannada Conference was previously held in Houston, Texas, Atlantic City, New Jersey and San Jose, California.
Ticket price is $250 and includes food, entertainment and networking opportunities for attendees.
For more information, please visit the AKKA website.
