AKKA World Kannada Conference heads to Greater Richmond Convention Center to showcase culture of India, throw parade

The AKKA World Kannada Conference is coming to the Greater Richmond Convention Center August 30-September 1. The 12th annual event features fashion, entertainment, celebrities and artists from India to Richmond to support cultural awareness.

AKKA works to promote and preserve 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 primarily spoken in the southern part of the country.

The conference kicks off with a free parade around the GRCC at 7 a.m. on Saturday. The parade will start on 5th and Lee streets and wrap around the Jackson Ward neighborhood for a half mile and last around an hour, serving as the event inauguration.

Dance dramas, ballet and singing will be featured at the event. This year’s headliner is Vijay Prakash whose song won an Oscar for Slum Dog Millionaire.

The conference will also include sports like cricket, pickleball, golf and chess, with prizes will be given out.

Throughout the weekend, seven different forums will be hosted, covering topics from business to medicine.

The conference is expecting an attendance of over 4,000 people from across the U.S., India and around the world. Conference organizers partnered with Richmond Region Tourism to bring the event to the Richmond region.

The AKKA World Kannada Conference has previously taken place in Houston, Texas; Atlantic City, New Jersey and San Jose, California.

Tickets are $250 which includes food, entertainment and networking opportunities for attendees.

For more information, visit AKKA’s website.