REGINA — Mosaic – A Festival of Cultures has returned, bringing together a blend of new pavilions and long-standing cultural favourites.
Nineteen pavilions across the city are shaping the festival, including a first-time Persian pavilion.
“[We’re] very excited to join the festival. We cannot wait to showcase our food, culture, dances, performances, and everything to the community of Regina,” said Hasan Moradi, co-organizer at the Persian Pavilion.
The idea of the pavilion was shaped by Moradi asking himself why there was no Persian site for Mosaic.
“So I thought, now with the growing Iranian community in Regina, I think there's enough willingness, and there are enough resources to get this going.”
Unofficially, Moradi said upwards of 1,500 Iranian’s reside in Regina alone.
While most pavilions start planning for next year’s festivals in September, Moradi said their site only began in March.
“We did not have a head start, and more importantly, we did not have the experience that other pavilions did. So it was from scratch in March, but the team pulled together and potentially made this happen.”
Moradi hopes visitors will not only enjoy themselves but also gain a deeper understanding of Iran and its culture.
"We're just trying to communicate and educate that there are multiple different cultures within the Middle East. Iran is not like a desert. We have forests in Iran. We have mountains in Iran. There are multiple different ethnicities in Iran, and each one of them has its own costumes and dances as well.”
Looking ahead, Moradi said the Persian Pavilion plans to return on a yearly basis.
While a new pavilion enters Mosaic, the Balaton Hungarian site has been around for decades.
“We’ve been going since I believe two years after the original Mosaic,” said Teres Puha, treasurer of the Hungarian Club.
Puha remembers being involved in the Balaton Hungarian Pavilion since she was three, reflecting on how the festival has changed over the years.
“We've expanded. We had a smaller hall, but we have built a bigger hall. Everything is awesome. The crowds have gotten bigger over the last two years.”
Puha estimated that over 4,900 people checked out their pavilion last year.
For this year’s event, displays around the pavilion are part of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
“Most of the members of our club came to Canada at this point,” said Puha.
In Puha’s view, it is important to help people remember Hungary’s culture and history.
“We just want to keep fostering the Hungarian culture and passing it on to our children to continue the legacy.”
Puha is hopeful the pavilion will remain for decades to come.
The Mosaic festival continues until Saturday. More information can be found here.
