Remembrance Festival | August 14 - 17, 2025 (Berkeley)

Join us in a thought provoking weekend of remembering shared histories & celebrating cultures from across the South Asian subcontinent...

About this Event

Join us for a thought provoking weekend of remembering shared histories from the Indian subcontinent at the spacious secret loft above Vik's Chaat in West Berkeley. At the Remembrance Festival, we will reflect, we will overcome, we will celebrate our heritage and that which brings us together. The festival commemorates the 78th anniversary of Partition.

This will be a weekend that combines soulful contemplation, uplifting dance performances, musical performances, art making workshops for adults and children, a dance class for adults and children, family history workshops, storytelling by community elders and an educational exhibit displaying intriguing local stories in the backdrop, curated by The 1947 Partition Archive.

FREE ADMISSION. Fees for some workshops, musical performance and luncheon.

Volunteers can earn free entry to all events. Sign up here to volunteer.

Childcare is available for parents - pay at checkout!

EXHIBITION - OPEN ALL DAYS (free)

August 14 - 17

The little known stories and immense wisdom amongst your neighbors: An exhibit featuring captivating stories from local witnesses of Partition and World War II (China-Burma-India theater) will be on display. The exhibit will be on display throughout the four day event.

Exhibit hours:

August 14 - 15: 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm

August 16: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm

August 17: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

DAY 2 - AUGUST 15 (FRIDAY)

6:00 PM - TRANSCENDENT SUFI-FOLK-POP BENEFIT PERFORMANCE

$25

Be transported with a soulful and transcendent performance, which can be described as "sufi meets folk meets pop" with artists who trace their heritage across borders in South Asia: Zoe Viccaji, Noor Lodhi, Manesh Judge, Mike Overtone and Asim Wali. Proceeds from this performance support oral history work by The 1947 Partition Archive.

DAY 3 - AUGUST 16 (SATURDAY) FREE - $0

11:30 AM - GLIMPSE INTO THE 1947 PARTITION ARCHIVE, DISCOVER STORIES

FREE - $0

Archivists and oral historians from The 1947 Partition Archive showcase our work, and screen fascinating glimpses from our oral history collections. Come see what we see each day as stories pour in form around the world. We will also talk a bit about our book, '10,000 Memories.' This is a free, general admission event.

1:00 PM - SAVING OUR STORIES: BENEFIT LUNCHEON & EXQUISITE FOLK PERFORMANCES

TABLE SEATING - $101 ........ ROW SEATING - $71

Join us for an exquisitely curated folksy lunch, as we gather to celebrate the act of storytelling and preserving human memories for posterity. Berkeley-based professional performers have prepared a special folk dance for this event, while Noor Lodhi and Zoe Viccaji will be performing an acoustic sufi set. Catering by Vik's Chaat. This lunch serves as a fundraiser for time-critical oral history work The 1947 Partition Archive does. Community storytelling work is made possible entirely by compassionate and generous humans like you.

3:00 PM - BOLLYWOOD DANCE LESSON

$10

Get your dance-on with Bollywood Dance Central's workshop. Everyone is welcome to join! Learn new dance moves in this curated lesson by the professionals at Berkeley's Bollywood Dance Central.

4:00 PM - COMMUNITY SING-ALONG/KARAOKE

FREE - $0

Sing with us! This is a free, general admission event.

DAY 4 - AUGUST 17 (SUNDAY)

Make Sunday a day of learning!

11:00 AM - DISCOVERING MY GENEALOGY WORKSHOP (50 min)

$20

Learn how to explore your personal genealogy and discover your family history with Dr. Stewart Traiman.

12:00 PM - FAMILY ORAL HISTORY WORKSHOP (50 min)

$15

Learn techniques for recording oral history interviews of elders in your family or community. We will discuss how to build a questionnaire, free oral history resources available to you and camera techniques. Time permitting, we will set up a mock interview in class. By Dr. Guneeta Singh Bhalla.

12:00 PM & 1:00 PM - LEARN TRADITIONAL WHORLI TRIBAL ART WORKSHOP (50 min each)

$35 - includes materials

Join artists Sarabjit Singh and Lalima Srivastava for a vibrant, immersive workshop where contemporary abstract techniques meet ancient storytelling.In this session, participants will explore liquid pour art—a dynamic, meditative process of pouring, tilting, and blending paints to create fluid, dreamlike compositions. The focus will be on themes of river and tree, both sacred and symbolic in Indian philosophy. But this isn’t just a pour-and-play session. We will layer meaning into movement by combining this fluid technique with Warli art—the minimal, powerful tribal art form from Maharashtra. Using fine-line brushwork and traditional motifs, you will learn to embed Warli-inspired trees, figures, and river spirits into your abstract backgrounds, turning free-flowing color into deeply rooted stories. Sarabjit’s style weaves bold color, texture, and storytelling, and she will guide you in composing work that feels personal and expressive—whether you’re a beginner or seasoned artist.

2:00 PM - ARCHIVING AND PRESERVING MY FAMILY HISTORY WORKSHOP (50 min)

$15

Learn techniques for documenting, organizing and preserving your family history for posterity. Digital and analog techniques will be discussed. By archivist Victoria Ornelas of The 1947 Partition Archive.

3:00 PM - JEWELRY MAKING WORKSHOP (50 min)

$25 - includes materials and tools

Make and take home a necklace or a pair of earrings. Learn how to use wire, tools and beads to craft your own jewelry. All materials and tools are provided. Beginners and advanced jewelers are welcome. By Ariana Conner.

4:00 PM - TRADITIONAL HENNA BODY ART WORKSHOP (1 hr 50 min)

$25 - includes materials

In this two hour workshop, you'll learn the ins and outs of creating beautiful traditional South Asian henna body art designs. By Saima.

*25% OFF MULTI-CLASS DISCOUNTED TICKET AVAILABLE AT CHECKOUT.

VOLUNTEER TO EARN FREE ENTRY:

August 14


🕑: 11:00 AM - 07:00 PM
August 14-17: Exhibition free and open to the public. Registration required.
Host: The 1947 Partition Archive

Info: An exhibit featuring captivating stories from local witnesses of Partition and World War II (China-Burma-India theater) will be on display. The exhibit will be on display throughout the four day event. Exhibit hours:

August 14 - 15: 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm

August 16: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm

August 17: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

August 15


🕑: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
August 15: Transcendent Sufi-Folk-Pop Performance
Host: Zoe Viccaji

Info: Be transported with a soulful and transcendent performance, which can be described as "sufi meets folk meets pop" with artists who trace their heritage across borders in South Asia: Mike Overtone, Zoe Viccaji, Noor Lodhi, Manesh Judge and Asim Wali.

August 16


🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Discussion: Glimpse into The 1947 Partition Archive, discover stories
Host: The 1947 Partition Archive

Info: Archivists and oral historians from The 1947 Partition Archive showcase our work, and screen fascinating glimpses from our oral history collections. Come see what we see each day as stories pour in form around the world. We will also talk a bit about our book, '10,000 Memories.'

🕑: 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Saving Our Stories: Benefit Luncheon & Folk Performance
Host: The 1947 Partition Archive

Info: Join us for an exquisitely curated folksy lunch, as we gather to celebrate the act of storytelling and preserving human memories for posterity. Berkeley-based professional performers have prepared a special folk dance for this event, while Noor Lodhi and Zoe Viccaji will be performing an acoustic sufi set. Catering by Vik's Chaat. This lunch serves as a fundraiser for time-critical oral history work The 1947 Partition Archive does. Community storytelling work is made possible entirely by compassionate and generous humans like you. Thank you and join us!

🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Bollywood Dance Lesson
Host: Bollywood Dance Central

Info: Everyone is welcome to join! Learn new dance moves in this curated lesson by the professionals at Berkeley's Bollywood Dance Central.

🕑: 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Afternoon Karaoke/Community Sing Along (Free event)

Info: Come sing with us!

August 17


🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Discovering my family genealogy (Workshop)
Host: Dr. Steward Traiman

Info: Learn how to explore your personal genealogy and discover your family history with Dr. Stewart Traiman.

🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
Recording my family oral history (Workshop)
Host: Dr. Guneeta Singh Bhalla

Info: Learn techniques for recording oral history interviews of elders in your family or community. We will discuss how to build a questionnaire, free oral history resources available to you and camera techniques. Time permitting, we will set up a mock interview in class. By Dr. Guneeta Singh Bhalla.

🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
Flowing Stories: Liquid Pour Meets Warli Art – River & Tree Edition (Workshop)
Host: Sarabjit Singh

Info: Join artists Sarabjit Singh and Lalima Srivastava for a vibrant, immersive workshop where contemporary abstract techniques meet ancient storytelling.In this session, participants will explore liquid pour art—a dynamic, meditative process of pouring, tilting, and blending paints to create fluid, dreamlike compositions. The focus will be on themes of river and tree, both sacred and symbolic in Indian philosophy.


But this isn’t just a pour-and-play session. We will layer meaning into movement by combining this fluid technique with Warli art—the minimal, powerful tribal art form from Maharashtra. Using fine-line brushwork and traditional motifs, you will learn to embed Warli-inspired trees, figures, and river spirits into your abstract backgrounds, turning free-flowing color into deeply rooted stories.


Sarabjit’s style weaves bold color, texture, and storytelling, and she will guide you in composing work that feels personal and expressive—whether you’re a beginner or seasoned artist.

🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
Flowing Stories: Liquid Pour Meets Warli Art – River & Tree Edition (Workshop)
Host: Sarabjit Singh

Info: Join artists Sarabjit Singh and Lalima Srivastava for a vibrant, immersive workshop where contemporary abstract techniques meet ancient storytelling.In this session, participants will explore liquid pour art—a dynamic, meditative process of pouring, tilting, and blending paints to create fluid, dreamlike compositions. The focus will be on themes of river and tree, both sacred and symbolic in Indian philosophy.


But this isn’t just a pour-and-play session. We will layer meaning into movement by combining this fluid technique with Warli art—the minimal, powerful tribal art form from Maharashtra. Using fine-line brushwork and traditional motifs, you will learn to embed Warli-inspired trees, figures, and river spirits into your abstract backgrounds, turning free-flowing color into deeply rooted stories.


Sarabjit’s style weaves bold color, texture, and storytelling, and she will guide you in composing work that feels personal and expressive—whether you’re a beginner or seasoned artist.

🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
South Asian tribal designs inspired jewelry making (Workshop)
Host: Ariana Conner

Info: Make and take home a necklace or a pair of earrings. Learn how to use wire, tools and beads to craft your own jewelry. All materials are provided. Beginners and advanced jewelers are welcome. By Ariana Conner.

🕑: 04:00 PM - 05:50 PM
Traditional Henna Body Art (Workshop)
Host: Saima

Info: In this two hour workshop, you'll learn the ins and outs of creating beautiful traditional South Asian henna body art designs. By Saima.

🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
Archiving and preserving my family history (Workshop)
Host: Victoria Ornelas

Info: Learn techniques for documenting, organizing and preserving your family history for posterity. Digital and analog techniques will be discussed. By archivist Victoria Ornelas of The 1947 Partition Archive.

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