The annual South Asian cultural festival Masala! Mehndi! Masti! kicked off yesterday with a new name and a new location. Held for the past five years at the Harbourfront Centre, MMM — now named the Rogers Masala! Mehndi! Masti! festival — has moved to the Exhibition Place grounds to accommodate the over 100,000 people that attended the event last year. Since 2001, MMM has assembled South Asian artists and vendors from across the world in a showcase of culture from the subcontinent on stage, in the clubs, and in the bazaar.

The party continues tonight with a MyBindi party hosted by Toronto's own superstar DJ Jiten, and continues throughout the weekend with performances, seminars, photography exhibitions, art galleries, spoken word and theatre showcases, film viewings, and the excellent Meena Bazaar with great South Asian goods and food. The weekend also features many parties, including the MMM edition of the popular monthly South Asian club night Besharam with DJ Amita.

The Rogers Masala! Mehndi! Masti! festival runs from July 26 to July 30 at the Exhibition Place grounds.

(Image: Nadia Prigoda)