Odissi, Bharatnatyam and other ancient dances from India will highlight Archana '07: Spirit of India 2, a 13th annual cultural showcase of music, drama and vegetarian Indian cuisine to benefit the India Friends Association.

"It is like getting a taste of India in your own backyard," said Prithvi Sharma of Camarillo, one of the event coordinators.

"The number of Indian-Americans living in this area has grown tremendously, and they are now a significant presence in the community as professionals, consumers and citizens. They want to share their cultural richness with other Americans."

Archana is slated for 7 p.m. April 28 in the Fred Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

Last year's event raised roughly $125,000 for the IFA, a group of Indian-Americans that supports people in India fighting poverty, corruption and injustice.

IFA is designed to function as a catalyst in activities that promote economic empowerment and self-sufficiency of the most underprivileged population of India. Current efforts include water development in dry areas, providing primary healthcare to remote northwest regions, upgrading existing slums to livable standards, and anti-corruption efforts on behalf of the poorest residents of Delhi to receive their share of the publicly subsidized food.

"Despite the large number of professionals that India has provided to the U.S., India remains a poor country," said IFA member Kay Talwar of Westlake Village. "The money raised at Archana goes toward projects that teach people how to be independent and improve their lives. Archana is special because it is a high-quality cultural program that is put on solely by volunteers of the Indian community to raise money to make a change in others people's lives in India. It is their way of giving back."

The funds raised are used to empower the least privileged segments of Indian society, emphasized IFA member Rajni Narayan of Westlake Village. "The focus is on self-help and empowerment, not on charity," Narayan said.

"Archana '07: Spirit of India 2" is unique because it is produced entirely by volunteers who contribute their time and talent to make the program a success, Sharma said. The planning for next year's Archana begins the day after the program, and the overhead is kept to a minimum so each dollar goes to the cause.

"The performers are all regular people doing their regular jobs and yet find time to go through grueling practice sessions over three months," Sharma said. "Participation and effort is given a top priority and although the program includes exceptionally talented people, there are also those who have never been on the stage before."

The evening begins with a vegetarian Indian meal including bread, vegetables, lentils, rice and sweet tea and will be followed by the program featuring at least 125 performers from Ventura County and up to 25 from Los Angeles County. An ensemble with eastern and western instruments, as well as vocal music and folk dances, will highlight the showcase.

"All are designed with a meaning in mind," Sharma said. For example, "the drama is based on a story from the Buddha's times that relates to our times of war and terrorism."

Attendees can expect an evening of cultural entertainment that includes dance, song, music and spoken word both traditional and popular in nature, said IFA member Thomas Scharf of Oxnard.

"Also, the community can expect that each and every participant in the Archana program has put their heart and soul into whatever aspect of the program that he or she is involved."

Most Indian immigrants maintain their connection with India by attending classical or film music concerts performed by professionals, said IFA member Amita Naganand of Granada Hills. "Archana seems to be the largest high-quality program performed entirely by the local Indian community members," Naganand said.