Armenian festival at Woodbury University in California

PanARMENIAN.Net - Thousands packed the Woodbury University (California, US) quad Sunday for an Armenian cultural festival that featured song, dance and Middle Eastern food.



Teen dance groups wore traditional costumes while performing a set of routines that left older visitors peering over the shoulders of onlookers who crowded around a dance floor to watch with pride, Glendale News Press reports.



Visitors browsed vendor booths from local businesses, ate kabobs, ice cream and cotton candy, and mostly spent time chatting with family, friends and strangers while listening to Armenian hits echo through the outdoor area.



The gathering was a celebration of culture that was organized by college students and drew visitors from across Southern California, said event organizer Arsen Dzhanikyan.



"Enjoying one's culture and celebrating one's identity is a must," said Dzhanikyan, who is a senior at Woodbury and president of the university's Armenian Students' Assn.



The event was a collaboration of Armenian student groups from 12 colleges and universities throughout Southern California, including USC, UCLA, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Los Angeles and Glendale Community College.