Houston Diwali Mela on Nov 9 at Skeeters Stadium

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By Malay Vyas

HOUSTON: The cooler temperatures of October often bring a sense of anticipation of festivals. Most eagerly awaited amongst these is “Diwali” – the Festival of Lights. Think Diwali and your mind and heart fills up with light, sheer joy and nostalgia of past years. Every Diwali is a milestone of memories and a catalog of stories to be told year after year to families and friends.

Diwali also evokes the buzz of the market place, bazaars lit up with colorful lights, families buying new clothing, jewelry, snacks & sweets. By this time, if you aren’t smelling freshly cooked sweets or aren’t hearing sounds of fire crackers going off every evening, you are not in India!

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It’s not just a festival; it’s a state of mind. For the last few years, Masala Radio brings Houston together as a family in the year’s biggest Indian celebration – Houston Diwali Mela, this year to be held on Saturday, November 9, 6-11PM at the Skeeters Stadium.

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Masala Radio’s Houston Diwali Mela celebrates the vast diversity of regional Diwali celebrations through India.com’s “Masala Express” – a Bollywood Dance Journey through India, with comedy interludes by Sunil Thakkar and the Crazy Masala Radio Crew.  Mercedes Benz of Sugarland presents sizzling Bollywood Fire Dancers.  Tara Energy Fashion & Food Bazaar will fulfill all your shopping needs complete with street foods provided by the most tantalizing ethnic restaurants. Maharaja Jewelers presents the headliner for the evening – Bollywood Icon and Disco King Bappi Lahiri.  He will sing something for every generation, from introductory devotional songs, to his Retro Disco Hits, to his very current hit Oh La La. New York Life presents the mesmerizing finale of Fireworks set to upbeat Bollywood instrumentals.

Beyond the mind-blowing stage entertainment, witness traditional activities as soon as you enter the Festival of Lights.   Ethnically dressed women will greet guests with traditional Tilak ceremony, while a Living Statue of Laxmi Goddess of Wealth and an Indian Stilt Walker will formally welcome guests to the event.  Dive into Indian culture, from the $1001 Keemat Grocers Rangoli Competition (Indian folk art design) to religious fervor of the Procession of Hindu Gods by Gujarati Samaj of Houston, followed by a 2501 diyas (candles) Maha Arti by Hindus of Greater Houston.  Subhlaxmi Groceries will create a nostalgic Indian Bazaar with rare ethnic articles & statues imported specifically for this event.  Memorial Herman Sugarland presents a fun Kids Zone with free Carousel, Mechanical Bull Ride, Laser Tag Maze and an inflatable Giant Obstacle Course along with an extensive playground.

So Houston, lets reunite and rekindle that Light in our Hearts, come together in celebration of the festival of festivals – DIWALI – at the  Constellation Field, November 9. Doors open at 5PM for open seating with the show starting promptly at 6PM with the lighting of the traditional Diyas by Honorable P. Harish, Consul General of India.  Eat, Meet, Greet and Get Entertained!  Halo Re Halo!

For further details visit HoustonDiwaliMela.com or call 281-277-MUSIC (6874).