India House Celebrates Diwali with Festive Community Bazaar

HOUSTON: In celebration of Diwali, India House hosted a festive community event on November 2. The free “Diwali Community Bazaar” was open to the public and there was a large turnout for all the food and fun.

With India House elaborately decorated for the occasion, there were many activities taking place at the Diwali Community Bazaar celebration. There were vendors of custom jewelry, gold and silver jewelry and crafts.  The Diwali program on the main stage featured a “Cultural Talent Show” organized by Sarada Akunuri and her team, which included classic and Bollywood dance performances, singing, and various musical acts by local performers. Among the highlights was the presentation by Houston Grand Opera, written by one of our own, the famous Chitra Divakaruni. Several young children delighted and thrilled the audience with their almost “professional” performance. Participants included talented artists from young children to mature adults.

This wonderful Diwali Community Bazaar celebration was generously sponsored by Houston Grand Opera and we give special thanks to them. Thanks also go out to the great effort by the Steering Committee: Kul Bhushan Uppal, Yolanda Benoit, Sarada Akunuri, Raj Pasala, Sara Dugal, Mahesh Wadhwa, Krishna Keerty, Falguni Gandhi, Ragu Nednur, Jeanne Haner, and ICC.

Diwali or “The Festival of Lights” is a five-day Hindu festival. It is an official national holiday in India and several other countries. Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated with families performing traditional activities together. The name “Diwali” or “Divali” translates into “row of lamps”; the celebration involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil.

India House Houston is a 501(c) 3 organization located in Houston, Texas. India House is a non-religious, non-regional, non-political and non-profit organization. Its mission is to unite cultures, create bridges, and serve human needs by bringing resources, education, services and India’s culture to Houstonians.

For further information, visit the India House website at www.indiahouseinc.org or send email to britt@indiahouseinc.org.