Telfair Holi Celebration Ignites in a Spectacular Rainbow of Joy
SUGAR LAND: Imagine stepping into a kaleidoscope of colors—red, yellow, pink, and orange—where faces and
outfits blend in perfect harmony. This wasn’t just any party; it was the electrifying celebration of Holi, the Indian festival of colors, right in the heart of Telfair, Sugarland, organized by Telfair Indo-American Cultural Association (TELICA), a 501.c.3 non-profit.
Beyond the traditional color-filled fun that unites people across ages and backgrounds, the event was a non-stop thrill ride. The Houston Bhangra Academy brought the house down with their high-energy performance, while Telica’s own Nitu Jiwnani choreographed a jaw-dropping flash mob. And what a treat to have a special cameo by our very own Dhol Maestro Avichal Agarwal! The reverberating Bollywood hits, combined with the infectious energy of MC Satya Narendrula, kept the attendees dancing to the vibrant Holi beats. There were plenty of fun games to keep everyone entertained. And, of course, congratulations to Pritish & Manisha and Amit & Ketki on snagging the coveted Sari award!
Jaspreet Desai, co-leader of the event, beamed with pride: “Putting this together with Srujana Byru, my co-lead, and our fantastic TELICA volunteers was an absolute blast! Seeing those happy faces and getting such positive feedback from the community made all the hard work totally worth it.”
The TELICA Holi event attracted over 400 residents to this colorful extravaganza. Notable attendees included Ping Zhou President, Sanjay Singal, and Srujana Byru from Telfair Community Association. Mayoral candidates Michelle Mikeska, Naushad Karmally, William Ferguson, and Carol Mc- Cutcheon also joined in the fun.
Community leaders like Judge Sonia Rash (Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3), Judge Julie Matthew (Presiding Judge of County Court at Law 3), Judge Surendran Pattel (Judge of the 240th District Court), Ibrahim Khwaja (First Assistant District Attorney of Fort Bend County), and Captain Manojkumar Pooparayil, (Precinct 3 Constable of the Police) added to the celebration’s excitement.
Deepak Kanwar, President of TELICA, summed it up perfectly: “This Holi bash was truly a testament to the power of community and color! Based on the excitement and feedback, we’re thrilled to make this an annual Telfair tradition!”
A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible TELICA volunteers who made this happen: Jaspreet Desai (Colead), Srujana Byru (Colead), Avichal Agarwal, Hemant Kanwar, Janak Desai, Khyatee Ranjan, Nitu Jiwnani, Paresh Darira, Pratiksha Dalwale, Rani Narendrula, Ravi Ranjan, Ruchi Contractor, Saideep Narendrula, Sejal Gadhia, Sapna Kanwar, Satya Narendrula, Simi Agrawal Samuel, Vanita Ranjan, and many, many high school volunteers. Your dedication and enthusiasm are what make our community shine!
Telfair, get ready to be dazzled again! Mark your calendars for TELICA’s 2026 Holi celebration, promising to be even bigger and brighter!