Houston: The grand festival organized on Diwali-Dussehra in Houston, USA is showing the culture, heritage, and values of India in a unique way. The festival held here in Texas attracted a record 10,000 people, including people from different regions and ethnicities. The 11th Grand International Diwali Dussehra festival has been organized at ‘Constellation Field’ in Sugar Land, a suburb of Greater Houston. Many officials including US lawmakers, judges, mayors, and commissioners attended the celebration.
Organized by Shri Sita Ram Foundation (SSRF), an NGO, this huge festival is being celebrated since the year 2012, but in the last years, its magnitude has increased a lot. The Foundation has found an innovative and unique way of sharing Indian Vedic culture and values.
Last year, it launched an effort to emphasize the Diwali message of ‘the victory of good over evil’ by including consuls general from 15 countries in the Dussehra parade. This year, Texas Governor Greb Abbott, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, and the Consul General of several countries attended the Dussehra parade. The venue of the event, the football stadium, has been beautifully decorated and lights of various colors have been arranged in it. Apart from this, dishes from every corner of India were served in the ‘Food Bazaar’ here.
During this, folk dance and Indian martial arts were performed on the stage. Children dressed in colorful outfits, showcasing different characters, were also seen on the stage. Moonwalks, balloons, horse riding, face painting, etc. were arranged for the children. Here a 24-feet high statue of Lord Hanuman and a 35-feet high statue of Lord Rama were installed next to the stage.
When a play was staged in English based on Lord Rama and his last battle with Ravana, the audience was mesmerized and watched. SSRF President Arun Verma said, “We are trying to showcase, introduce and create awareness about India’s rich and vibrant culture and moral values to the Indian community and all Americans. ,
Verma told ‘PTI-Bhasha’ that this year in view of the overwhelming response of the people to this festival, we may have to move this festival to a bigger venue, because the capacity of this football stadium is limited to 10 thousand spectators, due to which Many people had to be refused entry.
Mayor Turner led the parade in Houston along with Consul General of India Aseem Mahajan and others. Representatives of about 100 Consul Generals, who represent many countries, participated in this parade. In this year’s celebrations ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ festival was also celebrated to commemorate 75 years of India’s independence. Since the November election has come to a close. So many candidates, such as Beto O’Rourke, who is running for governor of Texas, greeted the Indian American community on stage. During Ravana Dahan, a 25 feet high effigy of Ravana, effigies of Kumbhakarna and Meghnath were burnt.
