SUGAR LAND, Texas — From the fashion to the food. From the costumes to the choreography. It’s an all out elaborate exposure to Hinduism.
The Diwali - Dussehra festival brings to life Indian cultures and traditions, like nowhere else in Texas.
“It's not every day that we get to go to India, we might as well bring mini-India right here in our backyard," volunteer Shalini Aggarwal said.
It’s the celebration of good over evil. In India, it goes on for thirty days. But in Sugar Land, it’s for one night only, founded here by Arun Verma, so kids growing up in America won’t lose the legacies that are so vital to their history.
“Children who are born in raised here, they need to get reconnected to their roots. And there’s a lot of educational aspects to this festival," Verma said.
14-year-old Anjali gets it. This is the second year she’s performing on stage.
“Like we’re in a different country. In Indian, this would be different, we would be more aware of our culture, but here, kids might not know it as much. So its important doing these shows and learning about it and teaching others about it," Anjali Aggarwal said.
More than ten thousand people came from all over the state, even the Governor himself.
It’s a cultural indulgence they hope everyone can enjoy.
“It’s very colorful. It’s very festive, and we go all out to celebrate our festivals," Verma said.