6th Annual 'Puranava' Indian Art & Culture Fest at Pearland Town Center on April 20

Explore vibrant India! Engage with diverse India! Experience traditional India! at this unique, free festival of traditional Indian art & culture in the Houston area.

PEARLAND, Texas - Feb. 28, 2024 - PRLog -- The 6^th annual Puranava Indian Art & Culture Fest will be held at Pearland Town Center Pavilion, on Saturday April 20 from 12 pm through 7 pm. This colorful, free event aims to provide an experience of India's vibrant, diverse, age-old culture which is still a living, integral part of modern India.

Conducted by nonprofit Global Organization for Divinity in collaboration with Love to Share Foundation America, the event is supported by a cultural arts grant from the City of Pearland through the Pearland Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Mayors of the cities of Pearland and Manvel, and other dignitaries from the Greater Houston area are also expected to attend the event.

A highlight of this festival is a Chariot Fest, to be held at 6 pm, as it is celebrated even today in temples in India. Here everyone can pull a divine chariot, join in kirtan and chants, and watch numerous street cultural performances.

This unique art and culture fest will showcase traditional classical and folk dances, music, and percussion arts from India's diverse regional cultures from the north, south, east, and west, through both stage and street presentations. Also showcased will be different forms of visual art including paintings, framed art, sand art, hand-painted crafts, and more.

Visitors can also shop for ethnic Indian wear, jewelry, crafts at the bazaar; taste the sheer, flavorful variety of delicious Indian vegetarian street food and beverages, try henna art; take photos in the photo booth, and more. Kids and youth can purchase entry into a special Art & Games Zone where they can get to learn about, create, and take home unique art and crafts, prizes, giveaways, and more.

Competitions in Chess, Art, Quiz, Indian Classical Dance, Indian Classical Music, and Rangoli (floor sand art) will be held during the day. Advance registration for these needs to be done at www.puranava-usa.org/houston.  Kids/youth/adults of all ages and cultural backgrounds are welcome to participate in the competitions.

"Pura" means ancient and "Nava" means new or modern, in Sanskrit language. True to its name, this event, endeavors to do its part in bringing India's exquisite indigenous arts to the forefront and presenting the beauty of these traditions to local communities here in the USA.

For more information about this year's event, registration for the competitions, vendor registration, visit www.puranava-usa.org/houston. For information about Global Organization for Divinity Houston and its activities, visit our Facebook page: GOD Namadwaar Houston. For information about Love to Share Foundation America and its activities, visit www.lovetosharefoundation.org.