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Nearly 20,000 people attended the eighth annual Festival of India at the Howard County Fairgrounds on September 19 and 20, according to the Indian Cultural Association (ICA), which organized the event.
The two-day festival featured music, dance, food, art and activities highlighting Indian culture and the Indian American community. Held under the theme “250 Years, Countless Stories, One America!”, it also included an ICA-curated exhibit tracing the earliest arrivals of people from India to the United States, as the country marks its 250th anniversary.
More than 500 performers took part over the weekend, presenting classical, folk and Bollywood dance, as well as vocal and instrumental music. The festival, which has been voted Best Festival in Howard County in 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026, also marked India’s 80th Independence Day, noted ICA.
Vendors and artisans from across the United States sold clothing, jewelry, handicrafts, home décor, Diwali decorations and other goods at the festival’s shopping bazaar. Food vendors offered dishes from different regions of India. Other activities included children’s games, henna, information from community organizations and health and wellness resources. Flu shots were available on-site.
“This was an incredible weekend for the Indian Cultural Association and for the entire community,” said Sanjay Srivastava, president of ICA. “Seeing so many people come together to celebrate Indian culture demonstrates the power of cultural events to build community and create connections across backgrounds and generations.”
Niti Srivastava, ICA’s executive director, said the festival gave attendees an opportunity to learn about one another and hear stories from the Indian American community.
Srivastava said, “The Festival of India is much more than a cultural event. It is a place where people come together, learn from one another, celebrate our differences and discover what we share. We are especially proud that this year’s Festival brought together such a diverse audience and showcased the many stories that are part of the Indian American experience.”
Maryland’s governor and General Assembly issued citations recognizing the occasion, ICA said.
Other distinguished guests included Senator Katie Hester; Delegates Natalie Ziegler, Terri Hill, and Dr. Chao Wu; Meg Ricks, Member of the Howard County Public School System Board of Education; Dr. Yang Yu, Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs; Dr. Lanlan Xu, Commissioner, Howard County Asian American Pacific Islander Commission; Dr. Kevin Chin; Ryan O’Connor; Spencer Rhoda; Fitzgerald Mofor. Representatives from Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth’s office were also present to join in the celebration.
Minister, community affairs and personnel at the Embassy of India, Satyapriya Singh, also attended the event.
ICA said hundreds of volunteers, performers, vendors and community partners helped organize the free event. Its sponsors included the Maryland State Arts Council, Howard Community College, M&T Bank, Visam Financials and MD250.
