Around 20,000 attendees were part of the 8th Annual Festival of India, presented by the Indian Cultural Association (ICA) at the Howard County Fairgrounds this past weekend, September 19–20. The festival has been described as “a celebration of Indian culture, music, dance, food, arts, and community, Indian culture, music, dance, food, arts, and community.”
According to the release, the festival has grown into one of the region’s largest celebrations of Indian culture. It attracts visitors from throughout Maryland, the Washington metropolitan area, and has been voted Best Festival in Howard County in 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026.
The festival was held under the theme “250 Years, Countless Stories, One America!”. It celebrated India’s rich culture, and the many contributions and stories of Indian Americans as the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary.
The festival also celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day as more than 500 performers took the stage throughout the weekend. There were performances with a variety of Classical, Folk, and Bollywood dances, vocal performances, instrumental music, and other cultural presentations.
The festival’s expansive Shopping Bazaar featured vendors and artisans from across the United States, offering visitors Indian clothing, jewelry, handicrafts, home décor, Diwali decorations, gifts and other cultural merchandise. There was also a wide selection of Indian food for the attendees.
“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, Executive Director of ICA, 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.”
The festival welcomed numerous elected officials, community leaders, and distinguished guests. The Governor of Maryland and the Maryland General Assembly issued citations recognizing the historical occasion.
The Minister of Community Affairs & Personnel, Ms. Satyapriya Singh from the Embassy of India was also part of the event.
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.