by Nicole Bradford
Authentic food, vendors, folk dances and competitions will highlight the annual Puranava Indian Art and Culture Fest, scheduled April 20 at the Pearland Town Center.
Free and open to the public, the festival includes a 6 p.m. “chariot fest,” vendors, children’s activities, and art exhibits.
Named for “pura,” meaning ancient, and “nava,” meaning new or modern, the festival was first conceptualized in India as an annual heritage and culture quiz competition conducted by the Global Organization for Divinity, India.
It came to the U.S. in 2017 in Dallas and to the Houston area in 2018, where it has grown to be an Indian Culture Festival with exhibits, performances, arts, vendors, and contests. The festival came to Pearland Town Center in 2019, and after changes in the schedule due to the pandemic, it returned as a Spring event last year.
Festival hours will be noon to 7 p.m.
Competitions include classical dance, chess, art, a heritage quiz, and Rangoli — or sand art. Entries are being accepted at puranava-usa.org/houston-competitions.
For more information about the festival, contest entries, or vendor spaces, call 281-402-6585 or visit puranava-usa.org/home.
