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Light and Belonging: Houston’s Diwali brings home a culture across continents
For first-generation immigrants, Houston’s Diwali is memory, pride, and hope. It kindles nostalgia for a homeland left behind, and a way to pass culture to the next generation.
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Kapil Sharma - Fri, 10, Oct 2025
- 14:05 EDT
- 21
Kids perform a cultural dance at the event. / Courtesy: Kapil Sharma
The night sky over Constellation Field shimmered with fireworks, each burst painting streaks of gold and crimson across the horizon. The crowd of more than 10,000 people murmured in awe, their eyes reflecting the brilliance above and the lights of the stage below.
Among them, a young boy tugged at his father’s hand, adjusting the folds of his dhoti with careful pride. His accent was unmistakably American, his laughter easy and familiar, yet the way he watched the stage, captivated by the music and lights, showed that in that moment he was entirely, beautifully Indian.
For his family, and for countless Indian-Americans in Houston, the festival is far more than an evening of entertainment. It is a bridge between worlds. For parents, it is a chance to reconnect with the homeland they left behind, to relive the smells, sounds, and rhythms of Diwali. For the children, it is an opportunity to step into a culture they inherit but have never truly lived. The dhotis, the bhajans, the stories of Ram and Sita, the glow of the diyas - all of it becomes tangible and unforgettable.
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