DISHA USA co-founder Ashish Agrawal thanked the “small but mighty” Disha USA team. From left are Girish Venkat, Divyendu Singh, Paro Sarkar, Avanish Agrawal, Karthik Satish, Bharat Patel, Juhi Varma, Sangeeta Dua, Ashish Agrawal, Anup Bansal, Amit Joshi. / Courtesy Photo

The annual DISHA USA Diwali Gala lit up the GSH Event Center on Oct.17 evening, filling the space with colorful sequins, laughter, and an atmosphere of celebration.

Emcees Athin Reddy, Gayathri Brown-Iyer, and Dr. Vasant Garg guided the evening’s program with warmth and ease, while 20+ young volunteers worked behind the scenes to ensure the event ran smoothly. The program opened with a moving performance by Aarya Vyas, who sang both the American and Indian national anthems.

The gala highlighted the work of DISHA USA, a Hindu faith-based nonprofit founded four years ago to promote civic engagement and voter participation within the community. It also served as a gathering place for Greater Houston’s leaders, elected officials, and community members to recognize the growing influence of the Hindu Americans and its role in shaping the city’s future.

DISHA USA is thankful for State Rep. Lauren Simmons and Fulshear Councilmember Abhijeet Uttarkar for joining the gala and giving official recognition. State Rep. Suleman Lalani also sent a recognition.

This year’s event also celebrated the next generation of leaders through the Young Achievers Awards, presented to Ananya Goyal, Akash Musale, Anagha Surendran, Nima Mistry, and Pooja Shah for their accomplishments in community service, sports, entrepreneurship, and STEM.

 

Disha USA’s 2025 Diwali Gala honored community leaders, featured Asra Nomani’s keynote, and closed with Kalakriti’s vibrant cultural performance. / Courtesy Photo

Asra Nomani

The keynote speaker was Asra Nomani, a distinguished Indian American journalist, author, and thought leader. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, PBS, and many other major platforms. 

Asra ji spoke candidly about a transformative and painful chapter of her life that began during a trip to Pakistan more than two decades ago, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. It was a time that changed the course of her life—and the world. She also spoke of witnessing the tragic killing of her friend, Daniel Pearl, a moment that left an indelible mark on her life.

Asra ji connected her story to the spirit of Diwali—a festival that celebrates light overcoming darkness. She reminded us that even in the most difficult moments, there is light that finds its way in, often through the love and strength of family and community.

“I hope that in the year ahead, you will take the vow that I take tonight, to know my power, to know my strength in emerging from darkness and to continue your path to the light,” she said.

Justice Evan Young

Guest of honor, Hon. Evan A. Young, Texas Supreme Court Justice, attended with his wife and daughter. He made a heartfelt speech on the welcoming nature of Texas and how the spirit of Diwali—triumphing over evil and standing up for what is right—resonates deeply with Texans.

Justice Young was appointed to the Supreme Court of Texas in 2021 and elected in 2022 to a term that runs through 2028. Earlier in his career, he clerked for Antonin Scalia, served at the United States Department of Justice—including leading a Rule of Law mission in Baghdad—and chaired the Supreme Court and Constitutional Law practice at Baker Botts L.L.P.

“Compared to the origins of the Ramayana, Texas's infancy was practically yesterday,” he said. “But even so, early Texans would have been almost as surprised as ancient Indians at a gathering like this one in Texas. It would not have occurred to early Texans that there would one day be a beautiful celebration of the festival of lights right here in Harris County.”

Dr. Rathna Kumar

DISHA USA was proud to honor Rathna Kumar with its Lifetime Service Recognition Award. A visionary artist, educator, and cultural ambassador, Dr. Kumar has shaped Houston’s cultural landscape since 1975. She founded the Anjali Center for Performing Arts, the first Indian classical dance institute in Texas, and as founder of Samskriti, she has built lasting cultural bridges through the arts.

A master of Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, Dr. Kumar has earned global acclaim and numerous honors, including the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award—the only Indian American to receive this distinction.

Ashish Agrawal

DISHA USA co-founder Ashish Agrawal took the stage to thank the “small but mighty” DISHA USA team, the organization’s supporters, and two of its leading sponsors — Uma and Gopal Aggarwal of Tara Capital, and Malla Mekala, president of Infodat International Inc.

Agrawal reaffirmed DISHA’s mission to strengthen civic participation among Hindu (Dharmic) Americans. He highlighted the group’s recent efforts, including voter registration drives, candidate forums, advocacy campaigns, and election data reporting. He closed with three words of inspiration-- “Vote, Contribute, and Run for Office.”

Cultural Program

The evening concluded with a vibrant cultural performance by Kalakriti Performing Arts, led by Kusum Sharma. The 20-minute production, titled Festival of Peace and Courage, mesmerized the audience with its powerful music, intricate choreography, and striking costumes and props. Blending familiar characters and Diwali themes with a touch of American patriotism, the performance delivered a timeless message about the triumph of good over evil and the journey from darkness to light.