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The event will be held at Huntington Middle School in San Marino and begins at 5:30 p.m. The showcase marks four decades of Indian American integration into Pasadena’s cultural landscape through folk dances and music.
“I feel like the Indian community is well woven into the fabric of Pasadena now. There are so many students at Caltech who move here from India or different states,” said Shubhshree Bhargava, a volunteer at the Hindu Temple.
The foundation’s growing influence is evident in recent celebrations, Bhargava noted.
“In the 2024 Holi, at least 50% of the crowd was non-Indian,” she said. “We want to tell everyone that we welcome you.”
“We are actually very well assimilated with the local community, not just the Indian American community, but also with Pasadena Boys and Girls Club, with destitute women in downtown LA,” said Rima Madan, a businesswoman who owns convenience stores in Pasadena and Arcadia.
The cultural showcase, featuring performances from various Indian regions, represents over two decades of community celebration, with active youth participation in organizing events and maintaining traditions.
“We’ve been here since forever. So we had a small organization that started in 1986. Then the Hindu Temple was incorporated in 1998,” Madan explained.
The foundation serves as both religious and cultural hub, offering Hindi language classes, traditional dance instruction, and music programs for community members of all backgrounds.
“Looking at all of those events, I feel like we still have a little more way to go. I’m hoping one day it will be the norm. New York does Diwali off,” Bhargava said.
Tickets are available at https://events.sulekha.com/
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