Houston: On a vibrant Saturday evening on the sacred lands of the Iskcon Houston temple, the colours, tradition and consciousness converged in a blinding debut occasion: the Bindi 2025 cultural style parade, organized by World Bindi Day of the non -profit group. With all exhausted entries upfront, the occasion attracted an enthusiastic and numerous crowd of roughly 280 attendees, exceeding expectations and marking the evening as an simple success.
The occasion welcomed the friends of all areas of life, representing a wealthy tapestry of ethnic background. The friends witnessed a celebration like another: a tapestry of Indian inheritance, non secular symbolism and woven empowered expression by way of style and custom.
The mission behind the World Bindi Motion Day is a non -profit group of US 501 (c) (three) with a daring mission is run by all ladies: Kusum Sharma, the president, Dakshina Mehta, vp and Shilpi Srivastava as common secretary. The mission of the World Bindi Day Group is a number of:
– Protect and promote Bindi as a sacred image of non secular consciousness.
– Educate and encourage younger individuals, particularly within the Indian diaspora, of their wealthy inheritance.
– Have fun the bindi as a model of delight, energy and peace.
The declaration of the primary objective, “Bindi is not only a degree on the brow. It’s a non secular emblem, a cultural assertion and a timeless hyperlink to our roots. Via this occasion, we honor that legacy and brings it to future generations,” was reiterated through the occasion and resonated properly with a various viewers.
The evening started with a heat social hour about tea and snacks, the place attendees blended within the serene Corridor Gaurang in Iskcon adorned with Rangolis, dijayas and Indian music music. The friends had been invited to take their images with the backdrop of the “World Bindi Day”, an interactive set up that celebrates the non secular significance of the Bindi.
Ceremonial opening
A robust Ganesh Vandana adopted by a standard Diya lighting ceremony inaugurated the evening, invoking blessings for unity and creativity. The instructor of ceremonies Megha Raja, a distinguished voice within the India-American cultural scene of Houston, led the viewers to a reflective silence of 1 minute in honor of the victims of the tragic assault of Pahalgama in India, a solemn second that underlined the dedication of the occasion with peace and remuneration.
Voices of that means: the facility of the bindi
Taking the stage with steadiness and objective, Megha Raja pronounced a shifting route on the relevance of Bindi in fashionable society. She tracked her origins from Vedic traditions to her symbolic resurgence in up to date feminism and spirituality. Shilpi Srivastava, common secretary of the world Bindi, adopted a speech that describes the best mission and future plans of the non -profit group.
Runway of Variety: The Style Present distinguished
The guts of the evening got here to life when the Bindi cultural style parade started: a celebration of the ethnic use of India, adorned by neighborhood members, professionals and youth fashions that put intricate regional outfits of the complete subcontinent.
Phase 1: Kusum Sharma Bindi Style Present
The primary sequence, choreographed and directed by Kusum Sharma herself, dazzled the monitor, paired with purple daring and brown Bindis symbolizing Shakti (vitality) and Dharma (justice).
Phase 2: Dakshina Mehta and Sachi Bhatt Group Showcase
The second sequence, curated by Dakshina Mehta, vp of World Bindi Day, and Sachi Bhatt targeted on representing the Indian states, from Saris in Kantha and Bomkai Bordery to excessive -painted efforts, the visible impression was unspeakable. The fashions walked gracefully, their bindis various in type from the spherical to the crescent, displaying regional range in symbolism.
Phase three: Showcase of the Zakia Group
Bringing a fusion and elegance wave, the Zakia group introduced a western-indio model: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, together with fashionable silhouettes with conventional motifs. The highlights of this sequence was a gaggle of younger ladies from the Indian youth collective of Houston who contained the stage with conventional ghagras, mirror work and expressive bindis in daring mixed with undocccessary vests. There was additionally a dance efficiency, the general public was handled to bounce for three dancers. The occasion was adorned by an estimated alignment of native dignitaries and neighborhood leaders, a lot of whom expressed their admiration for the Mission of World Bindi Day.
Notable friends embody:
• Carol McCutchen – District four of the Municipal Council of Sugar Land four
• Sanjay Singhal – Candidate for District 2 of the Metropolis of Sugar Land
• Anju Malik – Senior Official Consul, Consulate Basic of India (Houston)
• Decide Juli A. Mathew – President Decide, Regulation Counting #three
• Decide Manpreet Monica Singh – Decide, Civil Courtroom of Harris County in Regulation #four
• South Decide Okay. Pattel – Decide of the District Courtroom, Fort Bles County
In a honest ceremony led by Dakshina Mehta and Shilpi Srivastava, 4 ladies had been honored for his or her impression and neighborhood management:
• Dr. Namrata Sharma Goel
• Carol McCutchen
• Lalitha Mata
• Anju Malik
Every acquired a prize specifically ready with a Bindi motive fabricated from hand in brass, made by rural Indian artisans supported by the Bindi World Empowerment initiative.
Because the occasion concluded, the friends acquired an Indian Curada dinner, a culinary celebration that mirrored the cultural unit that was exhibited on stage. Attendees left the place not solely nourished by meals but additionally illuminated by that means.
Many stopped to take images within the “World Bindi Day” cabin, a photograph wall lined with statements about id, tradition and self -esteem.
El evento fue patrocinado generosamente por Shri Vijay Pallod, Shri Gopal Agarwal, Shri Viral Amin, Shri Viral Amin, Shri Subhash Gupta, Shri Niranjan Patel, Shri Divyendu Singh, Shri Divyendu Singh, Shri Shari Ashish Agarwal y Shri Jugal Malani Malani Malani Malani Malani Malani
Particular because of our volunteers: Shri Achlesh Amar, ms. Kinjal Raja, Shri Rakesh Parikh, Shri Bud Patel, Shri Sree Teja Nuakki, Shri Sunkara Prakash, Sangaeta Dua Ji and Shri Vivek Singh.
Abey Joshi sound and ray
Images and video of Kranti and Paresh Shah
Meals served by the Govinda restaurant
We lengthen our honest because of the Workplace of the Basic Consulate of India Houston.
After the great success of the debut in 2025, Bindi World Day has introduced that the Bindi cultural style parade will now be an annual custom. Future plans embody:
• Cultural consciousness workshops in colleges and colleges
• Artisanal collaboration initiatives that join rural India with the diaspora
• Enlargement to different US cities for regional chapters of World Bindi Day
“We’re planting the seeds of a cultural awakening,” Megha Raja mentioned in his last feedback. “Via every bindi, we honor the previous, we empower the current and illuminate the long run.” All through the method, two key gamers: Umang Mehta and Annant Srivastava performed an necessary position within the planning and execution of this occasion.
About Bindi World Day
World Bindi Day is a non -profit group 501 (c) (three) primarily based within the USA. The group executes annual campaigns, workshops and style occasions in america, selling unity, delight and intercultural understanding.