Indo-American Festivals Inc. (IAF) has announced its 26th Annual Grand Dushahra Festival, which will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 1 PM to 8 PM at Lake Papaianni Park in Edison (100 Municipal Blvd.), New Jersey. In case of inclement weather, the Rain Date will be Saturday, October 12, 2024.
The Dushahra festival, organized by IAF, is a cultural extravaganza that celebrates the victory of good over evil and is one of the most anticipated events in the Indo-American community. The festival will feature a dazzling Ramleela performance by Varsha Naik’s group, cultural programs by Pratibha, and the highlight of the event will be the burning of a 25-foot-tall effigy of Ravan, built in the US by Krishna Singhal, in a ceremony known as Ravan Dahan.
This year, the event will also showcase a 15-foot-high Hanuman Murti and perform a Maha Aarti. This Murti is the largest Hanuman Murti on display at any Dushahra Festival in the USA.
In addition to the cultural performances, there will be a free health/medical screening camp organized by the Agarwal Samaj of the USA, Meena Bazar, arts and crafts stalls, food stalls offering delectable Indian cuisine, raffles, music, dance, and much more to entertain and engage the entire family.
The Dushahra festival is made possible in part by a grant from the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders/Office of Culture & Heritage, and the New Jersey State Council for Arts/Department of State. IAF is a non-profit volunteer organization founded by the Late Mr. Mangal Gupta in 1999 to celebrate Dushahra in New Jersey. The festival has grown over the years and attracts more than 10,000 spectators annually. It is a free event open to the public and is supported solely through sponsorships and donations from patrons and members.
For further information, interested persons can visit the IAF website at www.dushahra.com or email [email protected].