*ABOUT PURANAVA*
"Pura" means ancient and "Nava" means new or modern. True to its name, this event, which is presented in various formats by Global Organization for Divinity in several cities and countries across the world, aims to provide attendees & participants with an experience of India's vibrant, diverse, age-old culture which is still living and is an integral part of modern India.

In today’s world, Indian culture is commonly associated with Bollywood, and an awareness of India’s very diverse, vibrant, and still living, traditional classical and folk arts (both performing as well as visual arts) seems to be a little reduced, outside of Indian communities. Puranava endeavors to do its little part in bringing India’s beautiful, regional indigenous arts to the forefront and presenting the beauty of these traditions – many of which are still being actively practiced not only in India itself but also by Indian diaspora – to local communities here in the USA.

*PURANAVA 2024 at HOUSTON*
This year’s 6th annual Puranava Indian Art & Culture Fest (in Houston area) – to be held on Saturday April 20 at Pearland Town Center Pavilion – shall showcase Indian classical and folk dances and music; different forms of visual arts including paintings, framed art, sand art; provide opportunities for kids and youth to create different types of ethnic art and craft; try henna art; shop for ethnic Indian wear, jewelry, crafts at the bazaar, and of course try delicious, exotic Indian food.

A special highlight will be a Chariot Fest, as celebrated even today in temples in India, where attendees can get to pull a divine chariot, join in kirtan, and watch colorful street performances.

Youth (from all cultural backgrounds) can also participate in competitions in Chess, Art, Quiz, Indian Classical Dance, Classical Music, and Rangoli, that are planned to be held earlier in the day. Advance registration at www.puranava-usa.org is required for these.
More information about this year’s event, registration for the competitions, vendor information, etc. can be found right here on this website.

*HISTORY OF PURANAVA*
PURANAVA was first conceptualized in India as an annual heritage and cultural quiz competition conducted by Global Organization for Divinity, India. It is still conducted as an annual inter-school Heritage Quiz Contest in Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Tuticorin, Kochi, and several other Indian cities. An online Global  Puranava Quiz contest was also held in 2021-22.

Puranava came to the USA in 2017, with the first edition in Dallas, TX as an open cultural quiz contest. Over the following years, it has been conducted in Houston and California Bay Area.

In April 2018, Puranava it first came to Houston where it grew to be an Indian Culture Festival with Exhibits, Performances, Arts & Crafts, Vendors, and a number of culture-based youth competitions including a Heritage Quiz, Art and Story-telling. Since then, the event has grown by leaps and bounds in Houston and has been held each year (except in 2020 due to the pandemic). In 2019, Puranava moved to the Pearland Town Center Pavilion and was held on a larger scale with a Chariot parade in March. In 2021 and 2022, it was held in the summer during August, due to pandemic constraints in the springtime. In 2023 it went back very successfully to being a springtime event and the Art & Culture Fest drew over 1200 visitors through the day. This year, in 2024, it is back at the Pearland Town Center on April 20.

This event has been supported each year by a generous cultural arts grant from the City of Pearland through the Pearland Convention and Visitors' Bureau.

For this art and culture fest, Global Organization for Divinity collaborates with Love to Share Foundation America and several local and global organizations, businesses, professionals, and volunteers. The event draws attendees and participants from all around the Greater Houston area and its farthest suburbs, as well as from other cities in Texas including Austin, Dallas. San Antonio, and sometimes also from other US states. In the past there have been visitors from as far as Virginia, California, and Canada too for this event.