Global Organization for Divinity, USA

The 5th Annual Puranava Indian Art and Cultural Fest, organized by Global Organization for Divinity at Bay Area, California, was held on Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at Cottonwood Creek K-8 school in Dublin, CA. The event was well received by everyone and close to 500 attendees attended from all cultural backgrounds from around the greater San Francisco Bay Area, through the entire day to celebrate India’s rich heritage.

True to its name of blending “Pura” (ancient) with “Nava” (modern), this year’s event was all about hands-on activities to help everyone absorb and apply the grounded practices of traditional India to our fast-paced, modern lives.

Puranava, the flagship event of Global Organization for Divinity, showcased vibrant arts and cultural forms from different parts of India and contributed toward strengthening the connection of our children to our roots. Activities on Know my India, Chardham, Ramayana games, flute and butter-pot making, Indian art, Stories from Ramayana using dolls, along with special workshops on kite-making and ‘Time travel to Grandma’s Days’ sharing about village life, spices, and dessert-making. Local artists provided beautifully crafted dolls for Ramayana-themed charades and other games. From exploring western India’s Lippan art to learning about the healthy habits of Ayurvedic cooking, both participants and vendors shared their experience of being completely engaged all day. They were captivated by how unique the event was, that enabled them to discover the beauty and diversity of Indian artistic traditions with these hands-on sessions.

Alongside the interactive activities and workshops, the main stage featured a continuous lineup of performances where both children and adults joyfully celebrated India’s rich cultural heritage. The program included 65 engaging, kid-friendly performances such as Heritage Fancy Dress, Heritage Quiz, Sloka Recitation, Harikatha presentations, and Classical Music and Dance performances. These events were open to all age groups, with nearly 125 children and adults actively participating and showcased their wonderful talents in classical music and dance, captivating the audience with their colorful performances and adding a special cultural touch to the event. Certificates were presented to all participants in appreciation of their involvement. Alongside these performances were extremely insightful heritage presentations on topics consisting of Vedic Mathematics, Ancient Temple Architecture, the Ancient Wisdom of Natya Shastra for today’s dancers, and “Living in Balance” with Ayurvedic cooking practices.

The energy on Saturday caught the attention of Dublin Mayor Sherry Hu, who was gracious enough to join us as a special guest. In her address to the audience, she noted how moved she was by the welcoming environment of Puranava and emphasized wanting to see more and more cultural events like this in the city.

Her biggest request to the audience – “Next time, invite your neighbors, no matter who they are or where they’re from!”

More than just a festival, California Bay Area’s Puranava 2026 showed how naturally our ancient traditions and culture can bring people together. Seeing various generations of people interact — from seniors running the exhibits to kids making their stage debuts — was incredibly special. It was a rewarding and fun-filled day for everyone involved, and we’re excited to take the Mayor’s advice to heart for next year!

Global Organization For Divinity Bay Area Chapter is deeply grateful for the sponsors for their support in celebrating India’s rich culture and heritage. Heartfelt thanks to our incredible Puranava sponsors. Prayers to Sri Swamiji to bless God Satang Bay Area Chapter with more such events in the future!

For more information about Global Organization for Divinity’s PURANAVA events in other cities in the US, please visit www.puranava-usa.org. Upcoming Puranava events in the country include the 8th Annual Puranava Houston on April 18 2026, and the first Puranava Seattle on May 9 2026.

By
Purush Ram
Redding, California