HOUSTON, TEXAS, August 3, 2020 (Houston Chronicle): Hindus of Greater Houston have hosted 30 years of Janmashtami festivals — bringing various traditions from the city’s temples together, according to the organization’s president, Thara Narasimhan. “India’s greatness and diversity lies in the fact that every state celebrates Janmashtami in their own unique way,” she said. In the past, Hindus of Greater Houston held a massive free event at George R. Brown Convention Center, complete with music, dance and Indian cuisine. Recently, the organization decided to move the festivities, alternating among area temples.
This year, the 31st annual festival was to be held at the Vallabh Priti Seva Samaj temple. But COVID-19 is forcing festivities to go virtual. Narasimhan is grateful that technology will make the celebration possible in spite of the pandemic. And she is looking forward to using technology to continue Hindus of Greater Houston’s most popular Janmashtami tradition: the children’s costume parade. Rasesh Dalal, a longtime member and trustee of VPSS temple and a board adviser of Hindus of Greater Houston, explained that since COVID-19, rituals have continued despite limited attendance. Instead of members visiting deities in person at the temple, which is an important part of worship, Dalal uses WhatsApp to share daily photos with them.
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