The recent Vasant Festival celebrating the arrival of Spring gave crowds attending the event sponsored by IANH on May 28 at Nashua High School North an opportunity to see the commendation of many of the participants whose performances in art, music and dance drew high praise and trophies in a variety of categories. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

NASHUA – An estimated 900 attendees recently visited the region’s 2025 Vasant Festival, an ancient Indian celebration of Hindu origin heralding the arrival of spring.

The event was hosted on May 24 at Nashua High School North by the India Association of New Hampshire (IANH) — an all-volunteer group in Manchester that since 1989 has promoted connection among those whose ancestry is rooted in Southern Asia.

The day-long festival at the high school on Titan Way offered participants a vibrant sample of Indian culture in America. The day showcased Indian food, music, original art and dance performances from 300 youth and adults, plus an Indian Bazaar where 18 vendors specialized in jewelry, apparel and Indiacentric services.

Jyoti Sharma of Nashua, chair of the IANH Cultural Committee that includes Chandana Karthik and Silvani Puvvalla, along with the exec team, coordinated the presentation, along with IANH officers Balaji Radakrishnan, president, Manoj Chourasia, vice president, Dr. Tej Dhakar, secretary and Anand Thippeswamy, treasurer.

Trophies, congratulations and recognition went to participants whose accomplishments that day for dance, art, solo performances and other sharings enriched the event.

Extracurricular activities for IANH include public service projects through volunteering at community soup kitchens. Educational forums for youth are abundant. A scholarship program supports young leaders focused on technology, science and other fields.

More information on IANH activities can be found online at ianh.org.