HOUSTON, TEXAS — September 17, 2026 — India House celebrated its 22nd Annual Gala on September 6th at the Marriott Sugar Land welcoming a full house of community leaders, elected officials, business leaders, supporters, families and friends.
Hon. Ravi Kishan, celebrated Indian actor, film producer and Member of Parliament of India, was the Guest of Honor, while Hon. D. C. Manjunath, Consul General of India in Houston, served as the Chief Guest.
The evening began with lively social hour at 6:00 p.m., giving some of the guests an opportunity to connect with Guest of Honor Ravi Kishan, while a live violinist performed popular Bollywood songs, creating an elegant and vibrant atmosphere as guests arrived.
The formal program opened with the National Anthems of India and the United States, sung by Uma Mantravadi and Ananthan Nair. India House President Rahul Agrawal welcomed the guests, followed by a presentation by the Executive Director, Col. Vipin Kumar (Retd.), highlighting India House’s continued commitment to serving the Greater Houston community through its wide range of free programs and services.
In his remarks, the Consul General of India in Houston, spoke about the important role India House plays in bringing people together and serving the community.
The evening’s Emcee, Puja Agarwal then introduced the vibrant dance performance by Desi Dance Revolution.
A major highlight of the Gala was the spotlight on Guest of Honor Ravi Kishan who following his speech brought the celebration to the next level, dancing on stage to the popular “Gucci” song and inviting guests to come up and join him. His spontaneous interaction with the audience created one of the liveliest and most memorable moments of the evening, with guests joining him on stage and celebrating together.
The Gala honored three young community volunteers—Manav Rungta, Manasi Rungta and Manya Rungta—with the Young Volunteer Award for their contributions to education and community engagement.
Dr. Arusha Bavare, a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, received the Community Service Award.
One of the most meaningful moments of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Col. Vipin Kumar (Retd.), Executive Director of India House, recognizing his longstanding leadership and service to India House and the Greater Houston community. Col. Kumar has served as Executive Director of India House for more than 12 years.
The leadership of India House was also celebrated as all Trustees and Executive Committee members of India House were invited on the stage for a special photograph with the Guest of Honor, the Chief Guest and the awardees,
The live auction generated additional excitement and community support where Bali getaway and EVA Airline’s introductory Houston- Delhi flight was auctioned among other items.
Another unique feature of the evening was a live painting of Ravi Kishan by young artist Nihal Kochoth. The artwork was auctioned during the evening, with Danny Desai making the winning bid of $2,000.
The Gala highlighted the broad range of FREE programs and services offered by India House. These include the Virendra Mathur Community Clinic, Citizenship Service Center, food distribution, legal and immigration consultations, yoga and meditation, wellness programs, children’s art, chess and soccer programs, English learning, technology classes for seniors, cricket and other educational, cultural and community activities.
The Gala showcased numerous recent India House initiatives, including informative seminars/ webinars, health and nutrition programs, cultural celebrations, youth programs, community outreach and collaborations with other organizations throughout the Greater Houston area.
The evening reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to its mission of uniting cultures, creating bridges and serving the Greater Houston community.
As the evening moved toward dinner, the atmosphere came alive once again with a special live musical performance. Dibyaraj Bose, Kiran Nayak and Neha Shahi captivated the audience with their singing, accompanied on the keyboard by Shrikant Pabrekar. The impromptu musical interlude was warmly received by the guests and provided a fitting finale to the evening’s entertainment while the dinner was being served.
Information about India House’s free programs and services can be found through www.indiahouseinc.org , vipin@indiahouseinc.org , 713-929-1900.
