It was hard to get through the crowds that thronged the hallways at Diamond Middle School in Lexington, MA, on May 16, 2026, where Hindu Heritage Day was being celebrated with great enthusiasm.

This year’s theme was “Leela”. Bhagwan created the world and continues to engage in it with activities called Leela, subjecting himself to worldly situations and limitations. He does this to guide us by example, to educate us, and to protect Dharma. Some of the many examples of Leelas are the Ram Leela, which helps us resolve conflicts of Dharma that we encounter in our lives, the Durga Leela which restores social order, the Krishna Leela gives us the Bhagavad Gita, and several others.

All these Leelas were celebrated on Hindu Heritage Day through dances, songs and plays, by the many dance and music schools, Bal Vihars and other organizations. In the packed auditorium, all performances were thoroughly enjoyed by the audience, guided expertly through the program by two experienced emcees, who kept the audience engaged with their wit and style. There were songs and dances on Krishna Leela, Devi Shakti, tributes to Mother, plays depicting the many Leelas of Krishna, Devi, Shiva and Hanuman, a historical play on Prithviraj Chauhan, even a play in Samskrit on “Manu”, Rani Lakshmibai, which was easily understood by the audience. A wonderful Tabla performance was the culmination of the highly entertaining cultural program.

One of the highlights of the day took place in the cafeteria. There was a painting contest for children, also on the theme of Leela. With three levels of contestants, everyone got to show off their artistic skills while having fun. The children’s talent shone through their imaginative paintings, each telling a story.

There was also a Storytelling contest and a Trivia contest, held before HHD on May 2, at the Om Hindu Community Center in Billerica. Again, children of all ages, some as young as five years old, exhibited their elocution skills and told wonderful stories from Itihaasas, Puranas, and other sacred Hindu texts. They kept the audience entertained for several hours.  The storytelling session ended with a rousing round of Hindu Heritage Trivia, enjoyed by children and adults alike.

The prizes for all these contests were also given out during the cultural program. The participants of all three contests were felicitated on stage, and the prize winners were announced. The children were thrilled with their trophies and prizes.

The many vendors selling their wares competed for one’s attention, selling all kinds of ethnic wear, beautiful jewelry, shoes, books such as Amar Chitra katha comic books, a favorite amongst youngsters and adults alike, and many other things. There were booths from non-profit organizations giving information like residential and day summer camps, various educational opportunities for both adults and children, nutrition guidance, and much more.

The beautifully decorated photo booth attracted many people, who delighted in taking pictures with their family and friends, a timeless memento of the day.

The smells emanating from the food area were enough to attract everyone, causing long lines. The mango lassi and sugarcane juice were a favorite. Samosa chaat was gobbled up quickly.

People standing in the lines bonded over food. They took the opportunity to renew old acquaintances and socialize with the people next to them. Some people met after decades, some made new friends who were from the same town, same neighborhood in Bharat.

This year, with a change in venue, many people visited the event for the first time. Almost all had positive things to say about their experiences.

A veteran of HHD said: “This is the place where tradition meets the new generation.”

Another long-time attendee said: “It is amazing to see how this has grown. My kids used to come, now they are volunteering as workers.”

A first timer commented: “It is so good to see all cultural values under one umbrella. Bringing the kids here is really worth it. We are all having such a good time.”

Another newcomer said she loved the shopping and the food. “It is great to see so many different events in one place. So happy to see that Sanatan Dharma is flourishing in this country.”

As the volunteers wrapped up cleaning, there was the satisfaction of job well done. The enthusiastic participation of the local community and the many new faces surely invigorated them to start thinking about planning for next year’s event in the third week of May.
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VHP of America is a registered non-profit 501©3 national organization which has among its objectives to unite Hindus by instilling in them devotion to the Hindu way of life, to cultivate self-respect and respect for all people, and to establish contacts with Hindus all over the world. For more information, please visit http://www.vhp-america.org/