The Indian Culture Association will have its annual Golden Gala starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, inviting students, faculty, staff and the broader Abilene community to experience Indian culture.

The event will feature cultural performances, authentic Indian cuisine and interactive activities that showcase Indian heritage. ICA officers said the goal is to create an inclusive environment that allows anyone, regardless of background, to enjoy and learn about the beauty of Indian culture.

“The components of our culture that I hope they experience are dance, art and food,” said Anna Oliver, ICA co-president.

This year’s celebration includes Bollywood dance performances, henna art and traditional dishes catered from Biryani Bistro, an authentic South Asian restaurant in Irving. Officers said the event often feels like “an Indian wedding without people getting married,” emphasizing its vibrant, community-oriented atmosphere.

Tickets and admission

Tickets are $15 per person for general admission, student tickets are $5, and staff and faculty have a discount that takes $5 off the general admission ticket.

The ICA officers encouraged community members to purchase tickets early and join the celebration, which they said is designed to bring people together for “a festive evening of joy, connection and shared traditions.”

Months of preparation

Planning for Golden Gala began in the summer, with officers coordinating food vendo

rs, decorations, performers and marketing.

“It wasn’t easy, to say the least,” said Ethan George, ICA event coordinator. “A lot of phone calls and talks back and forth between people. But it was a team effort. It wasn’t just me.”

Finding a venue and recruiting volunteers were among the biggest challenges this year. The event will take place at Hillcrest Church of Christ, which officers said provided the space and layout they needed, especially with the event falling close to Thanksgiving break.

Building cultural understanding

Beyond celebrating Indian food and performance, officers said Golden Gala serves a deeper purpose: building understanding across cultures on campus.

“There are a lot of people who might not fully know what our culture is,” said Oliver, senior psychology major from Frisco. “Having an event that showcases what our culture is can help foster that understanding, and it could bridge the gap between students from other cultures and our culture.”

ICA encourages attendees to dress in “Sunday best,” though students interested in wearing traditional Indian clothing are welcome to do so.

A celebration of heritage and home

For ICA officers, the event is both a cultural showcase and a personal celebration.

“Putting this whole thing on and having people show up really means a lot to me,” said co-president Caleigh Savari, senior business management and marketing major from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “I get to learn about my culture as I’m doing this, so I’m learning new stuff every single time.”

Student participates in Henna at the 2024 Golden Gala. (Photo by Josh Hollwarth)

George described Golden Gala as a reminder of home amid the newness of college life.

“So this event to me personally is like a nice little celebration of, you know, where I came from, what my culture is,” said George, sophomore management major from San Jose, California. “It’s like bringing a piece of home to ACU.”

ICA hopes the event continues to grow and encourages any student interested in joining or supporting the organization to connect with them during or after the celebration.