This Saturday, culture will spill across the steps of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture as Richmond celebrates its first Diwali Music & Arts Festival, a full-day gathering of color, rhythm, and connection hosted by The Rith Initiative, a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by local artists Prabir Mehta and Ruchi Gupta.
For both, the event is about shining a light not just on Indian tradition but on the creative energy that flows through Richmond’s Indian community with musicians, dancers, visual artists, and families whose stories often remain outside the city’s cultural spotlight.
“It would be great for Indians to be normalized in all aspects of entertainment,” says Mehta. “So that our names don’t feel left out, as they often do. There are so many of us here, artists and families, and this is a way of saying we’re part of this city too.”
From Gallery5 to the Museum Steps
For Mehta, the Diwali festival has been a long time coming. What began in 2019 as Mother India, a modest art show at Gallery5 featuring Indian artists, has evolved each year, growing in size and ambition.
“The first one was just a trial run,” he says. “We had Indian artists on the walls, and enough interest that it grew into Hardywood the next year, then West Creek, then Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. And now, to be bringing it to the Virginia Museum of History & Culture feels like coming full circle.”
Each new setting has carried the same intention to bridge space and time, connecting Richmond’s creative scene with India’s deep artistic heritage.
“The Rith Initiative is that bridge,” Mehta says. “It’s an effort to research, educate, and preserve Indian heritage here in Richmond to cross-pollinate between what’s happening in India and what we’re building here.”
The Cosmic Rhythm of Rith
For co-founder Ruchi Gupta, a ceramic artist who moved to Richmond years ago, the meaning of “Rith” reaches back thousands of years.
“Rith is a Sanskrit word that appears in the Rig Veda, one of the oldest scriptures,” she explains. “It describes the moment humans first recognized cosmic rhythm that invisible pattern behind the changing seasons, the blooming of flowers, the rotation of planets. Dharma and karma both come from that root. We’ve just forgotten it.”
She says the initiative was born from that awareness that all culture, art, and humanity move in rhythm with one another. “The purpose is to preserve and share Indian heritage through art to bring people together through beauty and knowledge,” Gupta says. “When people participate in each other’s culture, they realize how similar we are. That’s where friendship and trust begin.”
What You’ll See and Taste, and Hear
The Diwali Music & Arts Festival promises a full-spectrum immersion into India’s creative traditions. Expect live classical and folk dances, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Bhangra, Maharashtrian, and Rajasthani, performed by local troupes throughout the day.
A Ramayan puppet show by area students will retell the ancient story of Rama’s victory over darkness, the mythic origin of Diwali’s “festival of lights.” Meanwhile, the “Drapes of India” fashion show will showcase regional weaves and textiles, highlighting the sari as a living art form.
“The sari is one of the oldest garments still worn today,” Gupta says. “Through it, we’re telling a story about survival of weaves, of craftsmanship, of memory. It’s more than fashion; it’s heritage kept alive by women’s hands.”
Visitors can also explore henna and rangoli stations, Sravani Kameswari demos, and a bustling arts bazaar featuring local and Indian artisans.
And of course, there’s the food, four vendors (two restaurants, two trucks) serving everything from spicy street snacks to homestyle curries and sweets. “All four will be set up as portable kitchens in the back of the museum,” Mehta says. “It’ll smell amazing.
In keeping with the festival’s ethos of harmony, the event will include food composting and water refill stations to reduce waste.
Music That Crosses Oceans
At the heart of the day is live music by Prabir, whose latest work blends Indian raag and rhythmic patterns with American rock and soul, an echo of his own dual identity.
“For the last few years, my music’s been getting closer to my roots,” he says. “This set will feature Indian instruments alongside my band, bass, guitar, drums, exploring ancient Indian raags with contemporary sounds. It’s ancient music through modern instruments.”
He’ll be joined by Indian vocalist Shubni Kamisar, as well as local collaborators Kelli Strawberry, Kenneka Cook, and Jeremy Flax on bass, creating what he calls “a full-on sonic celebration of light.”
The Spirit of Inclusion
For both founders, the festival’s success isn’t measured in attendance or sponsorships, it’s about presence and connection.
“Especially now, we need inclusivity more than ever,” says Gupta. “When people join in each other’s celebrations, it reminds us that diversity isn’t something to fear. It’s beautiful.”
Mehta agrees: “It’s a family-friendly event, and you don’t have to be Indian to attend. This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long, healthy effort to connect the artisan worlds of India and Richmond.”
“People should come and experience it,” Gupta says with a smile. “It will be beautiful.”
Event Details
Diwali Music & Arts Festival
Presented by The Rith Initiative
Saturday, October 18, 2025
11 AM – 4 PM
Virginia Museum of History & Culture | 428 N Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Free Admission | Family Friendly | All Are Welcome
Follow @therithinitiative on Instagram and Facebook for updates.
Photos by Peter McEhinney
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