Indian Culture

Louisiana, like the rest of the United States, had few immigrants from the South Asian nation of India until the late 1960s and 70s, after the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act eliminated national origins quotas, which had effectively restricted their entry into the country. The 1965 Act encouraged the arrival of Indian students and professionals, who first came as temporary residents before settling permanently across the nation. Indian communities first emerged in Baton Rouge and the New Orleans area before establishing roots in the Acadiana region.

For many non-South Asians, the main entry point into Indian culture has been food. Prior to the opening of Masala Indian Kitchen in 2007, owned by Shashi and Surinder Gupta, restaurant diners could only find Indian dishes at establishments with expanded menus. The most noteworthy was Bailey's Seafood & Grill, a mostly Cajun-Creole concept opened in 1993 by Ema Haq, a mechanical engineering grad from ULL. In 2024, Haq changed the name of his restaurant to Bailey's Tandoori Grill, to highlight and expand on his South Asian offerings.  

The opening of Lafayette's Desi Spice Bazaar in 2017 marked a major milestone for home cooks. Before, shoppers in search of Indian groceries would often have to travel to Houston.  

In 2019, after six years of fundraising, the Sanatan Hindu Sanskar Kendra nonprofit organization opened the Sri Krushna Balaji Mandir temple on Hapsburg Lane near Johnston Street and East Broussard Road. The nearest temple had been an hour's drive away. The mandir, Hindi for temple, offers weekly Sunday school readings of the Bhagavad Gita, a grade school program where students study the ancient Hindu texts known as the Vedas, and celebrations for all of the major Hindu festivals. 

Jay Patel, who immigrated to Lafayette in 1978 to work as a mechanical engineer, helped launch the mandir. Born to a family of temple builders — his father and uncle each constructed one — Patel also was instrumental in the formation of the Acadiana India Association in 1994, a nonprofit organization dedicated to, as their website states, "preserving and promoting a rich tapestry of cultural, educational, and humanitarian activities."

The AIA commemorates a number of secular and Hindu holidays with festivities that are open to the public. At the celebration of Indian Independence Day, held in mid-August, participants engage in spirited discussions about India's history and culture, concluding with a communal feast. 

In the fall, the AIA puts on a grand gala in observance of Diwali. Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness. The event begins with the reciting of Indian prayers by children, followed by musical and dance performances, food, and other festivities. 

But the AIA is best known for its Holi Festival, an annual springtime event started in 2011 and held in Girard Park. During Holi, known as the Festival of Colors, celebrants gather to splash each other with fluorescent water and powders to commemorate the vibrant changing of the seasons. To many Hindus, Holi is a time for resetting and renewal, for ending conflicts, and ridding themselves of emotional difficulties. Lafayette's Holi Festival is a free and family-friendly event that attracts large crowds who eat, dance, and come away color-splattered.