Omaha celebrations bring Indian literature, cinema, cuisine, photography and dance to American students, strengthening cultural and educational ties between India and the United States.

By: Vandana Jhingan

Indian culture took center stage at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, as the state’s first India Culture Week was inaugurated on Wednesday, October 21. Jointly organized by the Consulate General of India in Seattle and Creighton University, the initiative showcased India’s cultural diversity through literature, cinema, cuisine, photography and dance.

A key highlight was the unveiling of the first India Corner in Nebraska at Creighton University’s Reinert-Alumni Memorial Library. A gift from the Government of India, the collection features books on India’s history, culture, cinema, art, ecology, spirituality and cuisine. It aims to introduce students and faculty to Indian literature and scholarship while encouraging greater interest in the country’s heritage.

An ‘Incredible India’ moving photo exhibit at the Mike and Josie Harper Center offered visitors a visual journey through India’s people, places and everyday life, from the streets of New Delhi to the temples of Bhubaneswar. The photographs were taken by an acclaimed Seattle-based photographer during a United States Pacific Northwest delegation visit to India in March 2026. The delegation, organized by the consulate, included Creighton University Vice Provost Dr. Kari Costello and other representatives from Nebraska.

The celebrations also featured performances by the Gurukulam Center for Indian Arts, showcasing classical dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam, alongside Punjabi folk and contemporary dances. The performances highlighted India’s regional diversity and centuries-old artistic traditions.

Students and faculty sampled Indian cuisine at the India Food Festival, which introduced them to the country’s distinctive spices, flavors and regional specialties. The inaugural day concluded with a screening of the acclaimed 2016 film ‘Dangal’ at the Hixson-Lied Auditorium as part of the Indian Film Festival.

The initiative builds on a cultural exchange model launched at Seattle University in November 2024. Since then, Indian film festivals have reached educational institutions and cultural venues across the United States Pacific Northwest, including the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, Shoreline College, the University of Montana, North Dakota State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Through India Culture Week, the Consulate General of India in Seattle aims to bring contemporary India and its heritage closer to young Americans, encourage interest in Indian studies, strengthen educational and people-to-people ties, and promote travel from the region to India.