As the India zone in the four-day Houston International Festival was a huge success, the organisers have decided to make it a permanent feature from 2006.
So strong was support from Indian and Pakistani communities that a permanent stage for Indian performances may be added to future festivals, IFest Chairman Robert Sakowitz said.
The festival, which earned nearly $ 3 million this year, showcased India's exotic music and dances, diverse cuisine and other specialities.
The total attendance topped 200,000 and over 52,000 tickets were sold at the gate for $10 each, festival president Jim Austin said.
Discounted advance tickets sales totaled 13,000, he said adding these figures reflect the festival's best performance since 2002 when 70,023 tickets were sold.
"You do not miss anything, until you have it," Sakowitz said at the concluding festival reception organised by Indian Consul General Skand Ranjan Tayal.
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