The group, led by Mirza Zaheer Baig and T.P.M. Fazal, both longtime Eastern Province residents, has organized a cultural gala on Oct. 22 at the sprawling King Fahd Amusement Park in Dammam.

“We are calling it India Day celebrations and it is open to all Indians — men, women and children,” they said at a press conference on Sunday. “Different states will have different pavilions at the 50-acre park. They will showcase the colorful traditions of our country.”

According to Baig, who works as an applied research scientist at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), the Indian community is excited. “We are working as one team and it is such a learning experience organizing this event. There are aspects of our culture that we know nothing about. The Keralites, the Hyderabadis, the north Indians and the Maharashtrians all have come together to make it a memorable occasion,” said Baig.

Baig and Fazal said the King Fahd Park authorities have secured permission from the Eastern Province governorate to hold the event. “We cannot organize anything without a formal permission from the government. We are thankful to the park authorities for all their help,” he said. “Now all decks are cleared.”

The organizers are hoping to entertain more than 5,000 Indians who are expected to turn up at the extravaganza. Top-ranking Saudis have also been invited to the show. “Cultural Secretary Hifzur Rahman will represent the Indian Embassy at the show,” said Baig.

There is not much activity for the Indian community here in the Eastern Province and Indian expatriates mostly move in their own little social groups. In many cases, Indians know more about the culture and traditions of other nationalities than their own compatriots from other states.

“A Keralite may not know anything about the Gujarati Indian and a Gujarati Indian may not know anything about an Indian from Hyderabad. Our idea is to share, care and celebrate,” said Baig.

Indians in Dammam, Alkhobar and Jubail feel that their compatriots in Riyadh and Jeddah are in a better position because of the presence of Indian missions in those cities. “Sometimes we feel left out and that is why we have formed an Indian association whose primary objective is to cement ties between Indians from different states and between India and Saudi Arabia through civil society interaction,” said Baig. “It is a secular, nonprofit, noncommercial and nonpolitical group.”

Fazal, who hails from Kerala, said an ad hoc committee comprising representatives from India’s different states is taking care of the celebrations. “We have community representatives from Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. And then we have involved local Indian groups to hold painting, cookery, henna and quiz competitions,” said Fazal.

Baig said ever since Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah described India as his second home, Indians in the Kingdom have felt especially enthused. “Through this show, we want to express our gratitude to Saudi Arabia. This country has made a difference to the lives of so many Indians. We want to promote Indo-Saudi ties in all fields, especially cultural activities.”

Saudi Arabia is home to two million Indians, of which nearly 800,000 reside and work in the Eastern Province cities of Dammam, Alkhobar and Jubail.