Fort Bend judge celebrates Hindu festival; 'we are committed to honoring diverse communities to bring us together'

Fort Bend County Judge K.P. George celebrated the Hindu religious festival of Onam with other leaders in the community on Sept. 2.

Onam is an annual harvest festival that's celebrated between August and September. .

"Proud to hold the very first #Onam Festival of Harvest at the Historic Courthouse," George said, in a Sept. 2 Tweet. "As the most diverse county in the U.S., we are committed to recognizing and honoring our diverse communities as a way of bringing us together."

George was joined by Ashok Kumar from the Indian Consulate General’s Office, Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton, County Attorney Bridgette Smith Lawson, County Clerk Laura Richard, County Tax Assessor Carmen Turner and County District Clerk Beverly Walker.

The 10-day event signals the start of the harvest season in the Indian state of Kerala and honors King Mahabali. According to Vaishnava mythology, the king was part of the Asura tribe and defeated the Gods, allowing him to rule over three worlds. King Mahabali is said to have been a kind-hearted ruler who was loved by many.