Lecture and exhibition
Bowers Museum
January 23, 2026 at 6:00 P.M.
Update: Consulate General of India in LA, Dr. K J Srinivasa will attend and provide remarks at the start of the program.
Join the World Affairs Council of Orange County at Bowers Museum for an illuminating program exploring the global significance of India’s textile traditions. This presentation examines how India’s painted and printed cottons evolved through centuries of artistic mastery, technological innovation, and sustained cultural exchange. Drawing on the themes of Bowers Museum’s exhibition, Dr. Nalini Rao of Soka University of America will trace how these textiles traveled across continents, shaped international trade, influenced artistic production from Cairo to London, and forged enduring cultural connections. Through a diplomatic and historical lens, the program highlights India’s role as a creative and commercial nexus, where global encounters inspired new techniques, colors, and designs. Attendees will gain deeper insight into how India’s textile artistry became a transformative force in world history and remains a vibrant, evolving tradition today.
6PM Exhibition Viewing & Live Indian Traditional Dance Performances
7PM Lecture
8PM Exhibition closed
Ticketed Event*: Students, Bowers Members & WAC-OC Members $20 | General $45
*Includes admission to the exhibition Global Threads: India's Textile Revolution as well as 20% off your meal at any Natraj Indian Bistro when you show this flyer or email confirmation (only valid on event day).
Confirmation email sent after registration!
