In conversation with Anu Sehgal: Making space for South Asian culture in NYC

For more than a decade, Anu Sehgal has been thinking about what it means to make South Asian culture visible in New York.

This is especially visible this fall through two major public events: a Navratri celebration aboard the historic Wavertree at the South Street Seaport Museum on October 10, and Diwali Lights Up Asia Society 2026: Family Day on November 7.

Sehgal is the founder and president of The Culture Tree, which creates cultural programs, language classes, educational initiatives and community gatherings centred on South Asian culture and identity. She is also the author of a growing series of children’s books.

Navratri on the Wavertree — October 10

On October 10, The Culture Tree and the South Street Seaport Museum will host a public Navratri celebration aboard the historic tall ship Wavertree.

Navratri can mean different things to people: religious observance, social gathering, dance, music. The Culture Tree approaches it primarily through the lens of education, representation and accessibility.

“First and foremost, we are an education company. Anything that The Culture Tree does is agnostic to religion,” Sehgal says. “We focus on the diversity of South Asia and India. We celebrate everything.”

The event will include Raas-Garba and dandiya, with dancers teaching participants the basic steps. “Presentation of our culture and heritage is critical,” Sehgal says, as is “being accessible to everyone.”

The location is iconic. The Wavertree, built in 1885, carried jute from eastern India to the US during its working life. Sehgal describes the setting as a “perfect juxtaposition”: a South Asian celebration occupying a historic New York space, framed by the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines.

The Navratri event will bring together dancers, DJs, food vendors and small businesses. The Culture Tree has already seen an appetite for large public celebrations, with previous Holi events drawing over 12,000 people. 

“This is how Navratri is done in NYC,” Sehgal says. “In mainstream America.”

Diwali at Asia Society — November 7

A month later, Asia Society and The Culture Tree presents Diwali Lights Up Asia Society 2026: Family Day.

On offer will be music and dance performances, puppet shows, storytelling, and hands-on arts and crafts.

The event will also coincide with the launch of Sehgal’s tenth children’s book, My Diwali Story: A Story of Two Childhoods, One Light, created in partnership with Story Heroes, Asia Society, and The Culture Tree. The book explores Diwali across two contexts: a parent growing up in India and a child growing up in America. South Asian teens will play an active role in the book launch, helping ensure our young adults remain actively connected to their culture.

Beyond the Festivals

The Culture Tree has worked with NYC landmark institutions including the New York Public Library, Asia Society, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the South Street Seaport Museum. “These institutions respect what our community has to say and what our community has to offer.” Sehgal says.

She also sees these partnerships as a way to create space for artists and cultural practitioners. “We have a lot of artists and cultural ambassadors,” she says. “The Culture Tree is giving them a platform to lead.”

Sehgal is clear that New York does not lack South Asian cultural programming. “There is a lot happening.” What matters to her is how that work is framed. She hopes media platforms documenting South Asian culture will pay attention to organisations and institutions “pushing the envelope.” For Sehgal, cultural programming should consider context and meaning too, an idea that sits closely with Line & Verse’s own mission.

Find out more about the Navratri celebration aboard the Wavertree:
https://southstreetseaportmuseum.org/navratri/

And about Diwali Lights Up Asia Society 2026: Family Day:
https://asiasociety.org/new-york/events/diwali-lights-asia-society-2026