RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The 41st annual Festival of India took place in Richmond this weekend, as community members gathered to enjoy live performances and Indian cuisine. From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on both Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29, people came to the Greater Richmond Convention Center for the Festival of India. This event -- which began in 1981 -- invites people from all over Virginia to explore culture through music, food and dance. Mohini Nallapaneni -- one of the food booth coordinators -- talked about what an event like this offers for the community as well as those that make the festival possible. "The festival is about bringing everybody together, the whole community, everybody that is in central Virginia -- the goal is to have all of them come together and celebrate the festival," Nallapaneni said. "For all of the food, the culture, the vendors that come from different places -- we wanted to have the one stop shop where they can socialize and have fun." For more information about the Festival of India, visit their website. Continue scrolling to see photos from the cultural event. (Photo courtesy of William Berksteiner, 8News) (Photo courtesy of William Berksteiner, 8News) (Photo courtesy of William Berksteiner, 8News) (Photo courtesy of William Berksteiner, 8News) (Photo courtesy of William Berksteiner, 8News) (Photo courtesy of William Berksteiner, 8News)