Since 1994, the India Cultural Association has hosted its annual India Festival in Portland’s Pioneer Square. This year, the party is moving to Beaverton, where organizers say they’ve found room to grow. The celebration honors India’s Independence Day on Aug.
15, but the free 30th annual event happens 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.
m. Sunday, Aug. 11, in Beaverton City Park.
“We want to enhance our Indian culture for the benefit of the Oregonians and our youngsters,” said India Cultural Association President Jaisen Mody. “And we also salute the fact that India obtained independence in 1947 and continue to celebrate that.” Since its founding in 1980, the India Cultural Association has been dedicated to promoting Indian culture and creating opportunities for the community to connect.
In the past 30 years, the organization has witnessed significant growth in Oregon’s Indian population, particularly in Beaverton and Tigard, said Mody. This year’s festival aims to connect even more people with their cultural roots, by moving to where a large percentage of Oregon’s Indian population lives. According to the U.
S. Census, the number of Indian people in Oregon more than doubled from 13,676 in 2010 to 29,028 in 2020. Washington County accounts for a large portion of that increase with 9,410 in 2010 and 19,223 in 2020.
Mody, who has been with the organization for 29 years, cited two reasons for the change in venue: “One was, in effect, we wanted to try something new. And secondl.