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 secondly, economics.” The upgraded venue offers a larger festival space, providing the opportunity to attract more attendees.
Instead of the 15-20 booths seen in previous years, the festival will now feature over 50 booths, including food vendors, arts and crafts, clothing vendors and nonprofit organizations. “We thought that this would be a good experiment to try to see what happens in Beaverton,” Mody said, explaining that if it doesn’t work out, the festival can always move back to Pioneer Square. Vijay Rao, who works on sound design for the show, said there were mixed feelings in the community about moving to Beaverton, but many organizers are interested to see how the new venue will impact the event.
“Pioneer Square was a beautiful location,” Rao said. “But we had to do it, we need more space for more booths.” As the festival has grown, its reach has increased as well, Rao said.
“It has definitely grown bigger and become more popular over time,” Rao said “It’s the one place where people from Indian origin, of Indian diaspora and local people who are interested, get a lot of visibility in one place. In terms of the entertainment, the food, culture, the art ..
. quality has gone up.” The festival will also include nonstop performances throughout the day from local groups of all ages.
This year, the event is organized as a picnic-style gathering, encouraging attendees to bring blankets, chairs, sunscreen and hats. Kala Kumar, who is organizing the entertainment for this year’s festival, describes the event as a “visual treat” for guests. “It’s very diverse,” Kumar said.
“Most of [the performances] are music and dance from the filming industry, and then we also have a few traditional dances from different regions. Classical dances are there. And lots of children will be performing.
” Rao said the festival has become a tradition for many families, offering opportunities for friends to reconnect in the fair-like atmosphere filled with lively performances and a vibrant display of Indian culture. “I got involved — and my wife — when our kids were young, and they were doing some performances,” Rao said. “Even though our kids are now almost 30 years old, they come from the Bay Area, San Francisco, and make it a point to come here and participate.
” Rao said his daughter is especially eager to reunite with family and friends she grew up with. “Many kids have graduated, but some of them still come back because they love the whole atmosphere and environment,” he said. The consul general of India in Seattle, Prakash Gupta, will also attend the event to give a speech and perform the Indian National Anthem.
Rao emphasized the significance of the consulate’s presence, stating, “It’s a good way to access somebody who’s responsible for the embassy. Which means all these things — immigration level issues — he can address.” Additionally, Gupta will host a consular camp from 10 a.
m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday in Tigard. Organizers are expecting a large turnout from the Indian community, Mody said. The event historically has attracted over 10,000 visitors from all backgrounds.
“We are hoping that this venue is successful,” said Mody. “We would continue to come back here because it is closer to us, easier to plan here and has a much larger footprint.” 11 a.
m.-8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 11, Beaverton City Park, 12500 S.W.
Fourth St., free to attend, icaportland.org — Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections.
Reach her at 503-221-4327; [email protected] or @chiara_profenna The Oregonian/OregonLive receives support from the M.J.
Murdock Charitable Trust to bring readers stories on religion, faith and cultural connections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive is solely responsible for all content..
