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Bellevue welcomes everyone to Navratri Festival honoring feminine strength and heritage
Beats of Washington hosts a two-day Navratri festival in Bellevue Oct. 16 and 17, with Garba and Dandiya dances, DJs and food, welcoming everyone to celebrate Indian culture.
By Emma Maple | FāVS News Reporter
BELLEVUE, Wash. — This weekend, thousands of people from across the Pacific Northwest will meet in Bellevue for a shortened version of a traditional nine-day Indian festival.
Navratri, an annual Hindu festival that honors the divine feminine power in Hinduism, is also an important way for people to celebrate their culture and connect to their heritage according to Anand Sane, co-organizer and one of the founders of Beats of Washington, which is hosting the event.
The Washington version of Navratri will be condensed into two days, Oct. 16 and 17, and will be held at the Hidden Valley Field House, a venue that Beats of Washington rented from the Boys & Girls Club of Bellevue.
The festival is a way to honor “feminine strength, courage, compassion and positive energy,” Sane said, bringing people together through colorful celebrations, music and traditional group dances.
This festival will feature traditional group folk dances known as Garba and Dandiya, which, according to the India Foundation blog known as Chintan, are a form of worship. The dances are an energetic and symbolic way to honor the feminine energy.
The celebration of the feminine stems from the festival’s religious significance, representing the nine days that the Supreme Mother Goddess took to annihilate a powerful demon king.
Although the festival has religious roots, Sane said the festival’s focus will be on creating an inclusive cultural experience.
“Everyone is welcome, regardless of faith or background,” he said.
In addition to traditional dance, the festival will have DJs, live music, cultural performances, a flash mob, traditional decor, food, shopping vendors and more.
The festival is an important way for Indian families who reside in Washington to “stay connected to their cultural roots while sharing those traditions with their children and the broader community,” Sane said.
“We especially want younger generations growing up in America to experience these celebrations firsthand rather than only hearing stories about them,” he added. “It’s equally important to introduce our neighbors from different backgrounds to the richness of Indian culture.”
Last weekend, Times Square was taken over by a vibrant Navratri celebration, sparking social media chatter about communities that retain their culture across geographical boundaries. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted about Navratri on the social media platform X, stating that he hoped this festival will “mark a season of reflection and renewal.”
For Sane and Beats of Washington, the Navratri festival has specific goals.
“We believe cultural festivals should not just be about celebrating our own heritage, but also about inviting others to experience it,” he said. “Our hope is that families leave with wonderful memories, children develop a stronger connection to their roots and people unfamiliar with Indian traditions walk away having experienced something new and beautiful.”
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