In the same tradition of Redmond’s annual Anandamela festival, the city of Bellevue and the Vedic Cultural Center of Sammamish are bringing the Indian cultural experience to Bellevue for the Flavor of India Festival, to Downtown Bellevue Park.
Taking place over Labor Day weekend, the free outdoor festival will celebrate the diversity of several regions throughout India through a variety of cultural traditions. The first of its kind in Bellevue, The Flavors of India Festival is expected to be the largest of its kind in the Northwest.
Although thousands of people attended the Anandamela festival last month, there are a variety of elements that will set this event apart.
“We want it to be different from [Anandamela],” said Latha Sambamurti, artistic director for the new festival. “We want to give people who will have gone to both unique experiences.”
Aiming to focus more heavily on the cultural expressions, the Bellevue festival will feature fewer live performances than its Redmond counterpart. Additionally, the Flavors of India Festival will feature a variety of displays celebrating the rich diversity of regions across India: a replica of a traditional Indian Village display, yoga, vegetarian cooking and meditative singing (kirtan). The festival also will include a real Punjabi wedding celebration, an elaborately decorated palanquin procession, and a wide selection of Indian cuisine.
Flavors of India will take place Sept. 2-3 from noon to 9 p.m. For more information, go to www.FlavorsofIndia.us.
A Punjabi wedding is a time for music and dance, rich food soaked in butter, and sweets dripping in syrup popped from hand to mouth. COURTESY PHOTO