Thousands gathered in Downtown Portland for the 29th annual Celebration of India Festival Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. The event, hosted annually by the India Cultural Association for the last 29 years, encapsulates cultural elements from the country’s 28 states. Jaisen Mody, the association’s president, emphasized the importance of celebrating the holiday’s history, especially for younger generations. “We want to offer Oregonians a glimpse of India,” he said. “There’s a lot of demand from our youngsters to learn the culture and perform.” Mody said that young performers sometimes practice year-round to prepare for the festival. The event included around 540 performers. It has grown steadily over the years as interest in India’s culture has grown in Portland, Mody said. Click our bio to read the full report and see dozens of more photos. –Reporting by Austin De Dios –Photos by mark_w_graves #pdxindiafestival #indiafestival #pioneersquare #pioneercourthousesquare