Bellevue Square will host a free Diwali celebration on Saturday, Nov. 7, with live performances, free henna and hands-on activities in Downtown Bellevue.
The main event runs in Center Court, where Indian dance, visual arts and music fill the stage from noon to 5 p.m., the Downtown Bellevue Network reported.
Artists from SARAHENNA Organic Body Art will apply free henna designs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at stations on the first level near Nordstrom and on the second level near Joe & The Juice.
The Saturday celebration caps a week of Diwali displays at Bellevue Square running Nov. 2–8.
Visitors can stop at Center Court for a photo at the Diwali Pop Spot, try an interactive Diwali screen or pose in front of augmented-reality screens on the first and second levels that place shoppers in a festive backdrop.
Artists from the Seattle Maharashtra Mandal community created rangoli designs from sand, on view throughout the mall during the week.
The group is also presenting a display of saris on the first level. Lantern craft kits to make at home are available at Guest Services while supplies last.
Diwali, also called the Festival of Lights, is one of India's most widely celebrated holidays. The five-day festival follows the lunar calendar and marks a new year welcoming happiness and prosperity.
The name comes from the words for "light" and "a row," a reference to the rows of lights families use to brighten their homes during the celebration, according to the Bellevue Collection's Diwali page.
The henna designs, according to the Bellevue Collection, last for weeks after the event.
