The Flavors of India festival is a cultural bridge here on the Eastside, and Artistic Director Latha Sambaburti says this year people are invited to dance across it on Aug. 30.

Organized by the Vedic Cultural Center of Sammamish, it will be held at Bellevue’s Downtown Park and include a full weekend of events starting Saturday.

“When audience members come, they just forget what country they’re from,” she says.

The newest addition to the festival is a dance contest to coincide with Saturday’s main event, a Bollywood dance party. DJ Prashant not only will lay down beats starting 6 p.m. Saturday, but also teach dance moves.

“He’s not just a DJ, but a dancer and a singer,” Sambaburti says. “They’ll be teaching the Bollywood moves to the audience members there,” with the grand prize being an air balloon ride for two.

Other attractions include yoga demonstrations, art and cultural displays, children’s activities like Indian puppet making, various stage performances and a free food for all, prepared fresh onsite. Sunday’s main stage event will be a live concert by the Yoginis Indian Jazz Project, a fusion band of Indian classical, American jazz and Latin and Caribbean rhythms.

Sambaburti said it’s not just the Indian community, but many Americans who have embraced the culture who will be displaying their artistic skills.

“Flavors of India is not just an ethnic festival for the Indian community. I feel it’s a festival for all of the community,” she says. “I always consider festivals are the culture bridges for a community.”

To learn more about Flavors of India and its schedule of events, go to flavorsofindia.us.

Bellevue’s Downtown Park is located at 10201 N.E. Fourth St.

Brandon Macz: 425-453-4602, bmacz@bellevuereporter.com