Washington State Senate Honors Sikh Americans as Redmond's Sen. Dhingra Champions Community and Holi Season
Redmond's Senator Manka Dhingra, the first Sikh American elected to any state legislature in American history, steered the Washington State Senate to pass a resolution honoring Sikh American contributions to the state and nation. Simultaneously, the greater Seattle area is welcoming a season of Holi color festivals as South Asian communities prepare to celebrate the Hindu festival of spring and renewal.
🗳️ WA Senate Passes Resolution Honoring Sikh Americans, Sponsored by Sen. Dhingra
The Washington State Senate passed a resolution honoring the contributions of Sikh Americans to Washington state and the nation, championed by Senator Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), the first Sikh American ever elected to a state legislature in U.S. history. Senate Resolution 8630, passed in March 2025, gave Dhingra an opportunity to speak from the floor about the Sikh values guiding her public service: 'We are a community deeply rooted in the ideas of truth and service to community.' She noted Sikhism has championed equality 'back in the 15th century, especially gender equality,' and warned that rising anti-immigrant sentiment makes it 'more important than ever to make sure all people feel safe and welcomed.' Dhingra also referenced the 1907 Bellingham Riots, when Sikh Americans were driven out of the region, noting that today Satpal Singh Sidhu — a Sikh American — serves as Whatcom County Executive in the same area, calling it 'a testament to what we can achieve together when we live up to our values of respect and diversity.' The Senate session was opened with a prayer by Sharn Kaur of the Khalsa Gurmat Center. The chamber recognized Kent City Council President Satwinder Kaur and members of the Sikh Centre of Seattle. Curries in Everett and the Sikh Centre of Seattle generously provided food for a reception held following the resolution's passage, celebrating the milestone with community members gathered in Olympia. [2]
🪔 Holi Color Festivals Spread Across the Seattle Area
Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, is scheduled to be celebrated across the greater Seattle area with a series of community events in March 2026, as reported by Northwest Asian Weekly, the Pacific Northwest's leading Asian American community publication. The publication described Holi as 'a joyful annual celebration at the advent of spring with cultural and religious significance,' observing that the festival is typically held in March in India, Nepal, and across South Asian diaspora communities worldwide. Holi carries themes of love, rebirth, and rejuvenation — described as 'a time to embrace the positive and let go of negative energy' — marking it as one of the most spiritually and culturally resonant festivals in the South Asian calendar. The festival's most recognizable tradition involves participants dressed in all white throwing brightly colored powders at each other, resulting in what Northwest Asian Weekly described as 'a kaleidoscope of pigments and joy.' Music, dancing, and food accompany the color-throwing festivities. Northwest Asian Weekly specifically reported on Holi events organized across western Washington, making the celebrations accessible to South Asian communities in Redmond, Seattle, Bellevue, and surrounding communities in the region. For the Indian and South Asian diaspora in the Pacific Northwest, community Holi gatherings serve as a vital cultural touchstone — preserving traditions far from the subcontinent while welcoming broader public participation and fostering cross-cultural connection throughout the Seattle area. [1]
Sources: [2] Washington Senate Democrats (.gov) · [1] Northwest Asian Weekly