Desai Foundation to organize annual Lotus Festival to celebrate its huge impact

The Boston event will mark a milestone of impacting more than 10 million lives across rural India.

The Lotus Festival will include an inspirational program, live music, dancing, a seated dinner, an open bar, and an auction featuring luxury items and curated experiences. / The Desai Foundation

The Desai Foundation will host its 11th Annual Lotus Festival on Sep. 13, at the Omni Seaport Hotel in Boston, marking a major milestone of impacting more than 10 million lives across rural India.

The nonprofit, which focuses on empowering women and children through health, livelihood, and menstrual equity programs, will use the event to celebrate its expanding reach and raise funds for future initiatives.

“What began as a dream has become a movement—fueled by the passion of our teams in India and the U.S., and the steadfast support of communities like Boston,” said Megha Desai, President of The Desai Foundation. “This year, we celebrate not just a number, but the dignity, opportunity, and independence those 10 million lives now represent.”

Founded in 1997 by Samir A. Desai and Nilima Desai, the Foundation operates over 30 programs in eight states in India, reaching more than 3,400 rural communities. Its network includes more than 500 community Heroes, 1,000 Asani Ambassadors, and over two dozen corporate social responsibility (CSR) partners.

“I love the way the Desai Foundation cares more about the outcomes of the people they serve than just the numbers and dots,” said Deepika Sawhney of the Sawhney Family Foundation. “As a donor to the Desai Foundation – I am really impressed with the way they show us a different way to look at impact results. Beyond the numbers.”

The Lotus Festival will include an inspirational program, live music, dancing, a seated dinner, an open bar, and an auction featuring luxury items and curated experiences. Proceeds from the event will support vocational training for women, menstrual hygiene programs that have produced over 10 million sanitary napkins, and healthcare and education efforts for children in rural areas.

Past Lotus Festivals have featured talent such as Zarna Garg, Jay Sean, Ari Afsar, Raja Kumari, Falu, and Payal Kadakia. Details on this year’s lineup are expected to follow.

The Desai Foundation is also preparing for its 12th annual Diwali on the Hudson celebration in New York City, scheduled for Oct. 16, 2025.

In the past year, the organization has added more than 10 new CSR partners and earned recognition for Desai Foundation India as a Great Place to Work. It was also named “Most Trusted NGO” by the Indian CSR Awards.

The event will be held on Sep. 13, 2025 at Omni Seaport Hotel, Boston with live music, seated dinner, open bar, auction, and stories of impact.

Since its founding, the Desai Foundation has aimed to cultivate dignity through community-driven programs. Its leadership says the 10 million lives milestone is only the beginning.

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