On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, a bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at the Seattle Center, under the Space Needle and next to the Chihuly Garden and the Glass Museum. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Congressman Adam Smith, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and Consul-General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta attended the event, along with other members of the Indian-American community in Seattle.
Governor of the State of Washington, Mr. Jay Inslee also issued an official proclamation acknowledging the bust as a tribute to Gandhi’s teachings and a powerful reminder of the impact of non-violence in driving change. Another special proclamation issued by the King County designated October 2 as Mahatma Gandhi Day across all 73 cities of the Greater Seattle area.
The unveiling marked the first installation of Gandhi’s bust in all of Seattle. The day is celebrated as a national holiday in India and the United Nations acknowledges October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence.