A bronze statue of Mohandas Gandhi by renowned Indian artist Anil R. Sutar will be installed in the south lawn of the Bellevue Regional Library and unveiled during a day-long reception and festival Saturday, October 17.

The statue is a gift to the King County Library System from the government of India to commemorate Gandhi’s contributions toward peace and nonviolence. This year marks the 140th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth.

“We are honored to receive this moving tribute to the iconic leader of nonviolence,” said KCLS Director Bill Ptacek.

The day of celebration begins at 11 a.m. and the sculpture will be unveiled at 2 p.m.

Refreshments and family activities will be part of the event, including Indian-American groups and cultural events, local and international dignitaries including Her Excellency Ms. Meera Shankar, Ambassador of India to the United States.

Parking is limited. A free shuttle provided by Starline Bus Service will be available the day of the event, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Hidden Valley Park, 1905 112th Ave. NE, Bellevue. Bus routes to the Bellevue Library include Routes ST550, MT249, MT233, MT249, and MT271. For more information visit http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/.

This gift has been made possible by the cooperation between the government of India, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco, the King County Library System, the National Federation of Indian American Associations, the City of Bellevue, and the Trade Alliance of Greater Seattle.

The library is located at 1111 110th Ave. NE.