The Desai Foundation to host 12th Annual Lotus Festival at Gillette Stadium

 

 

Foxboro, MA The Desai Foundation has released the details of its 12^th Annual Lotus Festival, taking place Saturday, October 10, 2026. The gala returns to Gillette Stadium, home of the AFC Champion New England Patriots.

This year’s gala marks an extraordinary milestone: the Desai Foundation has now impacted over 12 million lives across rural India through initiatives focused on health, livelihood, and menstrual equity. To honor this achievement, the evening will feature exclusive Gillette Stadium surprises, world-class performers, and the community of changemakers that has made this journey possible.

“What began as a dream has grown into a global movement because of communities like Boston, who believed in the Desai Foundation from day one. Their unwavering support has helped us scale our impact to 12 million lives, creating dignity, opportunity, and independence for women and children across India.” said Megha Desai, president, The Desai Foundation.

The 2026 Lotus Festival also marks the addition of Zenobia Moochhala to the Desai Foundation’s board of directors. A pillar of the Boston community, Moochhala is co-founder of Care.com and currently serves as Undersecretary of Business Strategies for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Moochhala’s transition from a long-time supporter to a formal leadership role reflects exactly the kind of community investment the Desai Foundation is built on.

“I’ve had the privilege of attending almost every Lotus Festival, besides one since its inception. What appealed to me was the cause and the commitment the Desai Foundation makes in improving the lives of women, like all the initiatives they have in upscaling women, as well as the focus on women’s health. It’s been a privilege to see what everyone has done to make the Desai Foundation what it is today.” said Moochhala, board member, The Desai Foundation

The organization has grown into a force for grassroots impact, operating 30+ programs across 8 states in rural India and reaching over 4,000 rural communities. The past year has marked significant growth for the Desai Foundation, with new CSR partnerships and coverage in Forbes, MSNBC, Good Morning America, and Vogue India. The Desai Foundation is recognized as a Great Place to Work and received the Most Trusted NGO award from the Indian CSR Awards.

The Lotus Festival is excited to return to Gillette Stadium for the third time, continuing a growing tradition of bringing together community, culture, philanthropy, and performances in one of New England’s most iconic venues. While past festivals at Gillette have created memorable moments for guests, this year’s event will introduce brand-new experiences alongside the energy and entertainment that attendees have come to expect.

The Lotus Festival will take full advantage of Gillette Stadium’s newly renovated north end, which underwent a $250 million transformation completed in 2023. As part of this year’s VIP experience, guests will have exclusive access to The Lighthouse, the stadium’s new 22-story tower featuring a 360-degree observation deck with views of Boston and the New England coastline. It is one of the most distinctive new landmarks in the region, and Lotus Festival VIP guests will be among the select few to experience it.

Program Spotlight: The Asani Sanitary Napkin Program

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of India ruled under Article 21 that menstrual health is intrinsically tied to dignity, equality, and the fundamental right to life, a landmark decision that brought national attention to barriers the Desai Foundation has been working to dismantle for over two decades.

At the center of that work is the award-winning Asani Sanitary Napkin Program. Named for the Hindi word meaning “with ease,” Asani is a 360-degree “by women, for women” initiative that trains local women to manufacture and distribute high-quality, affordable sanitary napkins within their own communities, creating sustainable livelihoods while normalizing conversations around menstruation. To date, the program has produced over 13 million retail-quality menstrual pads, conducted awareness sessions with over 3 million women and girls, and trained more than 1,200 women as producers and distributors. It is recognized as one of the most comprehensive menstrual equity initiatives in India.