The National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., hosted its annual IlluminAsia celebration in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.
Visitors spent the evening enjoying music from a variety of cultures, dancing and exploring exhibits connected to Hindu, Islamic and Asian history..
From Chinese ceramics to Hindu and Buddhist sculptures, the museum offered guests a glimpse into traditions shaped across generations and continents while encouraging cultural appreciation through interactive experiences.
For visitors like Estelle Lote, 16, the experience highlighted the importance of cultural understanding.
“I think learning about different cultures is really important, especially nowadays, because people don’t really know about different cultures or how to talk to people who don’t come from the same places,” said Lote.
IlluminAsia showed how museums can become more than spaces for displaying artifacts, serving instead as places where culture, storytelling and community come together.
