Draft:DJ Prashant
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DJ Prashant | |
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| Born | Prashant Kakad Nashik, Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation(s) | Disc Jockey, Event Producer, Engineer |
| Years active | 2009–present |
Prashant Kakad, known professionally as DJ Prashant, is an Indian-American disc jockey, event producer, and former engineer, based in Portland, Oregon, United States and known for his contributions to the South Asian performing arts and nightlife scene in the United States.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Kakad was born and raised in Nashik, Maharashtra, India, where he was introduced to Bollywood music and dance at a young age. He moved to the United States to attend college at Cornell University and began a career as an engineer at Intel Corporation.[1] Earlier in his career, Kakad held a patent while working as an engineer at Intel.[2]
Career transition
[edit]Kakad is recognized in the South Asian diaspora for his shift from engineering to DJing. In a 2025 interview with the Portland Tribune, he described his work as a form of “rebellion” against regionalism in India, advocating for unity through music and dance. He stated, “Music and dance has the power to make best friends out of people with the widest apart political spectrums, widest apart skin colors, widest apart geographical places.”[3]
Musical career
[edit]Kakad is the founder of Bollywood Dreams Entertainment, a production company that organizes dance parties and cultural festivals focused on Indian music and traditions. Since 2009, he has produced Bollywood Night, a recurring dance party that has toured multiple U.S. cities including Portland, Seattle, New Orleans, and Helena.[4]
His DJ sets blend Bollywood, Bhangra, and electronic dance music, often incorporating live dance instruction and interactive performances.[1]
In 2018, Kakad collaborated with the Eugene Concert Choir on the original musical A Bollywood Dream and has hosted regular DJ nights at Lola’s Room at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon.
Holi Festival in Portland
[edit]In 2025, Kakad produced Portland’s first large-scale Holi celebration at Pioneer Courthouse Square. The event featured music, DJ sets, Bollywood dance performances, and the traditional throwing of colors.[5][6]
The event was described by American Kahani as part of a national trend in which Indian American artists promote Holi as a “festival of belonging.”[7] The 2025 celebration built on Kakad’s annual Holi Hai events in the Portland metro area, which have drawn large multigenerational audiences in past years.[8]
Diwali and other events
[edit]Kakad has organized Diwali celebrations in Hillsboro, Oregon,[9] and New Orleans, Louisiana.[10] These events include cultural performances, food, and Bollywood dance.
Recognition
[edit]In 2024, Kakad was named an Echo Fund Awardee by MusicOregon for his work in the arts sector.[11] He also received a Scale Up Grant from Prosper Portland’s Events and Film Office to expand cultural programming in Southeast Portland.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Full-time party starter: DJ Prashant was once an Intel engineer". The Oregonian. April 2022.
- ^ "Bollywood timing right for producer Prashant". The Oregonian. July 2010.
- ^ "How this Portland man went from ex-Intel engineer to full-blown DJ". Portland Tribune. April 18, 2025.
- ^ "Bollywood Night comes to Helena". Helena Independent Record. 3 October 2014.
- ^ "Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square hosts first-ever Holi celebration". OPB. March 31, 2025.
- ^ "Downtown Portland welcomes first-ever Holi festival celebration". KPTV. March 31, 2025.
- ^ "As it gains wider audience and participation, Indian American Hindus fashion Holi into a festival of belonging". American Kahani. April 2025.
- ^ "Portland Holi Hai: The festival of colors Bollywood party welcomes spring with dance, music, and flying colors". The Oregonian. March 2023.
- ^ "Diwali celebration in Hillsboro features sweets, sounds, and sparkle". The Oregonian. November 2021.
- ^ "Indian Festival of Lights to shine in New Orleans". Loyola Maroon. 10 November 2017.
- ^ "Echo Fund Awardees". Music Oregon.
- ^ "Colorful SE festival receives Scale-Up Grant". The Southeast Examiner. November 2024.