Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights that celebrates the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. This year, the Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee and the Indian Culture Club (ICC) held an event celebrating Diwali on Nov. 8. Held at the S-building courtyard during lunch, students were able to participate in many different activities such as henna, rangoli, and akash kandil.
Diwali, falling on Nov. 12 this year, has many different origin stories. In the southern part of India, Diwali commemorates the triumph of Lord Krishna over the demon Naraka, who is believed to have imprisoned women and inflicted suffering upon his subjects. Meanwhile, in the northern regions, Diwali is a celebration of the joyous return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana, after their 14-year exile in the forest. As a way to celebrate these victories, families often feast together and partake in lighting up fireworks and lanterns.
During the AHS event, there were three different stations set up for the activities. Students were able to get temporary tattoos using henna, an herbal dye from the plant lawsonia inermis, also known as the henna tree. The second station was rangoli, an art form of designing patterns with materials such as powdered limestones, in this station students were able to design their own patterns using chalk. Lastly was akash kandil, a station where students could learn how to make traditional lanterns.
“EDI and ICC wanted to educate students, mainly on the traditions of Diwali in a fun way with crafts such as henna, rangoli, and akash kandil,” said EDI President junior Darya Derakhshani. “Lots of hard work went into the logistics. Speaking for EDI, we take inclusion very seriously, hence, ‘inclusion’ in our name, so each and every member as well as advisors were included in the planning. I know Indian Culture Club had days after school where they were working on posters and the little educational notes [about the activities]. Some of our EDI members also attended those.”
“The whole experience was wholesome. It was so heartwarming that so many people showed up, and [were] interested in getting to know something about our culture,” said event attendee junior Krishitha Prabhu Chandran. “It doesn’t matter what religion you are from or what class, anyone and everyone can celebrate Diwali. As a proud Indian myself, Diwali is the day when all of my family members get together, a day filled with laughter and stories.”
“The experience was unlike any other,” added Derakhshani. “Being able to participate in such an event celebrating deep love of culture and education has made me feel like I’m making a real difference in the community. I know that our members and ICC members alike feel very thankful for the turnout of students, all willing to learn something new and have fun. I loved the event so much, and I am so thankful towards all the help we received.”
Beyond the vibrant colors, the intricate designs of rangoli, and the warmth of traditional lanterns, this Diwali celebration served as a shining example of the positive impact that cultural events can have on a community, fostering a sense of togetherness, understanding, and shared joy.
Photos courtesy of AHS EDI
